As human beings, we have many opportunities to choose from, to do what is right for us AND what is right for everyone.
- What determines the choices we make?
- What determines the actions we take?
- What determines how we show up?
Most often, people hesitate to share knowledge as they fear that someone may steal their ideas or resources and get more attention. Sometimes we see negativity in how others deal with situations, because we think we know the best way to do it. We prefer working in silos and being heroes. We even get everyone together against the people we are threatened by, to show up as victims, and justify our behaviours. We all have had some bad experiences, and we become protective of ourselves. And why not? Each one of us deserves fairness. The question to reflect on is – At what cost?
Are the choices we are making taking us away from ourselves, away from who we are, or taking us closer to our true inner being?
The Scarcity Mindset vs. the Abundance Mindset
Most people operate deeply from a scarcity mindset.
“They see life as having only so much, 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.” – Stephen Covey
There were times I found it difficult to share recognition and credit with others. I have worked with people who didn’t share the due credit I deserved, despite me having made huge contributions to the result. And I thought, thats the way the world functions.
Some of us even find it hard to be genuinely happy for other people, be it colleagues, friends, or even family. This mindset is filled with envy, guilt, and anger and has also been the reason for pulling colleagues down, being unable to co-create with peers, the disputes between siblings, throwing parents out of their own homes, and many more….
On the other hand, I have worked with people who are open about their ideas and knowledge, show great confidence, and share everything they know, so that the outcome we are hoping to achieve is met. They spread joy, positivity, and grace.
They operate from an abundance mindset. They are fair, they are compassionate, they turn weaknesses into opportunities, and they transform negative experiences into positive ones. They don’t victimise themselves; instead, they carry a deep inner sense of personal worth and security.
Are you operating from a scarcity mindset or an abundance mindset? Is your mindset allowing you to see the potential opportunities or holding you back from having a decent conversation?
Now, How do we recognise it?
- Integrity – A basic trait for an abundance mindset is integrity. Are our values aligned with our actions? When we proactively organise and execute around our values daily, we develop self-awareness and make choices that are meaningful for ourselves and others. It is impossible to create a win-win if we don’t know what a win means for us and others – together, rooted in our deepest values.
- Maturity – our ability to look at the bigger picture, to improve the situation for everyone around us—requires a balanced view, a matured view of what is the greater good.
“Maturity is the balance between courage & consideration.” – Stephen Covey
If you can learn to express your intention with courage balanced with consideration for others, you are showing great maturity. It’s hard being able to be assertive and accommodating at the same time. It comes with deliberate practice.
The Power of Words—the Language
Are we aware of the words we use? Are we being polite and kind in conversations or being rude, judgemental, and using a tone that hurts another being? Words like ‘You created this mess’ or ‘You are to blame’ block you from seeing the better, the inner good of other people, preventing you from realising the abundance around you. You probably forgot this very person helped you when you were sick, was present when you needed them, or backed you up in a crisis.
People with Abundance mindsets are grateful, creative, and cooperative. Instead of seeing the worst in others, they know the good, the potential opportunities, or how human ingenuity can create new possibilities and hence look for a win-win to expand the pie for themselves and others by creating a third alternative.
Some experiments we can all try.
Think Again – spend time to reflect on your existing beliefs. For example, if you have an unconscious belief that you are not good enough, that you are unlucky, or that life is unfair, you will not be able to see the positive even under the best of circumstances. Try to replace that by reflecting on
- the times you have succeeded
- when you have been lucky
- when life has treated you more than fair
And I am sure you will find plenty moments that made you happy and grateful.
Practice Gratitude: The easiest way to start is writing a gratitude journal. Write down what you are thankful for—the everyday moments, the ones that bring you joy, and the tough ones that bring in wisdom.
Thank people in person – it is amazing to see the magic unfold in relationships. When we focus on gratitude and abundance, we feel secure and confident about our future and are ready to let go of the past and start afresh. You start believing that the only thing you can control – is the present moment and what you do now matters most.
Forgive – Acknowledge your pain and how it made you feel. Choose to forgive the person who’s offended you, when you are ready. It is important to move away from the feeling of being a victim. That way you release the control and power you are giving the person who offended you, over your life. Let go! Forgive others so that you find peace.
Pay it back to the universe – Volunteer. Use some part of your life by volunteering your time, energy, and knowledge to people who need it, and spend some time nurturing nature. You only give back when you know you have a lot already; it will strengthen the abundance mindset.
Appreciate and celebrate others’s success – Encourage people to achieve true potential. Help them; appreciate their journey and effort. Believe that others’ successes don’t impact your own, and that you will be just as successful. So genuinely make their day!
Life is full of great, normal, and extraordinary moments. Being open to change and accepting things as they are, opens a new world of opportunities and possibilities. Be willing to see the good in everything.
The source of all creation is infinite. There’s enough for everybody. If we want to figure out how to make more space, we can.
Remember: a true win is the one that’s rooted in our deepest values.
Let’s bake a bigger pie!
