Scarcity Creates Stress ā Abundance Creates Freedom. Which Will You Choose?
Sep 17, 2025
Scarcity Holds You Back — Abundance Moves You Forward
You may have noticed that two people can face the same situation, but see it completely differently. One person may feel stuck, afraid, or limited, while the other person feels hopeful, creative, and open to possibilities. The difference often comes down to mindset — specifically, whether they’re looking through the lens of scarcity or abundance.
We’ve all seen examples of people who came from poor or rough backgrounds, to being happy, and abundant (eg. Oprah Winfrey, Sly Stallone). We’ve also seen examples of people who are given opportunities for an abundance of riches, yet let them go through their fingers (eg. Mike Tyson made a lot of money in his time, but then lost it all). And we’ve all heard stories of people who won the Lotto, yet within a few years were at the same financial spot they were beforehand, or worse off. (I personally know someone who won a good amount via Tattslotto, and had spent it all within a year.) Note this is not always the case – you can upgrade a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, which can help you upgrade your money mindset, allowing you to keep the money.
This article will look at each mindset, scarcity and abundance, and how each of them can show up in our everyday life. We will also explore why choosing an abundance mindset can help you change the way you live, work, and connect with others.
“We each have the choice in any setting to step back and let go of the mindset of scarcity. Once we let go of scarcity, we discover the surprising truth of sufficiency. By sufficiency, I don’t mean a quantity of anything. Sufficiency isn’t two steps up from poverty or one step short of abundance. It isn’t a measure of barely enough or more than enough. Sufficiency isn’t an amount at all. It is an experience, a context we generate, a declaration, a knowing that there is enough, and that we are enough. Sufficiency resides inside of each of us, and we can call it forward. It is a consciousness, an attention, an intentional choosing of the way we think about our circumstances.”
Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
What Is a Scarcity Mindset?
A scarcity mindset is when you believe there’s not enough to go around. It’s the constant thought of ‘If they win, I lose’ or ‘There isn’t enough for me.’
There are some common actions & beliefs around scarcity thinking, such as the ones mentioned below.
- Comparing yourself to others and feel less-than.
- Holding on tightly to money, opportunities, or relationships out of fear of losing them.
- Believe success is limited, so someone else’s success means you’re left behind.
- A focus on what you lack rather than what you already have.
For example, imagine a friend gets a promotion at work. With a scarcity mindset, your first thought might be ‘That’s not fair. There goes my chance. I’ll never get ahead.’ Instead of celebrating their win, you feel threatened, because it seems like their success somehow takes away from yours.
I noticed when I was on holiday in Thailand the other day, someone mentioned I should move to Thailand, and I responded that I’d have to get a good (fully sealed) house (due to the pollution) and car (pollution again) and with all the specialised western food and supplements that I’d need (due to various allergies), my initial thought was ‘That’s so expensive, I’d have to be a millionaire to do that.’ Objectively, that may not be the case (although it definitely wouldn’t be cheap). And I could have chosen my words more carefully (and abundantly), saying something like ‘That sounds good. I have other priorities at present, and would need to cost it out, but I’ll keep it in mind for future.’
What Is an Abundance Mindset?
An abundance mindset is when you believe there’s more than enough for everyone. It’s the belief that opportunities, love, success, and happiness aren’t limited – that there’s always enough space for growth, sharing, and creating more. It’s more of a collaborative mindset, helping and sharing, rather than hoarding, which is more aligned with a scarcity mindset.
You tend to see and think differently when you’re living in abundance thinking, such as the examples below.
- You celebrate others’ successes because you know their win doesn’t reduce your chance of success.
- You see challenges as chances to learn and grow, rather than dead ends and wasted time.
- You feel gratitude for what you already have, while staying open to receiving more.
- You share your time, energy, and resources, because you trust that more will flow back to you.
Continuing with our friend getting a promotion example - With an abundance mindset, your thought might be, ‘Good for them! That’s inspiring. If they can do it, so can I. Maybe this is a sign my own opportunity is on the way.’
Another friend I was with in Thailand, clearly demonstrated his abundance mindset while with us. He kept saying ‘We’re on holiday, we can spend money!’ He kept offering to pay for food (which we all did, and shared). And when I think of his life now, he is living in a great house in the suburbs, which he house-sits for the owners, who only visit every so often. He is paying absolute minimal/token rent (nowhere near market rent), while living mostly alone in a great townhouse in a great suburb. His abundance money mindset trusts that money (and great opportunities) will come to him, and that shows in his outer world. (He actually asked me if he could join in my holiday with my friend – so he saw an opportunity, asked, and took it.) His abundance mindset has allowed him to not stress about money, to live cheaply in a great townhouse, and to go on a holiday with others – by seeing opportunities, asking, and taking them.
The Big Difference Between Scarcity and Abundance
The real difference between the two is fear vs. trust.
