The Fallacy of Scarcity

Money is on everyone's mind these days. As Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey sang in Cabaret -- "Money Makes the World Go Around." So, money may make the world go around, but does it make your life go around?
We all need money to support our needs and our wants. When we shift our perspective to one in which money (or the lack of money) is the litmus test by which all wants are judged, we get into trouble. For example, when a spouse loses a job or our overtime disappears -- it is as if our sense of opportunity closes up overnight, like a morning glory on a chilly spring evening.


When we start to see the world from a point-of-view of scarcity, or that there is only a finite amount of good "stuff" out there and so we need to conserve or horde what we have, it is my belief that we close up like that morning glory. We often strive to hold on to what we have, be it a relationship or a job we've outgrown, even if it no longer fulfills us. We also start to see others as competition, and often feel envious of what others have that we do not.


In the eloquent words of Stephen Covey, “People with a scarcity mentality tend to see everything in terms of win-lose. There is only so much; and if someone else has it, that means there will be less for me. The more principle-centered we become, the more we develop an abundance mentality, the more we are genuinely happy for the successes, well-being, achievements, recognition, and good fortune of other people. We believe their success adds to...rather than detracts from...our lives.”


What if, instead, we lived from this place of abundance, where there was more than enough love and economic prosperity to go around? When turning our eyes to the role that money plays in our life, we see not deprivation, but the opportunity to grow, invest, and use our creativity? What if we invest time and a bit of money in exploring a long forgotten passion, or finishing up that degree we were a few credits short of receiving?


You can try an exercise to practice using this abundance perspective: Start by making a list of all of the interests or activities that you're curious about pursuing -- anything that has ever sparked your interest. Now, select at least one thing that has always sparked your interest, and costs under $100 (or perhaps costs nothing at all!). Now, start enjoying that activity TODAY! As you pursue the activity, reflect on what engaging in this activity brings into your life. How does it open up possibility in your life?


I wish that you may live in abundance.

Time Is On Your Side

In business and in life, we show up late, cancel at the last minute, or don't show up at all for appointments and meetings.

Sometimes, an urgent or important activity crops up at the eleventh hour, but more often it is simply someone's lack of planning that leads to the "miss."

We often actually start to blame time itself. "I don't have enough time!" we lament. "I lost track of time!" we cry; or my favorite "My time is not my own!"

When we take this passive approach to time we often end up off course -- in the wrong career, network, or relationship. When we simply see ourselves as a leaf adrift on the raging river of life, we cede our power to the current, not realizing that all we need to do is to grab a paddle and start paddling.

Are you ready to pick up a paddle and take back control of your time?

Tips for Making Your Time Your Own:

• Find A Paddle: Start by realizing where you need help. Select the physical tools you'll need, like a planner, an electronic calendar, or a PDA.



• Navigate: Figure out where you're headed. What will taking control of your time give you? Perhaps you will have more time to work out, to spend time with family, or to pursue a personal passion. I have one friend who won't compromise on her weekly volleyball game -- which activity is sacred to you?



• Hire A Sacagawea: Maybe you need help navigating. Hiring an assistant or using a virtual assistant can help you to protect your time and prioritize those things that are most important.



• Watch Out For the Reeds: Some meetings or appointments may be regularly unproductive for you, or may emotionally exhaust you. Get out your calendar and identify at least one commitment that is unnecessary or unproductive. Notify the meeting scheduler that you will not longer be attending.



• Focus On The Destination: What do you hope to accomplish by navigating the river? Perhaps you will improve your health, accomplish personal goals, or deepen important relationships.
  

When we regain control over our time, we often feel both relief and a sense of possibility -- we can get out of the panic of the moment and gain a new, long-term perspective.