How simple words can put you in scarcity mindset or get you out of it.

I hadn’t heard of scarcity mindset before 2023.

But once my husband and I left our careers to pursue hustles, startups and grand business plans, the term ‘scarcity mindset’ seemed to come up often.

In particular when my husband and I were discussing money, investments and how comfortable we each were with taking risks.

My childhood was on the humble side. Our basic needs were always met and a little more. We had full bellies each night, a safe home and loving family. We also regularly had holes in our shoes and thrifted or home sewn clothes.

None of this bothered me until I looked at other people. At my friends and all their fancy things in their fancy homes living at the top of fancy hill.

My Mum used the words ‘poor’ and ‘no money’ in relation to our family a lot and I think this probably created the feeling of scarcity more than anything. A feeling and mindset that formed a large part of my identity and is only recently being re-examined and dismantled.

We know that comparing ourselves to others can be a recipe for low self esteem and distort our self value. We tend to see all their good bits and less of their ugly, painful, festering bits.

We see what someone else has and we see what we don’t have, putting us in scarcity mindset.

So that’s an easy one. Don’t compare yourself to others 👍

But what about words we use perhaps unconsciously that create a feeling of lack. A perception of not having enough and an outlook of scarcity.

All my basic needs were met as a child and they are still being met now. Realising this has had a profound effect on me.

‘My needs are being met. I have enough of everything I need.’

Immediately this relaxes me, takes me out of scarcity mindset and puts me into an energy of gratitude, abundance and great trust and faith.

The tension and anxiety of always grasping for the things I want eases. I can think clearly and objectively as Im not feeling under threat.

When you feel as though your needs are not being met you can trickle into survival mode, hyper focused on getting that thing you think you need, acting from an emotionally turbulent highground.

When we feel our survival is threatened we escalate into fight and flight. We become reactive and lack clarity, objectivity and vision.

Creativity decreases and we are blind to infinite opportunities that present themselves daily.

Simple words that can put you in and take you out of scarcity mindset and survival mode are need and want.

Check your 'need' and 'want' statements.

You're at risk of putting yourself in scarcity mindset when you say you need something that isn't actually a need. Scarcity mindset tricks you into believing your needs are not being met.

This leads to survival mode. Survival mode stops you seeing new opportunities as you hyperfocus on getting your needs met...which might not even be your real needs.

When you recognise that your basic needs are being met your energy changes.

Mindset switches to gratitude, abundance, creativity and faith. This doesn’t mean your drive, zest and action-taking decrease. It means they will be fueled with the energy you have reclaimed.

You will see more opportunities present themselves everyday, everywhere.

Scarcity slowly dismantles allowing abundance in.