LIVING AN ABUNDANT LIFE
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10 NKJV)
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SCARCITY AND ABUNDANT MINDSET
What Is a Mindset?
A mindset is a way of thinking. It is a lens that allows you to see what you want in this world. Unlike beliefs and values, a mindset is something that is fairly easy to change with awareness, practice and determination. It is the general perspective you have on life and how you react to various situations. In some ways, you can say that values are what unites us, beliefs can divide us and mindsets will decide if you live a fulfilling and abundant life.
Our mindset can stop us from achieving our goals and accessing our desires in life. It doesn’t matter what beliefs or values you have, if you have the wrong mindset, it can limit you and hinder your general sense of happiness. On the other hand, feeding the right mindset will be essential for you to create the life you want.
An individual can have a mindset but we can also observe mindsets in organizations, groups, families and friends. In the case of a group mindset, it is basically the way that a group will think when together. For example, you might think in more creative ways when you are at work because your team encourages you to think outside the box.
The goal is to empower you to switch your mindset to one that will positively transform your life and attract abundance and wealth. In the next chapter, you will learn about the different mindsets that exist
There are two types of mindset that was coined by the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey. These is a scarcity mindset and an abundance mindset. The scarcity mindset is more about focusing on what we don’t have and our limits.
Meanwhile, an abundance mindset is about creating opportunities and believing that there are enough resources for everyone to benefit.
Scarcity Mindset
A person with a scarcity mindset will be absorbed with what is missing in one’s life. In that situation, the mind becomes busy worrying and stops us from accessing what we want from life. A scarcity mindset will focus on limitation and manifest obstacles which can seriously limit our success.
When you limit yourself with your beliefs and actions, you are not open to receive or recognize the abundance that surrounds you.
For a scarcity mind, there is never enough. The person wakes up in the morning thinking they didn’t have enough sleep or won’t have enough time to accomplish all the things that can be accomplished that day. No matter what it is, the scarcity mind is set on acknowledging what is not available.
Think of your life. Which area do find yourself focusing on what you don’t have? What limits do you place on yourself? Which area of your life (love, relationships, finances, work, etc.) do you apply a scarcity mindset.
Abundance Mindset
The other side of the medal is the abundance mindset. With that mindset, we realize that there is enough in this world for everyone to receive. You let go of negative feelings like jealousy, envy or pity for yourself and take matters in your own hands. You move from being a victim in your life to a leader.
In addition, you don’t focus on the limitation but you recognize the good things that are already present in your life and set your intention to manifest more of what you want. With an abundance mindset, the person gets up thinking that they will make time to rest in the afternoon and then make a list of what can be accomplished in the day. It’s about what is possible or about what is available in the present moment.
Think of what you currently have in your life. Make a list of the things, situation or people that make your life rich. What are you grateful for in your life? What do you appreciate about yourself?
Now that you know a little bit more about the two mindsets, you can start applying behavior change and thinking style that match what you want. The more you will be aware of your mindset, the easier it will be to shift toward an abundance mindset.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
(Philippians 4:8 NKJV)