Abundance Mentality

This is a mindset or believe that there is plenty out there for everybody. This was initially coined by Stephen Covey in the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Let us contrast this with the Scarcity mindset as he describes this:

“Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality.  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.  The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life.

People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit – even with those who help in the production.  They also have a very hard time being genuinely happy for the successes of other people – even, and sometimes especially, members of their own family or close friends and associates.  It’s almost as if something is being taken from them when someone else receives special recognition of or windfall gain or has remarkable success or achievement.”

“The Abundance Mentality, on the other hand, flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity”.

I like this example: If you find yourself fighting over space, see if you can create more space. That is the thinking of someone with the Abundant Mentality.With the scarcity mentality, there will never be enough therefore you: compete to stay on top; fear change; won’t share knowledge; won’t offer help; believes the pie is shrinking; think small and avoid risks.

With the abundance mentality, there will always be more so you: collaborate to stay onto; embrace change; share knowledge freely; generous with others; believe the pie is getting bigger; think big and embrace risks.

Do you have a fixed or abundant mindset? Take the IDRLABS test: https://www.idrlabs.com/abundance-mindset/test.php