According to Wikipedia, scarcity is the fundamental economic problem of having seemingly unlimited human wants in a world of limited resources.
The world has taught us that we have to compete for everything to have anything.
You’ve probably heard the saying that the early bird gets the worm. This is meant to encourage us to be competitive and teach us that we’ve got to be first or there will be nothing left. A little competition is good for everybody but the statement implies that there’s one worm when in reality there are plenty of worms.
Some marketers use the scarcity tactic to pressure you into buying their product. For a limited time you can buy my whiz bang widget for 3 easy installments of $97 but only while supplies last! If you’re feeling pressured in this way to buy something then don’t buy it. Scarcity brings emotions into play and an emotional purchase is usually not a good idea.
This scarcity mindset is detrimental because it breeds fear and anxiety. It forces us to put our trust in things that we have no control over like the economy.
Here are 3 indicators of a scarcity mindset in no particular order.
- Generosity - Well, it's a lack of generosity that could indicate scarcity in your life. If you're not thinking about others then you're thinking about yourself. You're scared to give because you don't believe that you'll have enough. I've been one to hold back and it feels good to let go.
- Fear - Are you afraid of losing what you have? Think about the worst thing that could happen and what you would do about it. Accepting the reality that you can go on should give you hope that things will be okay. That's a tip from Dale Carnegie. Fear and anxiety can eat away at you until you feel like there's nothing left. Don't let it control you.
- Trust - You may have trust but it's in the wrong things. If you're trusting your money to save the day then you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Placing your trust in things that don't love you is an indicator of a scarcity mindset.
I believe that we’ve all got a touch of a scarcity mindset. Our culture, especially in the states, has made us this way.
Think about how you can prevent a scarcity mindset and have one of abundance.
If you’re familiar with the bible then you probably know the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 families. Read the story in Matthew 14:13-21 to see God’s principle of multiplication and abundance.
Thanks for reading and leave a comment with your thoughts!
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