Scarcity. Not everyone is quite sure what this word means. In the simplest of terms, it means that one has a mindset that there will never be enough, whether that is money, food, emotions, or something else entirely. Most people suffer from scarcity and unfortunately, most people don’t realize it, either. However, when you suffer from scarcity your thoughts and actions stem from a place of lack. Instead of believing that you have enough or that there is plenty to go around, you cling to everything that you have out of fear of coming up short.
How Does Scarcity Manifest?
It can manifest as something small, such as not getting yourself a coffee even though you know you’re in dire need of caffeine or undertipping a server to much more substantial decisions, such as not investing in your retirement because you’re afraid of what might happen to the money or not changing jobs because you fear your salary might be less- so you settle and stay stuck and unhappy. This mindset keeps you from achieving wealth, growth, and advancement. Fear holds you back, so you’re constantly focused on keeping what you have and don’t seek new opportunities. So, you decline to fulfill your dreams, including your career dreams. You know that you’re underpaid but have a false sense of security by thinking you have to keep what you have and neglect to negotiate for more. Or you’re unhappy in your role and you would love to find something that fulfills you instead of feeling bored and like you’re not doing anything meaningful. But there’s a risk associated with that too because you have to give up your current paycheck and routine for something new and you prefer to cling to what you have.
The scarcity mindset also makes you feel unworthy of success and abundance. Instead, you will be focused on just getting by and avoiding any potential disaster. There likely won’t even be a reason to believe that things will even fall apart (this is an issue alone!) You will be putting all of your efforts towards just staying afloat so you will be reluctant to take any chances- even if it involves a small amount of money. The scarcity mindset will also force you to make poor choices and decisions. If you’re worried about your bank balance you might not want to open up your bills and even end up paying them at the last second- or worse, late. And I have news- the feelings do not go away on their own. In fact, they get EVEN worse, which increases the feelings of scarcity. So, how does all of this affect your career?
Scarcity and Your Career
A scarcity mentality doesn’t see opportunities. Instead, it sees limitations. Change seems impossible and life is unfair. An abundance mindset is about believing that there is always more. This includes more opportunities, more ways to grow, and more ways to turn a bad situation into a success. And when someone is looking for new role, it can be mentally challenging. It requires an abundant mindset because not every interview will work out, not every role will be meant for you, and you won’t want each opportunity that is presented to you, either! It will force you to pass on opportunities and wait for the next one trusting the process and trusting that it exists and will appear.
So, let’s break this down a little further. Those with a scarcity mindset are more likely to hang onto a miserable job because they don’t think that they will ever find another one unlike those with an abundant mindset. Those with a scarcity mindset are more likely to fear competition, begrudge others of their accomplishments, and struggle relentlessly to achieve a milestone that proves you’ve arrived. In addition, they are likely to claim credit for themselves, constantly themselves to others, hold onto things that they never use, hoard money instead of making smart investments- even in oneself, and limits plans to only safe baby steps.
It’s All About Choices
Your mindset is your choice. You can change it any time you’d like. You are not trapped there forever. We all have our circumstances that brought us there as well. However, as we grow up it is our choice to continue to stay there- or not. If you want to change your career and seek a massive salary increase, it will require an abundance mindset so you can think big and take the necessary risks. Once you remove the limitations placed on you, your career, and your life there is more than you could have ever imagined waiting for you!
——————————————————————————————————————–