We live in a world that believes scarcity is real.
It’s both a psychology and a choice, a choice often inflicted on others by people in power. In truth, abundance is a natural state. Nature has no limits. There is enough food on the planet to feed the world. There’s no limit to the air, water, and means of creating or providing shelter to all people. This is not what we see, but it is what’s possible. Scarcity has taken over as a dominant belief in most societies, including ours. It’s a trance.
Scarcity hinders our personal expression and we think from it whenever we make a choice. It’s scarcity that causes you to take the first opportunity, date, or deal that comes your way. It’s scarcity that makes it hard to say no to “great opportunities” even when they’re not great for you. A belief in scarcity leads to unfulfilling choices. It drives you to settle–to take what’s available and make the best of it. This may be inconsequential, or even beneficial, when you have an urgent need and can use whatever is before you as a bridge to get through a challenging time and onto something better. Yet, it negatively impacts the trajectory of your life when you use it a guiding force.
In her 20’s, Barbara had a passion for art.
She dreamed of becoming a fine art dealer or curator. Barbara’s family had no understanding of the art business. It was foreign and scary to them. They didn’t want to see Barbara fail and be unable to support herself, so in the name of love, they shared their doubts and discouragement with her. Around that time, Barbara was offered an administrative management job at the local hospital. The job paid well, offered great benefits and was very stable. For Barbara’s mother, it was a dream come true. She beamed with pride and spent endless hours convincing her that this job was perfect. She told Barbara that she had to take it because she was “very lucky” to have been offered it and warned her not to be “foolish” and pass it up. “Opportunities like this don’t come along for everyone,” her mother admonished.
Barbara took the job.
Twenty years have passed and her passion for art remains. Over the years, opportunities to explore a career in the arts have come up, but her family’s (and now her own) scarcity arguments have held her in place–clinging to an unfulfilling career. It’s become intolerably painful. The realization that by choosing the sure thing she’s betrayed her passion and spent decades existing in what, to her is, mediocrity makes her weep.
Now the stakes are higher and she has more to lose. She has children, a mortgage and two dogs. It’s much harder to take a major risk. Our work together revolves around finding opportunities that support her dream and keep her life functioning, too.
We’re succeeding.
Barbara is working at a major museum on the weekends and has created a partnership with an artist she admires. The scarcity that’s run her life has been outweighed by the anguish of acknowledging her mortality and realizing she’s slept on her dreams. She’s driven and determined to create the life she’s been wanting for twenty-years. She will.
What might the last years have been if Barbara hadn’t lived from scarcity? How would her life be different if she”d made choices from a belief in abundant opportunities?
How might your life be different if you lived from a place of unlimited possibility and abundance?
When I determined to change my future, I had nothing but my belief in possibility.
I was broke, a dropout, on welfare, a single mom with no connections. I shudder to think about the life I’d be living if I’d believed in scarcity and clung to my first jobs (server at an ice cream shop, assistant at a Uhaul office, door to door insurance salesperson, corporate assistant). Thankfully, I was wise or foolish enough, depending on your perspective (abundance or scarcity), to know that while the odds seemed to be against me, they were irrelevant. Somehow, I knew that life confirms beliefs–whatever they are. I believed that ultimately I would have personal and professional success on my terms. Barbara’s bills have been paid for the last twenty years, but she’s gone bankrupt in the dream department. It wasn’t worth it.
Life is full of ups and downs, it just is, and no path is free of challenges. Clinging to safety won’t save you. Believe in abundance–it’s the fundamental state of creation. Be smart and make the short-term choices that get you from place to place with the most ease as you travel to the place on your path where your passion, purpose, and prosperity intersect. This place exists.
Believe it in and you’ll see it.
What one belief has held you back the most? Please share your answer in the comments below. ~ Cynthia
Brilliant. This is getting tacked to my dream board. I will read it everyday. Cynthia you are the woman!
Made me lol, Elizabeth 🙂
Wow this spoke to me I do feel the scarcity. I don’t have a job and am just chasing after any job that will have me I want to make YouTube videos and work in a creative environment and travel the world but I am shy and being broke scares me as av grown up watching my mum struggle. This artical just made me realise my negative money beliefs for some reson I think if I become wealthy my or my fiancée family are going to bother us for money because in both are family histories I know this is unrelated but how do you get rid of those negative money thiughts.
Kliyah – release them, correct them, prove them wrong in little and then bigger ways – be patient and believe in yourself. YOU CAN GROW AND CHANGE. Here’s a video med to support you – bookmark it and get some new beliefs about money https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUfhpjm3y-E
WOW that was a great meditation thank you am so happy i stumbled across your site.
