Turning Scarcity Thinking Into Abundance Thinking: Hurricane Katrina's Lesson For The Rest Of Us

The devastation that has rocked the Gulf Coast recently is almost unimaginable, isn’t it? I know these are extraordinary circumstances, but the looting that has been taking place has made me think about why some people take whatever they want and why some people only take what they need.

It seems that those who come from a place of scarcity take whatever they want, perhaps in spite of what they need. But those who come from a place of abundance in their hearts and minds take only what they need.

As a coach who helps solo service professionals attract an abundance of clients, I encounter scarcity thinking quite a bit. (I had to tackle that monster myself at one point!) A catastrophe like Katrina can shift our thinking almost immediately from being afraid of never having enough to being overwhelmingly grateful for what we do have. I'm sure many of you can tick off thanks for your health, your loved ones, your home, and your full pantry, at the very least.

What scarcity thinking does to us:

Scarcity thinking makes us hoard. For example, do you “save” certain clothes to wear for special occasions only? Yet by the time you decide that the occasion is “good enough” to wear it, it’s either out of style or doesn’t fit or is in some other state that makes it no longer wearable? Why don’t you just pull it out and enjoy it now? Because there’s that little voice that says you might not have something to replace this one if you spilled something on it, or it got torn or damaged in another way, right?

Scarcity thinking stops us from giving. And not giving puts a plug in all that the universe wants to send our way. One of the mantras in the Client Abundance coaching programs is “Giver’s Get.” In other words, the more you give - of your time, your skills, your compassion, your help and support, and yes, your money - the more you get back. It may not always take the same form, but it’s true…the more you give, the more you get.

For example, several years ago there was a family in our community who lost everything to a house fire. I didn’t know them and things were tight for us at the time, but I wrote them a small check and a note with my prayers. A few weeks later, I received a project that was three times the fees I had ever received to date.

What abundance thinking does for us:

And this is what abundance thinking does for us. It opens up possibilities and opportunities that would never have be able to make themselves known to us if we weren’t open to receiving them, open to the concept that there is enough for everyone, and that we are good enough to not only deserve abundance, but to desire it as well!

The best part of the ‘givers get’ belief is that you don’t even have to believe it for it to happen in your own life.

Now think about what you would do if you found yourself in similar circumstances as Hurricane Katrina has ravaged on so many people. Would you take just what you need? Would you lend whatever you had left to help another? Would you seek to repay whatever it is that you “borrowed” in some other way? Recognize if your thinking comes from a place of not having enough already, or from knowing that there is always more than enough.

Right now, decide to live life with abundance thinking and action. Complete the following exercises and watch abundance flow your way:

1. What is one action you could take to move from scarcity thinking to abundance thinking?

2. Do you need a physical reminder to change your thinking? A rubber band on your wrist that you snap each time you find yourself falling into scarcity thinking can do wonders in a very short amount of time!

3. Repeat every morning and every night – with feeling!: I embrace abundance and abundance embraces me.

Do you feel a shift in your thinking already? Good! Now, is there something - money, blood, time, clothing - that you could give to the relief effort that may feel uncomfortable as you make this shift in thinking but you know would feel great once you did so? Commit today to one thing and just do it. I promise that it will come back to you in ways you can't even imagine.