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First, don’t panic. Your work life isn’t a race that’ll be over in a minute. This is a longer game. But these feelings can result in a sense of panic as you feel you’re getting left behind. You are turning up to work each day and lasting the slog. It’s just those around you who seem to be getting ahead, and you feel left behind. It can be depressing and frustrating.
It’s a horrible feeling. And it can be a frightening feeling. You don’t have to live in this space. You can change your thinking . . . and your circumstances.
There’s heaps you can do in this space.
Let’s start with understanding this type of thinking . . . scarcity thinking, and how it can impact you:
“A scarcity mindset is characterized by a pervasive belief that resources, including financial, emotional, or social resources, are limited.” Positivepsychology.com
©A-Z Quotes
Like a lot of these blogs, the key is in changing your mindset from scarcity thinking to an abundance mentality. Shifting from a fear of missing out, which can suck the peace out of your day (and heighten a form of panic) to an abundance mentality where you see the endless opportunities that surround you and walk in a quiet confidence that things will work out. And you can get ahead!
©Medium.com
Notice the contrast? Scarcity Thinking tends to have a poverty mindset. The feeling that you’re missing out is linked to a thinking that there is not enough to go around. And it makes you very self-centered as you are in survival mode. You can become suspicious of others and hold your work tightly. You read into conversations and can have a tendency to overthink. It’s really not a healthy space to be.
An Abundance Mentality on the other hand sees the opportunities that surround you. So much that you can help others, knowing that you are helping yourself in the process. Know that you don’t hold all the keys and hold a curious, learning posture. What can you learn from others that will make you more effective?
Act your way into a new way of thinking. Changing your thinking can be difficult – what if we started to act out an abundance mentality and see if it shifts our scarcity thinking. It won’t feel right and everything within you will want to hold on to the scarcity thinking. But there are piles of opportunities out there.
Here’s three simple things you can do now to start the shift away from scarcity thinking:
- Look for ways to be generous and help others
- Write a couple of positive notes to others this week. Look for good work and acknowledge it.
- Be grateful. Make a list of the good around you and what you are grateful for.
And review the blog on growth mindset (Blog 12) I’ve just lost all my confidence. 10 practical things you can do today to build it back. PART 1
Remember, the value in these blogs is the in-between spaces. Give yourself time to reflect and apply these simple steps. Give growth mindset and abundance mentality a chance to take root. Next week we’ll provide some practical steps to get ahead of that race you feel is getting away from you.
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