How scarcity drives your behaviour and how to change it

I don’t have enough … time
I don’t have enough … money
I don’t have enough … fun
I don’t have enough … willpower
I don’t have enough … motivation
I don’t have enough … talent
I don’t have enough … full stop.

Have you ever found yourself thinking similar thoughts? Do you lament the lack of something in your life? Do you wish that something could be different?

Mine is the first one. Time. I often feel like there is not enough time. Some days I feel like there just isn’t enough time to do all that I need to do. Some days I yearn for some more time to try something new. Some days I feel as though time is travelling at warp speed, literally whizzing by in front of my eyes. I look back and think, wow, where did all that time go? I look forward and worry that there’s not enough time left.

This feeling that time is scarce directs me towards certain behaviours. It drives me to search for the magic bullet, that one productivity hack that will solve my lack of time problem. It causes me to persist with multi-tasking — anything from taking phone calls while walking the dog to listening to a podcast while writing an article. I skip lunch because there’s no time to eat. I move at a fast pace, especially when doing everyday tasks. My language reflects this. I zip to the shops. I dash across town to a meeting. I run errands. So much of what I do, and how I do it, reflects the underpinning feeling that time is scarce. A precious resource that I must make the most of. This scarcity mindset around time can leave me feeling frustrated and discontent.

The opposite of scarcity is abundance. An abundance mindset helps us to see that if we move from thinking there’s never enough, to thinking there’s always enough, we can make choices and behave in a more effective way.

I have been working on bringing a more abundant view to my relationship with time. Less zipping and dashing in my worry that time is running out. Instead being more mindful and purposeful in all that I do.

Today has been the perfect example of my abundant thinking in action. I started the day with a breakfast with a great bunch of people in my local network. In the past, I would have skipped this opportunity based largely on time — or a lack of it. Think of what I would have missed. The chance to have heartfelt discussions on the challenges of running a small business, to laugh (and, thankfully, not cry) about the ups and downs of life and work. To learn tips and techniques about marketing and social media and presenting your authentic self to the world. To support others who are facing tougher times. To encourage and celebrate others successes. Simply, I would have missed the opportunity for connection.

Later on, I took some time out from meetings and work to attend my son’s school science fair. Whilst I always make time for these events (after all, this is why I run my own business), there are times when I feel stressed about trying to fit everything in to the limited hours in a day. With an abundant view on time, I release myself from this stress. I tell myself that this is a true representation of the freedom I seek through running my own business. I can see that I am gifting my son, and myself, with attending this special event and, even moreso, by being present and engaged in the event. Oh, and what a gift it was. I spend my working life supporting people to act with curiosity, to explore new ideas and ways of doing things, to practice and experiment, to envision a different future, to work together in teams, to communicate and connect, to create a people-centred culture. All of these things, and more, were on display today from this group of 12 year olds. I meandered through the different displays, I listened in wonder and awe at the ideas and results of the experiments, I was uplifted by the confident voices explaining their work to teachers, parents and fellow students. [Oh, and I vowed never to drink from a school drinking fountain ever!] I didn’t check the time, I didn’t feel pressured, I didn’t rush through. I genuinely got lost in the moment of learning and joy.

When I approach time from an abundant mindset, the weird thing that happens is that time works with me. There truly is enough time. I could have panicked that I didn’t have the time to prepare for tomorrow’s board meeting and client coaching session. Or to meet my writing deadlines today. I could have changed my behaviour accordingly and said no to these two events. I would have missed out on amazing experiences. But I didn’t. And what needed to get done, got done. Minus the stress. Instead with joy and purpose.

A more abundant relationship with time takes practice for me. It is something I must remain mindful and vigilant about. When I distil this practice, I see three keys to thinking and behaviour.

Listen for language: Being mindful of what I’m saying or thinking. What words am I using? Am I speaking a language of scarcity? Do I hear myself think or say, ‘I don’t have time for that’ or ‘where did that day go?’. These are the triggers to know that I am slipping more towards a scarcity mindset than an abundant one. I deliberately use more abundant language. I tell myself there is an abundance of time. I say ‘yes, we can make that work’ and ‘I will find time for that’.
Re-assess priorities: A regular review of how I’m spending my time ensures that I am not taking on things that don’t match my values or needs. Accepting that I am always going to have a long list of things I am doing, and want to be doing. Realistically assess the time needed to do a task and to complete a project. Remember that most of what I am working on is a long game. An hour here or a day there is not going to make a huge difference.
Be grateful and generous: Gratitude is at the heart of an abundance mindset. Focusing on what you do have and being thankful for that. Not comparing yourself to others (switch off social media if that helps). Focus on what you do achieve with your time, not what is left on the to-do list at the end of a day. Be generous with your time and energy. See these as a gift that you can bestow upon others and a gift for yourself.

If you return to the statements at the beginning of this post, can you remove the “I don’t have enough”? How can you apply abundant thinking to these in your own life? It’s a practice that gets easier the more you do it. An abundant practice is in itself abundant.

Simply remember, there is always enough.