I came across a great book (bit intense though) called The Energy Of Money by Maria Nemeth PhD. Joseph Campbell said, ‘How we do money is how we do life.’ Maria’s second book is Mastering Life’s Energies – as money is a form of energy. I got so much from reading that 10 years ago. The struggle isn’t about ‘getting rid of negative thoughts’ it’s more like changing a point of view so you see things differently, more clearly, like you’ve taken a step back.
I love the way you write. I relate to this rather profoundly, as I am just like Barbara…. with an artist and a writer inside, and some alignment with scarcity the likes of a starving monster. It’s been 30 very long years for me, in the desert, so to speak, and I weep heavily over this price tag for my dreams, some of which I’ve buried so deep I have trouble identifying them with certainty any more. I am a single mother of an 8-year-old, working in a job I hate. I have hated it for a very long time. I’m 54 years old, in the throes of menopause, and my dominant expression now is deep crying. A lot of deep weeping, for all that I miss about myself, and my possibilities. Not crying for the sake of it…. it’s holy, sacred crying. Not sure how the path will unfold for me. I’ve mastered the art of convincing myself that “all is well.” Scary shit.
First Lori, big hugs to you. I’m so sorry. Second, PLEASE do SOMETHING I don’t care how small to give your gift some regular, directed expression. Start an online store (etsy), create a website, writing somewhere – I can’t give you better ideas without more information. You MUST find a way to give life to your yearnings. If you’d like I would welcome you into our private facebook group – it’s a group of like-minded women who would inspire and support you as well as share their challenges. Let me know if you’d like that. Warm love to you.
Hi Cynthia…. thank you for this reply. I am just now seeing it, I believe, for the first time. I adore your work. I am taking steps, to be sure. If I could stop weeping, and get out of my own way for awhile, things would be a bit easier. I’m working on self forgiveness right now. I’ll take you up on your offer to be a part of the group, and begin posting there. I’ve been embarrassed to “come out!” Much love, Lori
What resonated the most for me was one sentence: “life confirms beliefs-whatever they are.” I live in fear. That needs to stop.
Big hugs to you Ruth. Yes, that’s your work, but know that we hold a high vision of you living in peace, love and abundance. All things exist in mind first and for us it exists. Step into it 🙂
I am not sure how to do what you have said. I am the sole provider for
my family and barely make it now. In 2 weeks I finish college at the
age of 34, but am already finding it difficult to move into my career
choice. I want better for my whole family. We live in Public Housing,
get food stamps and am still asking for help from my parents just to
make it each month. I am not even sure what my dreams are anymore. I
know I want out of the Welfare system which I have been in for 14 years,
I want a house of my own, and I HAVE literally had vivid dreams of me
painting. I am beginning to think some of my own fears are interfering
with me getting into Public Relations which was my goal when I started
college. I just have lost so much hope and faith in the world.
Hi Angela – slow, steady, intentional and inspired step. Do what you must to cover your immediate needs, but take time every day to take an action toward your ultimate vision. My audiobook the 7 Steps to Manifesting Your Heart’s Desires is just what you need to guide you.
I’m sending you a scholarship/free copy. You’ll learn how:
–to let go of the past to create space for your dreams;
–to catch your unique vision of success;
–to co-create with a friendly Universe;
–to stay motivated and moving forward;
–to let go without giving up; and
–to get out of your own way and manifest your heart’s desires.
Take a listen, do the work, apply the steps and get back to me. You can have the life and success you want. I’m not going to sugar coat it, you’lI have challenges–worthwhile challenges that leave you with skills and attributes that are vital for success. I believe in you. Now you believe in you, too (unconsciously you already know this – your dreams are telling 🙂 )
Love to you!
It seems like every time my husband and I take good steps to fix our finances and move forward, we get slapped with some unexpected bill, medical expense, or something else… We’re in our early 30’s, living with his family (partially because he works for them and it’s an easy commute 😉 ) but I can’t help wondering if we’ll ever accomplish our dreams – home ownership, taking our kids on exploratory vacations, heck, just being able to pay for ballet lessons for our daughter would be lovely.
PS – on one of your last shows, mine was one of the questions you answered – I was the young woman who has written a book and dreams of being published. Your answer, and that of your guest that day, made me weep because I felt you really cared and want me to succeed. Thank you for that <3
Failure and not knowing what I am here to fo.
