I was enjoying a fancy poolside hotel breakfast with a friend and she was eating fancy wood-fired sourdough with fancy strawberry jam in those adorable little hotel jars.
My savoury brekky came with toast on the side which I planned to leave.
When I was mostly done, I decided the final mouthful of this glorious meal should be buttery, jammy toast, so I tore a piece of my toast off, leaned over and helped myself to my friends’ accoutrement.
“Stop!” she said hands splayed out in protection of her breakfast. “You can’t do that. I have rationed it out so there is just enough for every mouthful.”
“We’re in a restaurant,” I countered. “We can just get more.”
She conceded and let me at it. My buttery jammy toast was delicious. She had enough jam after all because she couldn’t finish her breakfast.
Why am I telling you this? Good question.
Have you heard the term “scarcity mindset?’
A scarcity mindset is a belief that there will never be enough.
Not enough money, not enough work, not enough opportunity for everyone, and certainly not enough strawberry jam for your toast which results in feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety.
“Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everyone else.” — Stephen Covey
On the other hand, an abundance mindset believes that there is enough to go around. It champions others, relishes collaborations, and feels that if one wins, all win.
Abundance mindset flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. An ability to enjoy the success of others and a desire to see other’s win. It’s grounded in the belief that there is more than enough for everyone and everything is replenishable.
A scarcity mindset is not an uncommon thing or something to be ashamed of.
In fact, it is likely that it was programmed into you in childhood or earlier. That said, it is something to be aware of because a life of abundant richness and possibilities is far more exciting than a life of limited options.
The best news is, you can retrain your brain to have an abundant outlook.
1. Practice gratitude
I know I bang on about gratitude all the time but it really is the root of positivity. The fastest way to embrace an abundant mindset is to begin being grateful for what you have right now.
Write three things you are grateful for every day using this format -
“I am grateful for …. Because it makes me feel…”
This gives the opportunity to not only bring to front of mind what you hold gratitude for but to also connect to the emotions and trigger the happy hormones in your brain box.
2. Hang out with people with abundant mindsets
Have you heard the term “You sleep with dogs, you end up with fleas?” If you are surrounded by people fighting to the top with only their own interests in mind in a cut-throat environment then scarcity mindset will be the norm.
Instead, feel the difference when you surround yourself with those who elevate each other, praise and champion your achievements and want to see you do well. Then return the favour with an open mind and heart.
3. Open your mind to possibilities
An abundance mindset allows you to see more options and possibilities in your life so broaden your gaze outwards when you start to feel the blinkers. Remember, what you focus on is what you see.
If you focus on ‘not enough’ or “I can’t” rather than “Let’s make this happen,” and “what do we need?” then you will have yourself a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Are you ready to get out of your own way, stop thinking small and being constrictive, and get super expansive and deliciously abundant?
I’m ready to support and guide you to do just that.
