What replaces fear? The ability to trust the abundance of life. Old wisdom traditions distinguish two ways to live life: from fear and scarcity or from trust and abundance. Today’s executive and life coaches teach practically the same. The abundance belief operates as “a helpful thought” that enables people to tap into their potential. People will try and achieve more if they believe that it is possible and that they, personally, can do it.
On a personal level, life coach Michael Hyatt contrasts the scarcity with the abundance mindset as follows:
There is never enough
There is always more where that came from
Hoarding knowledge, contacts, and compassion
Happy to share knowledge, contacts, and compassion
Default to suspicion: hard to build rapport
Default to rapport and build trust easily
Resent competition. Makes the pie smaller, them weaker.
Welcome competition. Makes the pie larger, them stronger.
Ask self: How can I get by with less than expected?
Ask self: How can I give more than expected?
Pessimistic outlook: Tough times are ahead
Optimistic outlook: The best is yet to come
They think small, avoiding risk
They think big, embracing risk
They are entitled and fearful
They are thankful and confident
Do you recognize any of these beliefs and behaviors in yourself or others around you? I do.
A Mindful Exercise
Imagine that your co-worker asks you to finish his presentation before tomorrow because he’s too busy. You have one hour left before the end of your workday and you don’t want to be late as you have to pick up your child.
What do you do? Yes, please, formulate an answer right now….
Of course, there’s a thousand scenarios that could happen and your decision depends on many details from your contextual knowledge.
It depends on your workplace culture (what is considered normal), on how you like and what you know about your co-worker (is he hard-working or slacking off, does he ever help you with last-minute tasks, etc), on the task at hand (are you any good at making presentations), and so on.
A big part of your decision, however, is made through your worldview. It depends on your mindset. Have you internalized parts of theory X or Y? Have you upgraded yourself to believe some of the abundance assumptions – or are you still firmly grounded in the scarcity mindset from your upbringing?
Do you experience the gap between thinking and feeling: “I wish I could believe Y and Abundance, but I feel that it is too good to be true.”
Whatever it is, it is okay. This is just a mindful exercise to observe and explore your current mindset. There’s no need to judge. But it’s good to know.
This is book post #22 – ME
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If you’re confused – please start with post #1 or check the Positive Power overview and read the Positive Agent Manifesto.
Leaders, employees, consultants, citizens – everyone can make a positive difference from any position, without needing permission or resources from others. This blog will help you see positive possibilities and (re)claim your positive agency. Unstuck yourself and engage others via your interaction and actions. Transform into a positive organization where people and performance thrive.
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This Post Has 2 Comments
Could you please expand on how to get from gap in thinking to feeling? Not easy when you were used to living from abundance perspective but traumatic events and abusive relationship over time forced you to live from fear.
Hi Sandra, I know this can be easier said than done! You can think rationally but if you’re emotionally affected by traumatic events you cannot just go back to believing in abundance and having faith again. You might want to train yourself to see the glass half full again by writing down the good things and acts of kindness you witnessed during the day. You could look for the positive everywhere. This probably won’t be enough – nor can reading about it really “fix” it. You’d have to engage with the emotional and subconscious parts that are cautious and that are trying to protect you from further harm. I’d recommend seeing a coach or counselor who works with body work, hypnosis, or another approach that bypasses the verbal, rational mind. This might be more effective than talking and analyzing. I hope this helps.