- Scarcity is driven by fear — fear of not being enough, not having enough, or missing out.
- Abundance is anchored in trust — trust that you are enough, life has enough, and opportunities will keep coming.
Hoarders fear that the items can’t be replaced, and so they don’t get rid of anything ‘just in case’. People with an abundance mindset allow items and money to flow through them, trusting that there is more where that come from, and items can be replenished. They will release items, and get things (even if they rebuy them) – it’s more of a ‘just in time’ mentality.
Benefits of an Abundance Mindset
Choosing abundance over scarcity doesn’t just change how you think — it also changes how you live. There are also a number of powerful benefits living with an abundance mindset.
- Less Stress and Anxiety
A scarcity mindset keeps you on edge, worrying about losing what you have, whereas an abundance mindset brings calm, because you trust there’s always more to come.
- More Gratitude and Joy
When you focus on what you already have, you naturally feel happier and more content. Gratitude becomes part of your daily life – and it’s a much more pleasant and peaceful way to live.
- Better Relationships
A scarcity attitude can make relationships feel competitive or needy. Living with abundance, you give love freely, celebrate the wins of others, and attract healthier, more supportive connections.
- Increased Creativity and Opportunity
Scarcity thinking makes you play small, and avoid risks. Abundance thinking opens your mind — you see possibilities instead of blocks — which leads to more growth, learning, and exciting opportunities.
- Greater Success (on Your Terms)
When you believe there’s enough success to go around, you stop holding yourself back. You take inspired action, and that often leads to even more opportunities.
How to Shift From Scarcity to Abundance
The good news is that mindset is something you can cultivate and practice — you don’t have to stay stuck in scarcity. There are a number of ways to do this, some of which are mentioned below.
- Practice gratitude daily. Write down three things you’re thankful for.
- Celebrate others. When someone succeeds, say ‘That’s wonderful!’ and mean it.
- Notice your words. Replace ‘I can’t’ or ‘I don’t have enough’ with ‘How can I?’ or ‘What do I already have?’ (Our free ’Abundance Starts Within’ challenge can help here.)
- Trust the process. Remind yourself that life is full of opportunities — you don’t need to grab onto one in fear it’s the last one you will see, or the only one that will be offered to you.
Final Thoughts
Both scarcity and abundance mindsets are simply ways of looking at the world. One keeps you trapped in fear, competition, and limitation — while the other frees you to live with gratitude, joy, trust, and growth.
The next time you notice yourself thinking, ‘There’s not enough,’ pause and ask, ‘What if there’s plenty?’ That one small shift can open doors you didn’t even know were there.
Remember, abundance doesn’t mean ignoring challenges — it means choosing to see possibility, even in the middle of them.
šāļø FAQ — Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset
Q1. What is a scarcity mindset?
A scarcity mindset is when you focus on what you don’t have. It’s driven by fear — fear of not being enough, not having enough, or losing what you’ve got. It often leads to stress, comparison, and holding yourself back.
Q2. What is an abundance mindset?
An abundance mindset is the belief that there’s more than enough success, love, and opportunity to go around. It’s about gratitude for what you already have, and trust that life will continue to provide.
Q3. How do I know if I’m stuck in scarcity thinking?
Signs include comparing yourself to others, feeling threatened by their success, worrying about money or opportunities running out, or focusing on what’s missing instead of what’s present.
Q4. What are the benefits of an abundance mindset?
Abundance thinking reduces stress, increases gratitude, improves relationships, boosts creativity, and helps you take action with confidence. It makes life feel lighter, more joyful, and more hopeful.
Q5. Can I shift from scarcity to abundance?
Yes, you most certainly can! It takes practice, but it’s possible. Start with daily gratitude, celebrate the wins of others, and notice when you’re using limiting words like ‘not enough.’ Replacing fear with trust, little by little, builds an abundance mindset. Our free 7-Day Abundance Starts Within Challenge will help with this.
Q6. Is an abundance mindset the same as ignoring problems?
No, it’s not. Abundance doesn’t mean pretending challenges don’t exist — it means facing them with the belief that solutions and opportunities are possible. It gives you a chance to consider the various options (with an open mind, looking for possible solutions), enabling you find the best (and most abundant) option that can work for you. It means having the faith that there are various options available, even if you need to overcome an obstacle to get there.
Additional Resources
Ready to shift from scarcity to abundance thinking? Start noticing where fear shows up in your life, and replace it with trust, gratitude, and possibility. Our free 7-Day Abundance Starts Within Challenge will help you with this.
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References/Further Reading
Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
https://www.nefe.org/news/2018/01/research-statistic-on-financial-windfalls-and-bankruptcy.aspx
Disclaimer
This blog is for general personal growth and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, whether financial, medical, or psychological. Please seek guidance from a qualified professional if you need support for your individual situation.
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