Abundance Mentality vs. Scarcity Mentality

Following on last week's post, let's examine the concept of an "abundance mentality" on a deeper level.

As mentioned last week, the Lose-Win mindset says that "there's only so much pie to go around, and if you get some there will be less for me".  This mindset could be viewed as a "scarcity mentality" and is part of the Lose-Win paradigm.

An Abundance Mentality maintains that there is "more than enough", and adopts the Win-Win mindset where "we can all achieve more together", and "there's plenty to go around and everyone can enjoy the plenty that we've been given."

Stephen R. Covey explains it well here in his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People":

"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 or windfall gain or has remarkable success or achievement.

Although they may verbally express happiness for others' success, inwardly they are eating their hearts out.  Their sense of worth comes from being compared, and someone else's success, to some degree, means their failure.  Only so many people can be "A" students; only one person can be "number one".  To "win" simply means to "beat."

...It's difficult for people with a scarcity mentality to be members of a complimentary team.  They look on differences as signs of insubordination and disloyalty.

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.

The Abundance Mentality takes...personal joy, satisfaction and fulfillment...and turns it outward, appreciating the uniqueness, the inner direction, the proactive nature of others.  It recognizes the unlimited possibilities for positive interactive growth and development, creating new Third Alternatives.

Public Victory does not mean victory over other people.  It means success in effective interaction that brings mutually beneficial results to everyone involved. ...Public Victory is an outgrowth of the Abundance Mentality paradigm.

A character rich in integrity, maturity, and the Abundance Mentality has a genuineness that goes far beyond technique, or lack of it, in human interaction."

Reference: Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, pp. 219-230. copyright 2004.

The freedom and release a person can experience by embracing an Abundance Mentality and perspective on life and work and relationships can be incredible.  The rewards can be incredible.

I would encourage you to consider this concept as you go about your work and personal life, and be observant of the change an Abundance Mentality brings to you and those around you.

Some good examples of the Abundance Mentality in action can be found in these quotes below...

"You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want." ~ Zig Ziglar

“There is a lie that acts like a virus within the mind of humanity. And that lie is, ‘There’s not enough good to go around. There’s lack and there’s limitation and there’s just not enough.’

The truth is that there’s more than enough good to go around. There is more than enough creative ideas. There is more than enough power. There is more than enough love. There’s more than enough joy. All of this begins to come through a mind that is aware of its own infinite nature.There is enough for everyone. If you believe it, if you can see it, if you act from it, it will show up for you. That's the truth.” ~ Michael Beckwith

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." ~Luke 6:38, New Living Translation (NLT), The Holy Bible

Think Win-Win

One of the most life-changing attitudes we can adopt is the attitude of "Think Win-Win".

Stephen R. Covey explains, in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, that we are programmed into "win-lose" thinking from childhood.  In almost every game we played there was a "winner" and a "loser"; in how we were recognized in class, and in sports.

This has it's benefits, as we should learn to strive to achieve; be successful in what we are pursuing; and to make the most of what we have been given in terms of talents, skills, resources and ability.  But what if we could do all that, and still help others achieve along with us as we go? How different might our lives and relationships be?

The idea of "win-win" implies that, as we negotiate and work to achieve solutions and outcomes for ourselves, day-in and day-out, that we keep the attitude to achieve what we hope to achieve, while at the same time helping others to achieve what they hope to achieve, or at least gain some benefit while we achieve our own objectives.

Okay. That was my very in-articulate way of trying to explain win-win. Stephen R. Covey explains it much better here...

"Think Win-Win isn't about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration.

Most of us learn to base our self-worth on comparisons and competition. We think about succeeding in terms of someone else failing--that is, if I win, you lose; or if you win, I lose. Life becomes a zero-sum game. There is only so much pie to go around, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me; it's not fair, and I'm going to make sure you don't get anymore. We all play the game, but how much fun is it really?

Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie, and it tastes pretty darn good!

A person or organization that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:

1.    Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments

2.    Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others

3.    Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone

Many people think in terms of either/or: either you're nice or you're tough. Win-win requires that you be both. It is a balancing act between courage and consideration. To go for win-win, you not only have to be empathic, but you also have to be confident. You not only have to be considerate and sensitive, you also have to be brave. To do that--to achieve that balance between courage and consideration--is the essence of real maturity and is fundamental to win-win.""

Reference: https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit4.php

Thank you for reading this posting.  I hope this idea of "Think Win-Win" helps you achieve better results, and better relationships, for yourself and those around you.

Please join me next Monday as I explore the life-changing concept of  "Abundance Mentality", that Stephen R. Covey mentioned above, in more detail.