I grew up with a scarcity mindset.
Like many of you reading this right now, I grew up in a scarcity mentality. It’s not surprising and I don’t blame anyone. But it’s something I’ve needed to spend a little time unpacking in order to live more fully.
My father’s parents came over from Poland as young adults in the early 1900’s. They married, settled on the south side of Chicago, and had eight children together. Dziadek was a carpenter and Babcia took care of the home and family. They struggled to make ends meet.
My mother grew up in a small town in Central Illinois and her parents divorced when she was just five years old. Her mother eventually re-married the president of the local bank. You could say she had a comfortable life comparatively, but wouldn’t be considered wealthy by today’s standards.
My parents and grandparents lived through World War II and the Great Depression – experiences which had a profound effect on how they lived their lives. As a result, I was raised in a home where we watched every penny.
Dad was a salesman whose income fluctuated each month. Mom was a nurse anesthetist turned stay-at-home mom. When my dad died of cancer while my siblings and I were still in school, finances became even more strained. As a result of life circumstances and studying finance in college, I adopted frugal financial practices which have served me well.
Being a Financially Smart Woman is Never a Bad Thing, BUT…
I attended a public college in my home state because it was the least expensive way for me to get my education. (I only applied to one school, which is virtually unheard of now.) Right out of college, I took a job with a large firm and began contributing to my 401-K plan as soon as I could.
Eventually I earned my MBA by attending classes at night while working for a company who paid 75% of the tuition. I lived within my means, bought clothes on sale, drove used cars, and did essentially whatever I could to build a solid financial foundation so I could feel secure.
Being financially smart is definitely not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a VERY GOOD thing. It’s very important, particularly for us as women, to be financially literate and to take control of our financial destiny. So, I can’t stress enough how much I highly encourage this!
What I hate to see is women being frugal because they’re afraid.
Maybe you can relate to some of these financial mindsets:
- I’m afraid there’s not enough to go around and if I don’t get mine now, I might miss out.
- I worry about being frivolous because I have to pay off my debt/save for my kid’s tuition/finance a major purchase/etc.
- If someone else is successful and makes a lot of money, then maybe I won’t (because I’m not good enough/smart enough/etc.)
- The financial world is spinning out of control and the powers that be are holding the strings of us, their puppets.
- We really have no say in what happens anyway, so the best thing to do is hunker down, protect any wealth we have, hold onto it tightly…and pray that we don’t have to endure another financial collapse.
If you’re nodding your head in agreement, who could blame you? Just a few minutes spent watching the nightly news, and it’s completely understandable why you would feel that way. Not just of what could happen financially, but in every aspect of our lives. Why? Because the purpose of the news is to make us feel afraid!
Banish the Scarcity Mindset Forever
But that’s not the world I choose to live in anymore. I’m done feeling afraid. And I’m done living a life of scarcity.
Because scarcity doesn’t just impact your pocketbook. A scarcity mentality seeps into every aspect of your being if you allow it.
It impacts your self-care. How hard you work, how much you give, how overwhelmed you feel. Is it too indulgent for you to take a bath or a nap? Can you treat yourself to a massage or having your nails done? Can you buy those sparkly new shoes that make you feel spectacular?
It impacts how you show up in the world. Do you celebrate the unique gifts and talents you’ve been given and share them with the world fully? Or do you hold back because you think maybe what you have to offer isn’t really that special after all? Who are you to shine your light?
The Impacts of a Scarcity Mentality are Everywhere
It means we hesitate to invest in ourselves and our businesses, robbing the world of what it needs to continue on the path of evolution, of which you (yes, you) are a critical part!
It impacts how much we’re willing to share. Because if the world is a scary place and there’s not enough to go around, then we better hold on tight to what we’ve got and only give from the leftovers.
And it impacts what you believe about God, Source, the Universe, or whatever term you use to refer to the Creator of all that is. If your God is a strict disciplinarian that doles out gifts based on who is deserving of them, then maybe you don’t make the cut. Maybe you’re not worthy.
STOP Believing in the Myth of Scarcity
Scarcity is a lie! I eventually figured that out and I hope you will as well.
Look around you…We live on an ABUNDANT planet. There are countless stars in the sky and grains of sand on the beaches. There are oceans and rivers, mountains and plains, flowers and trees. And every imaginable creature on land and in the seas. All created from an abundant Source.
Look around you… Look at the people on this planet. Every color, shape, and size. Every race, creed, and religion. All magnificent beings in their own right. All with unique gifts and talents to express if only given the opportunity. Look at your family and friends with whom you share this journey. Look – really look – at who they are as unique beings.
Abundance is YOUR Birthright.
And look at you! Just look at you. Look in the mirror. You’re beautiful! Look at how your body responds to messages from your brain and how your heart beats and lungs breathe without effort. Just look at your eyes and your smile! Look at you in that favorite outfit and bright lipstick.
If you’ve been living with a scarcity mentality, it’s time for a change NOW. Abundance is our birthright. It’s the natural state of being and one we have the choice to embrace or reject.
You are enough! There is enough! In fact, there’s more than enough!
Don’t believe the lies. Deep within, your heart knows the truth. Trust it and live life abundantly!
Be Bold. Be Daring. Be AWE-dacious!
Lis
P.S. Have you been living with a scarcity mentality? Are you ready to embrace ABUNDANCE? Here’s what I suggest:
Add a reminder on your phone that says, “Abundance is Everywhere!”. Set it to chime at the same time each day. When it does stop what you’re doing, look around, and take it all in. Say a quiet (or loud) thank-you for the gifts that surround you, then go about your day firmly rooted in gratitude.
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