Scarcity and Abundance: The Quiet Forces That Shape Us
Years ago, I found myself in what, from the outside, looked like an abundant life. I was in a high-profile leadership role, with the kind of status, compensation, and material markers that are supposed to signify “success.” Yet beneath the surface, I felt a gnawing sense of uncertainty and lack—what if it all disappeared? What if I failed? The voice in my head was relentless: You’re not doing enough. You don’t have enough.
I couldn’t reconcile this disconnect. How could I feel scarcity while surrounded by abundance? It wasn’t until later that I realized scarcity and abundance aren’t about what we have. They’re about what we feel. And in that moment of my life, no amount of material success could compensate for the emotional and physical experience of scarcity that had taken root within me.
This revelation changed how I think about scarcity and abundance. It shifted my focus from external circumstances to internal realities—and it helped me see these forces for what they truly are: mindsets, yes, but also heartsets.
How We’re Conditioned to See Scarcity and Abundance
From the time we’re young, we’re taught to see scarcity as a lack of material things: not enough money, not enough time, not enough success. On the flip side, abundance is framed as the presence of more—more income, more opportunity, more recognition. This focus on external markers makes scarcity feel like something we need to fight against and abundance feel like something we need to chase.
But the truth is, scarcity and abundance are states of being, not just circumstances. You’ve probably seen someone with very little who radiates gratitude and joy, living a life of abundance. And maybe you’ve also seen the opposite—someone with every outward advantage, yet living in a constant state of fear and insufficiency.
This dissonance points to a deeper truth: scarcity and abundance aren’t just about what we think (our mindset). They’re about what we feel.
“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”
Beyond Mindset: The Role of Heartset
We often talk about cultivating an “abundance mindset,” but focusing solely on thoughts can miss the mark. It implies that changing what we think is enough to change how we act. But what about the emotional undercurrents that shape those thoughts? What about the physical sensations that scarcity brings—tightness in the chest, a restless energy, a sense of constriction?
This is where heartset becomes critical. Heartset acknowledges the emotional and physical responses tied to scarcity and abundance. Where mindset helps us reframe our thoughts, heartset helps us feel our way into a different reality. Together, they create a synergy that shapes how we respond to the world.
A Personal Shift from Scarcity to Abundance
Looking back on that earlier period of my life, I can see now that my “success” didn’t protect me from scarcity because I hadn’t addressed its roots. Scarcity had crept into how I viewed my worth, my accomplishments, even my relationships. I was so busy protecting what I had and striving for more that I couldn’t fully appreciate or feel the abundance already in my life.
The shift didn’t happen overnight. But gradually, I began to focus less on what I thought and more on how I felt. I started practicing small acts of gratitude, not just intellectually listing things I was thankful for, but sitting with those feelings until I could feel a genuine warmth in my chest. I learned to notice scarcity when it showed up—not just the thoughts, but the tightness in my body and the undercurrent of fear—and to consciously challenge it.
It was through these small, consistent practices that I began to reclaim a sense of abundance—not the kind you can count in a bank account, but the kind that fills your heart.
The Physiology of Scarcity and Abundance
Scarcity narrows our focus and activates a stress response, making us reactive, defensive, and less open to possibility. In contrast, abundance expands our awareness, creating a sense of calm and creativity. When we live in abundance, our bodies reflect it: our breath slows, our muscles relax, and we move through the world with a sense of ease.
This is why mindset alone isn’t enough. Abundance isn’t just a thought—it’s something we feel in our hearts and bodies.
How to Cultivate Abundance in Both Mindset and Heartset
If abundance is both a thought and a feeling, how do we cultivate it? Here are three practices that have made a difference in my life:
Gratitude with Feeling
Write down three things you’re grateful for each day, but don’t stop there. Pause, close your eyes, and feel your gratitude. Notice where it shows up in your body—maybe as warmth in your chest or a sense of lightness in your shoulders.
Reframe Scarcity Moments
When scarcity shows up, don’t fight it—get curious about it. Ask yourself: What story am I telling myself right now?Then reframe that story. For example, “I don’t have enough time” might become, “I have the time I need for what matters most.”
Practice Generosity
Generosity fosters abundance by shifting our focus from what we lack to what we can give. This doesn’t have to be grand—offering your full attention in a conversation or sharing a kind word can remind you of the wealth you already have.
A New Lens for Scarcity and Abundance
The experience I had in that earlier chapter of my life taught me that abundance is not something you “achieve.” It’s a way of being, cultivated moment by moment through our thoughts, emotions, and actions.
Scarcity will still show up—it’s part of being human. But when we integrate mindset and heartset, we create a foundation of abundance that sustains us, regardless of our circumstances.
So let me ask you: Where is scarcity showing up in your life, and how might you shift your focus toward abundance—not just in thought, but in feeling?
