+ MINDSET SERIES: SCARCITY VS. ABUNDANCE
Forget about what’s missing, focus on what’s available.
People tend to view the world through one of two lenses: Scarcity or Abundance.
Scarcity Mindset: “There are finite resources and not enough to go around. I need to get my piece of the pie. Life is a zero-sum game and I’m in competition with those around me. If I don’t have what I want it’s likely because someone took it from me.”
A Scarcity Mindset induces fear, stress, and anxiety in us as we compete with others.
Abundance Mindset: “The world is abundant with opportunity. I can accomplish whatever I put my mind to so long as I create value in my market/community and in the lives of those around me. If I don’t have what I want it’s because I haven’t YET found the opportunity in front of me that will allow me to get it.”
An Abundance Mindset creates confidence and innovation as we explore ways to produce value for those around us.
Most of us have a tendency to slide toward scarcity thinking in times of change and uncertainty. Scarcity thinking is a natural default and an easy trap to fall into. But developing and maintaining an abundance mindset is a skill and a habit that’s available to all of us.
Training our minds to view the world through a lens that produces positive results means intentionally avoiding obsessing over what we don’t have and what could go wrong. Instead, consider what you do have (available resources) and the opportunities in front of you.
Change your outcomes: Action Steps
Complete the ‘Moving Future’ worksheet.
The ‘Moving Future’ exercise helps you audit what already works, what exactly you can accomplish and the most important achievements will predict your biggest upcoming results.
Download the worksheet along with the PDF below.
Resources to consider
Check out ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’ by Carol Dweck. In her book, she explains how every major area of our lives can be influenced by how we think about our talents & abilities.
In times of uncertainty and anxiety, it’s important to remember what you’re in control of and how to take care of yourself, your business and your mindset. The Positive+ Mindset series is designed to offer you 10 tangible ways you can maintain a positive outlook, express gratitude, lead with compassion and empathy, and turn negative thoughts into positive ones that will improve your thinking, actions and outcomes.
Adapted from Dan Sullivan’s “The ‘Scary Times’ Success Manual.”