We are all at choice as to how we view the world. I know some will say “My experiences tell me…” Well, I cannot help that your experiences tell you something because experiences do not talk…what does assess those experiences and measure them, giving them meaning is…Yes, your mindset! You and I can experience the exact same event and come out with opposite conclusions! What is critical here is to know that we are at choice! Scarcity or Abundance??
So, truly how you view the world WILL affect the opportunities you see, your expectations, and ultimately your results. You can choose to see the world as a place of abundance or a place of scarcity. One is certainly more optimistic than the other! Notice the hugely different view of the world you have choosing one versus the other, and I will maintain your viewpoint will also create the results in your life!

An abundance mindset:
It is one of great hope and expectations, that no matter what happens things will work out. It is positive, forward going, and builds into a greater altruistic viewpoint since there is more than enough to go around, so why not share the abundance you have as it will be restored. It also provides a person a positive mindset as there is an expectation that there is more than enough and everything will work out for the best. So, even in trials and tribulations, one with an abundance mindset is already seeing what is around the next corner instead of focused on the minutia in what may be a disaster right in front of them. I have heard some people say “Well, that is the Cinderella approach, fairyland, with no basis in fact.” These are people who need to see to believe. Thank goodness every creator of any invention did not take that attitude or we would still be in the stone ages!

A scarcity mindset:
Quite the opposite of what we find in the abundance mindset. Here a person only sees what is in front of them, a concept of limited resources, and so I better get mine while it is available. There is a lot of restricted thinking here as there is not a belief that anything is possible…rather things are as they are…more of a resignation. Thus, a scarcity mindset tends to be selfish, short-sided, and limited in having hope for nothing much other than what is immediately in front of them. A disaster might take them out of commission for months on end feeling no sense of hope. Selfishness is pervasive as there will never be enough so better take care of myself…even at the expense of others.

Choosing to take on one or the other will truly have a major impact on your life so weight this decision gravely (many don’t even make the decision or see it as their having a decision as they are programmed by their upbringing to already have a scarcity mindset).

1. 1. An abundance mindset believes that there is plenty to go around. This is a belief in unlimited resources. I majored in political science and economics in college in the 1970’s. In my economics classes we were taught about theories of limited resources: how the projections showed that before the year 2000, we would run out of fuel, clean water, based on the resources at the pace of growth of the population and usage. Hmmm, how has that turned out?!?! We believe there is plenty of money in the world, plenty of potential partners, and plenty of human ingenuity as well as opportunities in general. A scarcity mindset believes there are limited resources regarding almost everything, and that someone else must lose in order for you to win. You can see this in leadership in the country, politics around the world, as it is used frequently in cause in alarm and fear to create the desired results of those in power. Intriguingly, it is not stopping people from having children.
   2. Life is less stressful and perhaps easier with an abundance mindset. You tend to believe that anything is possible so you are willing to try new things, expand your thinking, get creative with new ideas. With that attitude, you expect things will eventually go your way so getting “stuck” prevents no threat. We just turn the crystal to look at the problem yet another way. If you have a scarcity mindset, you believe that life is difficult. You see success as being harder than it really is. You expect the worst and might convince yourself that it’s pointless to even try. SO this mindset is generally one that never ventures out to try something new because “why bother.” Resignation sets in to just live whatever life you have and make sure you focus on you.
   3. When you build an expectation that around every door is yet another opportunity, opportunities are easier to “see.” An abundance mindset not only makes opportunities more visible, but also creates the expectation that they are out there. As the Bible tells us, seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened. Your mindset will result in your expectations being more often met in life. On the other hand, if you believe opportunities are scarce, you will not see them even if they are in front of you. Things will come your way and instead of applying your God given talents to figure out how to make it work, your natural inclination will be to default in either not seeing how it will work, or defaulting because you are stuck in “what if it doesn’t work?” Even with the answers in front of you, you will tend to default and not even try.
   4. You take more risks with an abundance mindset. You truly know the likelihood of success is greater, so you take more risks. The more you risk, the more you stand to gain. You also potentially have more to lose, but that’s part of the game. You do not care about the losses as you know you will just say NEXT! Learning more on how to make it work the next time will always be worth it because you are moving forward! Those that are bold tend to outperform those that are timid. It you are coming from a position of scarcity, you’re more likely to “play it safe.” Risk taking is just not in your ilk because your thoughts always go “but what if it doesn’t work out?” You are more concerned about not losing what you already have (no matter how limited it is), than to risk losing it so you will need to go and recreate it.
   5. Those with an abundance mindset are more relaxed. When you believe the world has everything you need, you can relax and enjoy life. You view the possibilities as endless. Your overall viewpoint of your life is more positive.
      A scarcity mindset results in fear and pessimism. You believe you have to fight the world to get what you want and need. You have to protect what you have from loss. Your life is viewed negatively.

Think about all of those very successful people in this world, every inventor, everyone who has ever filed for a patent, written a book, started a company on an “idea” they had, sold everything to follow their dream…these are all people who had abundance thinking. Their knuckles were not white from holding onto what they had so strongly that they would never consider letting go. If you come from scarcity…just know what you are giving up.