In the last few weeks, I’ve written a series of reflections on scarcity mindset and how it negatively impacts you, your leadership, and your career.

• Part 1: How scarcity mindset can insidiously undermine your IQ
• Part 2: How to recognise the signs of scarcity mindset
• And now part 3: What you can do about it. Five tactics to shift the dial to more abundant and optimistic thinking.

Thanks to everyone who messaged me and emailed me back with your experiences. It would appear that scarcity mindset is quite common right now! I’m not surprised. We’re living in troubling times.

If you missed the series, I suggest you go back and read from the beginning. Click on part 1 above. You’ll thank me later.

LET’S FLICK THE SWITCH FROM SCARCITY THINKING TO ABUNDANT AND OPTIMISTIC THINKING

In the following article I’ve detailed five easy to implement tactics to help you shift the dial from scarcity to abundance. This was one of our workshop topics at the recent Women of Impact Retreat in Palm Cove – to help attendees get into the thrive zone, right from the get-go to ensure they were planning their careers from a place of abundance, not fear or lack.

1. Cultivate Presence – I am enough

I use a powerful meditation technique designed specifically to nip scarcity mindset in the bud – you can read more here. It’s so quick and easy, and a great way to start any day, not merely when you’re feeling less than. You can even feel the tension leave your body as you repeat the four-step mantra (I am safe, I am worthy, I am loved, I am enough) – which sends a cascade of rest and digest chemical signals through your body and brain. I’m relaxing just thinking about it! This meditation can be done anywhere, and you’ll be feeling much better in under a minute. It’s a great way to ground yourself in the right here, right now, present moment at any stage in your day.

2. Embrace Gratitude

Shift your focus from what you lack to what you have. Gratitude journalling is so easy and such a ground breaker that you’ll wonder why don’t do it every day. One of my clients keeps a Grateful Jar for daily gratitude notes. Then she and her young son have an annual Xmas tradition of reviewing all the gratefuls so they get a double whammy at the end of the year. I love this soooo very much I’ll be trying it myself this year! You should try it too.

3. Acknowledge and Appreciate

And I know you’ll love this one as well.

Find five people in your life who you appreciate for some reason- friends, family, friends of the family, peers, a boss or colleagues. Then send a text to each person telling them what you appreciate about them and why. Nothing too sucky or anything that can be misconstrued. Be specific too. Here are a couple of examples.

• Hey Bob. I really appreciate the way you supported me in the meeting the other day. Your support made my day. Thanks very much. 🙏🏻
• Hey Mary, I love the way you looked out for me at the all-staff meeting making sure I had a seat. Thanks for this. In a world where people are time poor this is a rare quality, keep it up. 🙏🏻

You might be surprised how much this gift of appreciation keeps on giving. Not only will you immediately feel more expansive upon the sending of the initial text or message, but you may even get a return buzz when the recipient responds and tells you how much the note meant to them. Let me know how you go with this one. It’s my go to in colder winter months. On that note – have I told you how much I appreciate you for regularly reading my newsletter? Thanks so much. Your support keeps me going. 🙏🏻

4. Write a Self-Compassion Letter

I’ve written about the importance of self-compassion before – in fact, I’ve compared self-esteem and self-compassion (which is best) in this article here. But in a nutshell, taking the time to write yourself a brief letter acknowledging that you’re feeling less than, that you’ve got a bit of scarcity mindset going on, that it’s okay, and that you’re working through it can help you feel more optimistic. Acknowledge, that you’re working out a plan to get back to a place of equilibrium at first, and in time, to the place where you can once again tap into your fire and ambition. Maybe it’s that you’ve been sitting on the couch drinking red wine, eating Tim Tams and watching Bridgeton reruns when you know you need to work on your networking. (Oh is that just me? 🤣) Or whatever you’ve got going on. Don’t feel guilty. Acknowledge that it’s okay. That you needed it for a period of time, and now you’re ready again. The simple act of being compassionate to yourself is a great way to reset the dial.

5. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

So often when we’ve got a bit of scarcity mindset going on, we can’t see the forest for the trees and may not even remember how far we’ve come. We might be so focused right now on not feeling good enough to kick the big goal on the horizon, that we can’t see the incremental progress we’ve been making along the way.

Some of you know that I have a 10-chin-up goal, and that I’ve been working on it for almost four years. A long time, you say? Heck yes, and I had almost given up in a flurry of post-menopausal self-doubt. But then my trainer, who keeps detailed notes on every training session, keeps reminding me of how far I’ve come since I started work with him and I can’t help but feel amazing, hopeful and even incredibly strong, despite not (yet) kicking my big goal. A fabulous reminder too of the importance of measuring – what gets measured gets done.

_{HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE THINKING MORE ABUNDANTLY AND OPTIMISTICALLY?}

Because your inner and outer dialogue will have changed. Upgrade your language, upgrade your life.

1. On the left are the statements that are a dead giveaway you’ve become limited or scarce in your thinking.
2. Whereas on the right are the statements that someone who is more abundant might make.

I want for you to be choosing the language on the right – because it’s not just good for you, it’s good for everyone.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON GETTING BACK INTO MORE ABUNDANT THINKING

If you’re a leader, manager, parent, role model or even part of a team where others look up to you, it’s crucial to be aware of the scarcity mindset and its potential to undermine not just your own performance, but the morale and performance of those around you as well. By recognising its signs and then using practical daily activities to cultivate a more abundant mindset, you’ll not just enhance your own cognitive capabilities and make more informed, strategic decisions, but those around you will lift their game too. Remember, shifting from scarcity to abundance is not just a mental exercise but a proactive approach to leading a more balanced, fulfilled, and successful life.

RESOURCES

• Mani, A., Mullainathan, S., Shafir, E., & Zhao, J. (2013). Poverty Impedes Cognitive Function. Science, 341(6149), 976-980. Link
• Creswell, J. D. (2017). Mindfulness Interventions. Annual Review of Psychology, 68, 491-516. Link
• Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377-389. Link
• Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A Pilot Study and Randomized Controlled Trial of the Mindful Self-Compassion Program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(1), 28-44. Link
• Amabile, T. M., & Kramer, S. J. (2011). The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. Harvard Business Review Press. Amazon Link