Scarcity Bias
Most of us have heard about how important gratitude is for mental health and wellbeing.
What I didn’t realise is that the odds are stacked against gratitude by a pesky thing called Scarcity Bias.
Scarcity Bias (or Scarcity Mindset) describes how our minds are naturally drawn to pay attention to our unfulfilled needs. When we realise that something is missing, it tends to grow in focus and significance, and gets in the way of us noticing what we already have.
For many of us though, Scarcity Mindset isn’t about having the next gadget or material thing.
It’s about the stress, anxiety and frustration that comes up when we’re constantly telling ourselves we don’t have enough time, enough energy, enough patience, enough motivation, enough money, enough free time, enough friends…..or enough of anything else!
Our thinking is so often from a place of not enough. This kind of thinking saps our energy, narrows our focus and depletes the resources that we do have.
For me, I’ve noticed it showing up as my kids get older. They are now far more independent after school than they used to be so I often plan to get a little more work done while they do their homework. I get frustrated though when I’m inevitably interrupted because I’m focused on how much I could do with just a bit more time. I forget how much more time I have now than I used to.
What can we do?
Be Aware – We can be on the lookout for Scarcity Bias and question our thoughts.
Shift Our Perspective –Try not to see scarcity as frustrating problem, but a signal that we need to make choices. Get clear on your priorities and be ‘all in’ with what you choose.
Stop Searching for the Ideal – Life is messy, rushed and usually happens with lots of limitations and circumstances we’d like to be different. Try to let go of unrealistic ideals, and be open to the possibility that those things that are less than ideal may actually turn out to be a blessing.
Remember Who We Want To Be – If we want to show up in the world as people who are grateful, generous, healthy, with good relationships and a positive outlook - gratitude will help us move towards that.
Does Scarcity Bias show up for you? If so, when and around what issues?