Turning Scarcity Thinking into Abundance Thinking: Hurricane
Katrina's Lesson for the Rest of Us
Copyright 2005 Alicia Forest
The devastation that has rocked the Gulf Coast recently is
almost unimaginable, isn't it? I know these are extraordinary
circumstances, but the looting that has been taking place has
made me think about why some people take whatever they want and
why some people only take what they need.
It seems that those who come from a place of scarcity take
whatever they want, perhaps in spite of what they need. But
those who come from a place of abundance in their hearts and
minds take only what they need. As a coach who helps solo
service professionals attract an abundance of clients, I
encounter scarcity thinking quite a bit. (I had to tackle that
monster myself at one point!) A catastrophe like Katrina can
shift our thinking almost immediately from being afraid of never
having enough to being overwhelmingly grateful for what we do
have. I'm sure many of you can tick off thanks for your health,
your loved ones, your home, and your full pantry, at the very
least.
What scarcity thinking does to us:
Scarcity thinking makes us hoard. For example, do you "save"
certain clothes to wear for special occasions only? Yet by the
time you decide that the occasion is "good enough" to wear it,
it's either out of style or doesn't fit or is in some other
state that makes it no longer wearable? Why don't you just pull
it out and enjoy it now? Because there's that little voice that
says you might not have something to replace this one if you
spilled something on it, or it got torn or damaged in another
way, right?
Scarcity thinking stops us from giving. And not giving puts a
plug in all that the universe wants to send our way. One of the
mantras in the Client Abundance coaching programs is "Giver's
Get." In other words, the more you give - of your time, your
skills, your compassion, your help and support, and yes, your
money - the more you get back. It may not always take the same
form, but it's true...the more you give, the more you get.
For example, several years ago there was a family in our
community who lost everything to a house fire. I didn't know
them and things were tight for us at the time, but I wrote them
a small check and a note with my prayers. A few weeks later, I
received a project that was three times the fees I had ever
received to date.
What abundance thinking does for us:
And this is what abundance thinking does for us. It opens up
possibilities and opportunities that would never have be able to
make themselves known to us if we weren't open to receiving
them, open to the concept that there is enough for everyone, and
that we are good enough to not only deserve abundance, but to
desire it as well!
The best part of the 'givers get' belief is that you don't even
have to believe it for it to happen in your own life.
Now think about what you would do if you found yourself in
similar circumstances as Hurricane Katrina has ravaged on so
many people. Would you take just what you need? Would you lend
whatever you had left to help another? Would you seek to repay
whatever it is that you "borrowed" in some other way? Recognize
if your thinking comes from a place of not having enough
already, or from knowing that there is always more than enough.
Right now, decide to live life with abundance thinking and
action. Complete the following exercises and watch abundance
flow your way:
1. What is one action you could take to move from scarcity
thinking to abundance thinking?
2. Do you need a physical reminder to change your thinking? A
rubber band on your wrist that you snap each time you find
yourself falling into scarcity thinking can do wonders in a very
short amount of time!
3. Repeat every morning and every night - with feeling!: I
embrace abundance and abundance embraces me.
Do you feel a shift in your thinking already? Good! Now, is
there something - money, blood, time, clothing - that you could
give to the relief effort that may feel uncomfortable as you
make this shift in thinking but you know would feel great once
you did so? Commit today to one thing and just do it. I promise
that it will come back to you in ways you can't even imagine.