Though we live in an abundant world, many of us are deeply immersed in a scarcity mentality, believing the pie is small and therefore there is not enough to go around. This belief affects every aspect of our lives, whether it is with regard to wealth, opportunities, status, talents, gifts, or success and achievements of any kind. People with a scarcity mentality believe there can be only one winner, only one person in the number one spot, to be good you have to be the best, and if someone else wins, they lose.

These people, with a low sense of self worth, are constantly comparing themselves with others and their self worth comes from doing better than others, from beating others who they look upon as their rivals, their opponents. They also find it difficult to share success with others, and are unable to be happy for anyone else’s achievements.

People with an abundance mentality, on the other hand, have a strong sense of self worth and security, and they believe there is plenty out there for everyone. They believe that there can be multiple winners, multiple people in the spotlight, that many people can share in the prestige, profits and the abundance that the world has to offer; and no one has to lose for them to win.

Stephen R. Covey writes in his highly acclaimed book ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’: “People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit – even with those who help in the production. They also have a very hard time being genuinely happy for the successes of other people – even and sometimes especially members of their own family or close friends and associates. It’s almost as if something is being taken from them when someone else receives special recognition or windfall gain, or has remarkable success or achievement.”