You are not a failure dear one, because in order to fail you must quit trying, everything else is a bump on the road to success. As far as what you are here to do, the answer is already inside you. I promise. Trust that this is true and let it show itself. Sometimes we look so hard that we miss what we looking for. Love to you <3
One of the most powerful ways I stepped out of my scarcity trance was volunteering on an organic farm. Mother Nature gives such an abundance of fresh food over and over again – have you seen how many apples are on one apple tree? I’m looking to volunteer with a local urban fruit and nut harvesting organization next year called “Hidden Harvest” – who go to families homes, pick the fruit and nuts on the trees, which are shared with the families, the volunteers and the food bank – one tree gives that much food. There is so much abundance all around, you just need to open your eyes! This shift is slowly starting to show up in other ways, very real positive ways 🙂
Ahhh, what a gorgeous comment. Thank you, Beautiful One.
I have a dream, it is something I have wanted to do for a long time. But here in the UK it would be considered new. I spoke to a business advisor at my bank once and he basically told me I had no credentials to back me up and get the work. I took that advice on and have updated my skills and knowledge. But am now trapped into having to take a job in my field to pay the rent and live. I would love to just go for it and start, but at the same time I am filled with self doubt. Can I do it? Will I get work? Like you, I would have to walk the walk and do it myself in order to help others. Is it too soon? Should I work in the field fir a while first to further update myself? But it is a difficult and failing field in the UK. I have resigned myself to taking small steps each day towards achieving my dreams. To gradually finding the right place for my feet on this tangled path. I want to believe in my self and keep trying too. Is that enough for now?
That I would no more be supported by my family, (Where as I know I don’t need it), and their criticism, and on-the-face discouragement.
I am lost and I have to figure that question out. So far your writings Cynthia, have sparked a small flame that is seeking yours and your followers insight. Thank you!
I too can relate. I do have a brain for numbers but am very artistic as well. I have been in Accounting now for 11 years, as I am a single Mom with 4 kids and my job is secure. I work for my Dad’s accounting business. It drains me. I have no passion for it. And yet, part of me doesn’t know what I even want to do with the rest of my life and the other part feels obligated to stay on as our business has grown substantially and there is no way my Dad could do it on his own. He already works probably 18 hours a day (I am not exaggerating). So I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Not to mention, providing enough for my children. I know I need to break this cycle…just not sure how to.
Maybe start with a casual/part time reduction (hire some outside help if you have to). It sounds like your dad is working too hard (I know we ‘have to’ in our own businesses but we aren’t made to be dragged ALL the time). Maybe start with some course that interests you. Something that makes your heart sing or brings a smile to your face.
I was stuck for AGES trying to be ‘at one’ so I could hear the faint voice whisper to me what I really wanted… and it came down to me liking, no, make that loving, making movies. Yep – I went to film school just before my 40th birthday (my mum couldn’t say no this time!) Two years later, i’ve graduated and making my way again (feel like a school leaver all over again in some ways).
It’s project work and not a regular 9-5 gig, so now that I’m hearing the sound of crickets – it’s easy to backslide into scarcity (no arts funding, blah blah blah) when I ought to be thankful that I’m not a single mum anymore and actually I am supported even if I make up stories in my mind that I’m not because it doesn’t always feel that way.
Brandie – If you knew that you HAD to change (imagine something crazy like – you must change this or peace in the free world will end), you’d find a way. Sometimes life implodes and we have no choice, but to take a different path and in time, looking back, we realize we could have changed on our own. There’s a solution here. Make the priority higher to find it. <3
I used to believe I would never find a relationship I deserved. When I believed that I would, I finally found the right man for me! Thank you God!
feeling unable to relate to people, social anxiety and phobia… seems to be my ultimate downfall… in person… I shrink back…
Renee, I did an interview last week and shared the extreme fear and anxiety I used to experience whenever I spoke to anyone – listen here: http://lifemasteryradio.net/?p=4505
You CAN grow through this and be rid of it <3
thank you Cynthia <3… I listened to it and will again … your story is always inspiring! it's the inner crack in my self esteem that this anxiety causes that is maybe just as crippling as the anxiety itself… I haven't hid behind a (was it a projector?) and that's because I freeze as well because I try to "not let on" what I am feeling… and yet that doesn't help, but neither does saying I'm anxious ugh.. lol I am working on it! I will be getting back to BLS now that summer is starting…
That I would never make the income that I desire.
The believe that I wasn’t good enough and/or didn’t deserve it.
Hugs, Matt.
I’m not really sure where my scarcity thinking came from. I don’t think money is evil. I believe it can be a wonderful tool and open many doors for sharing abundance. I’ve never really been able to narrow down where I’m blocked or why. I’m making an appointment with a highly referred Reiki healer soon. Hopefully she can help shed some light…
The deck is sort of stacked against having a wealth mindset. Schools teach you to be an employee or a specialist, how to fit within the structure. In truth, the wealthiest people don’t adhere to that teaching or structure. They create a different path, one far less commonly shared because it’s unique and seemingly less secure. Expanding your vision of what’s possible for you is a big step. We are our own limitations.