Pivoting Between Scarcity and Abundance

As I move through the day, both personally and professionally, I realize there are moments when I am operating from a place of abundance versus a place of scarcity. This is something I've been wanting to dig into and examine closely.

When coming from a place of scarcity, I tend to focus on what I'm worried about protecting or what I'm worried about losing. I've gone through an entire day without consciously realizing that I'm operating from this place. I believe this mindset is heightened and amplified for caregivers. Certain situations can be especially stressful and triggering, such as when new or recurring symptoms present, or you are faced juggling competing very serious or intense demands. That can be destabilizing, both for your loved one, for you, and for others in your life. 

It's helpful to notice when you are triggered, what are the exact thoughts you're having at that moment? Take a step back to acknowledge what is coming up. Gain that awareness. When this has happened with us, I've been worried about now what do we do, what will happen, what does this mean....and on and on. It turns into a spiral. It can conjure up the thought, how do we guard against certain things happening to avoid more issues? This is a version of scarcity talking and it's completely valid. The trouble is, operating out of scarcity can, perhaps not ironically, be limiting.

Because we are in charge of our thoughts, we can choose to flip the script. While we have very real thoughts from a scarcity mindset, we can consciously choose to operate from a place of abundance. This shift in perspective does not negate or erase my concerns about losing or protecting certain parts or areas in my life, but it's as if a switch turns on and I allow myself to acknowledge and accept my worries. I remember I can't save anyone, and we are always changing. I remember what I am grateful for. Even with challenging health issues, we have options. So, where do we go from here? This is abundance talking. 

In my opinion, the scarcity and abundance mindsets are complementary and exist on a continuum. Because you are operating from one, does not mean you cannot also operate from the other. You can choose to move between them.

Through coach certification training, I've learned that as a coach, I should not suppress thoughts or emotions as they arise, because all thoughts and emotions are valid in the moment. Having and experiencing certain thoughts can be uncomfortable or difficult, and that is okay. If we find ourselves resisting certain thoughts and emotions, we want to pay close attention. If we avoid or don't allow ourselves to experience discomfort and work through it, we won't grow. Conversely, if we recognize when we are operating out of scarcity and when we are operating out of abundance, we can learn what that reveals to us, and how these mindsets serve us.

Disclaimer: I am not a therapist or a medical professional. This is not intended to be medical advice. There are situations in which a person should seek professional help for their medical issues and/or mental health.