I first learned about the concept of Abundance and embracing an Abundance Mindset with its equal and opposite Scarcity Mindset while reading Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
Covey writes about Abundance Mindset as it, “flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making.”
This mindset is the core of any area of your life. It focuses your attention on what you already have and all the possibilities that are available to everyone in the world.
The problem, according to Covey is that most people are trapped with the scarcity mentality.
What exactly, is the scarcity mentality, then?
Covey explained it as viewing the world “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 everybody else.”
When you have a scarcity mindset, it becomes difficult to share happiness, power, or recognition, with others. You feel that when they gain something, it is your loss and you worry that there isn’t enough to go around.
Covey is right, there are managers who would deliberately sabotage a reportee’s performance report to keep them down. Then they wonder why the employee left or maybe that’s what they wanted in the first place.
Perhaps that’s why annual appraisals are followed by attrition once the annual bonus is paid and performance improvement plans which are meant to help the employee improve their performance get the reputation of being tools to hound the employee out of the office.
I share the signs that a boss is getting ready to fire you in my post How to control outcomes of a Performance Improvement Plan.
That is a sign that your boss or leader has a scarcity mindset.
Leaders who inspire and motivate their teams to achieve their potential are rewarded with great performances that help everyone climb the next rung up the corporate ladder.
Abundance is a state of mind and can help us find that elusive silver lining in every dark cloud. And it works in every area of our life.
Your mindset can drastically affect the outcome of what you desire and has the power to change your life.
It’s often been proven that your mindset, or the way you think about yourself and the world around you, can change the way you approach learning, how you handle stress or unforeseen circumstances.
It can affect how you go after success or how resilient you are. It can even affect the performance of your immune system.
The biggest block I’ve found in people who want more from life but find themselves stuck in a rut is their Scarcity Mindset.
I’m not asking you to pretend that all is going great in your life when it isn’t but a few changes in how you approach life will enable you to find those hidden opportunities that can get you closer to your goal.
Scarcity mentality is when someone believes that if someone else wins, you automatically lose.
Having an abundant mindset means you see the world as having an infinite number of possibilities, a world filled with opportunities.
It means accepting you do have control and can make wonderful things happen like attracting abundance by raising your money set point.
When you live from a place of abundance, you feel gratitude for what you already have. You are aware and constantly pursuing new opportunities in every area of your life and give to others freely.
I go into detail in The Abundance Mindset that has the entire road map and action plan but first, how do you know you’re blocking abundance?
You’ll find a description of behaviors often exhibited by individuals who are stuck in a scarcity mindset below.
A scarcity mindset is when you perceive you don’t have enough in your life. Being aware of those destructive behaviors can be helpful to access abundance.
5 Red Flags you’re blocking Abundance in your Life
You’re busy focusing on the gaps
A common mistake we tend to do is to place all our attention and energy on what is missing in our life. On the other hand, people that live an abundant life are natural at putting their energy on what they want to manifest.
By switching your thoughts to what you want, you are painting a clear picture of what you really desire.
Always remember, our energy flows in the direction of our focus and attention.
Then why not channel your energy for something you want rather than fester in a situation you don’t want?
You don’t ask for help
If it is difficult for you to say “yes” to someone who offers you help, you are telling the universe that you are not deserving of receiving from others.
The same applies if you have a hard time asking for help. Showing too much independence can lead to blocking the flow of abundance.
This is because if you can’t accept help from others, you can’t accept a little help from the universe.
You’re uncomfortable with compliments
Compliments are a form of receiving similar to asking for help. If you are uncomfortable with receiving compliments from others, you are demonstrating that receiving is difficult for you. This can automatically lead you to more scarcity.
The next time someone compliments you on your work or your attire, instead of deflecting it with a self-deprecating comment, try saying a sincere thank you. You’ll see a change in your energy.
You feed a sense of urgency
People who feed a scarcity mindset are focused on immediate “wants.” They feel the need for instant gratification, a sense of urgency that the need has to be met now.
This type of behavior can be detrimental to one’s life and have a negative impact on one’s future.
How about going with the flow instead?
You’re envious of others
Envy is a feeling that attracts scarcity because we focus on what we don’t have. It can also lead to resentment toward some people and ruin relationships with friends and families.
In order to shift to an abundance mindset, you need to start recognizing the good in your life. Stop comparing yourself with others.
Start by acknowledging what it is that you like about yourself, others or your life in the present moment.
Even better, start your day with the practice of giving praise for all that is good in your life.
It will give you the right frame of mind for whatever the day brings. You’re sending a message to the Universe you’re ready to attract more abundance in your life.
Need a jumpstart to the process?
Working with Vatsala has been one of the best investments in my career. Her personalized guidance, actionable strategies, and unwavering support helped me gain clarity when I was in a career slump.
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