When it comes to how we view the world there are two very different mindsets we can possess. These two mindsets are the scarcity mindset and the abundance mindset.
The scarcity mindset tells us that there are limited resources and if we want something we need to be prepared to fight for it. The scarcity mindset puts us in competition with our peers. It tells us that there isn’t enough for both of us to have what we want. These limited resources could be anything from food, money, love, health, fitness, fame or something else entirely.
A scarcity mindset creates fear within us. It convinces us that we’re not enough. That we don’t have enough talent. That we can’t change. It tells us that we were born this way and there’s nothing we can do to change it. It is this fear that causes us to have anxiety. We see the world through a tunnel. This tunnel vision limits our view of the world. We are convinced that everyone else is better than us, has it easier than us and will have more than us. We see ourselves as martyrs and just unlucky.
In turn this causes us to make poor choices because our choices are being made from a place of fear and resentment. We hoard our knowledge and information, and rather than sharing our ideas we keep them to ourselves. We choose to work alone instead of collaborating with others.
Opposite to the scarcity mindset is the abundance mindset. An abundance mindset perceives the world differently. When our mindset comes from a place of abundance we believe that everyone can win. We see a world with unlimited resources and opportunities. We believe that the more we give the more we’ll receive.
Because we aren’t living in fear of not having enough we’re happy to share our knowledge and ideas with others. We enjoy working collaboratively. We’re open to new ideas and welcome the opportunity to gain and cultivate our knowledge.
We are constantly searching for ways we can grow and become a better version of ourselves. We are optimistic about the future. We believe the best is yet to come. When we have an abundance mindset we’re not afraid of failing because we see failure as an opportunity to learn and get better. We are resilient and persevere. We are thankful for the opportunity to be working towards our goals and we are confident we WILL achieve them. Also, because we understand the importance of failure we are gracious when others make a mistake.
Our type of mindset is NOT predetermined. We weren’t born with it. It was learned over time as a result of our experiences and what we were taught. We can choose to break free from our current way of thinking. We don’t have to continue living from a place of fear. We can decide to see the world from a different perspective. From a place of abundance. Once we conscientiously make this choice and believe we are worthy of more we will begin to see the betterment in our lives.
Today I challenge you to choose abundance. Believe it is possible to have what you desire. Look for opportunities to share with others and learn from them. If you find yourself slipping back into your old way of thinking don’t get discouraged. All you need to do is reset your thoughts and try again. Remember that change takes time and all good things come to those who keep trying.