. . . WHO? Really -- Who is the most deserving of freedom in this country? In the world? Who is the least? If we are all supposed to be equal, then why is everyone desperately making a case for their group's causes, or even for a cause of a group or groups they are representing -- whether they be defined by socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, race, gender, or some other manner of identification? How did we get to this desperate place of fighting over freedom, as if we must snatch it before it disappears? Have we become so distanced from the actual meaning of freedom that we consider it a prize to be won by the the person who gets the most attention? Even when our efforts are focused on others whom we consider the most deserving or the most needy, why are we competing? Have we so carelessly abandoned the precious gift of freedom in favor of greed, as if we are clambering for the last bit of sustenance on the earth?
I know -- most of the answers have to do with RESOURCES and the means of attaining them. Between my work and my life as a single working parent, I am not a stranger to the fear that comes with focusing on lack (of $$, especially), and attending to fear . . . and I also know that resources are limited in many parts of the world. We have, indeed, been careless in our human tendencies to do whatever it takes to survive -- even if it means knocking out our neighbors. These base (as in base-of-the-brain) motivations evolved from our survival-of-the-fittest ancient ancestors, who had not yet developed the ability to reason or consider the needs of others beyond their own. The residual impact on the modern brain is that, like my 15-year-old noted recently, humans are the only animals whose inventions and nutrition choices work against them. Our children may be the first to have shorter life-spans than their parents (see this). We are the only species to use cognition in consistently self-destructive ways, in spite of constant advances in science. Without incorporating values into our lives and practicing them, to over-consume, to waste, to destroy -- even when it is not our intention, and to take more than we need.
I am also in deep distress regarding the recent election results here in this chaotic jumble of states (that I am not able to call United right now). I am also in a process of deep reflection regarding the current climate of hatred and blame.
A simple concept I learned as a child has expanded into an anchor of hope for me, especially when I feel that there is not enough goodness in the universe to overcome the harm we do to each other and the earth. It began with something my mom taught us in our home. She warned us to avoid having a scarcity mentality, and to celebrate the success of others instead viewing someone else's gains as our losses.
I have never forgotten the limitations of a scarcity mentality, even when it has been most difficult for me -- like the times I did not make it for, get into, or win something because someone else was better than me . . . or they got a break . . . or they knew someone . . . or other reasons not known to me. Other times, it has been tempting to feel like an accomplishment was less meaningful if many people succeeded (i.e. everyone got an A in a class) than if only a few people achieved the same level of success.
I know -- most of the answers have to do with RESOURCES and the means of attaining them. Between my work and my life as a single working parent, I am not a stranger to the fear that comes with focusing on lack (of $$, especially), and attending to fear . . . and I also know that resources are limited in many parts of the world. We have, indeed, been careless in our human tendencies to do whatever it takes to survive -- even if it means knocking out our neighbors. These base (as in base-of-the-brain) motivations evolved from our survival-of-the-fittest ancient ancestors, who had not yet developed the ability to reason or consider the needs of others beyond their own. The residual impact on the modern brain is that, like my 15-year-old noted recently, humans are the only animals whose inventions and nutrition choices work against them. Our children may be the first to have shorter life-spans than their parents (see this). We are the only species to use cognition in consistently self-destructive ways, in spite of constant advances in science. Without incorporating values into our lives and practicing them, to over-consume, to waste, to destroy -- even when it is not our intention, and to take more than we need.
I am also in deep distress regarding the recent election results here in this chaotic jumble of states (that I am not able to call United right now). I am also in a process of deep reflection regarding the current climate of hatred and blame.
A simple concept I learned as a child has expanded into an anchor of hope for me, especially when I feel that there is not enough goodness in the universe to overcome the harm we do to each other and the earth. It began with something my mom taught us in our home. She warned us to avoid having a scarcity mentality, and to celebrate the success of others instead viewing someone else's gains as our losses.
I have never forgotten the limitations of a scarcity mentality, even when it has been most difficult for me -- like the times I did not make it for, get into, or win something because someone else was better than me . . . or they got a break . . . or they knew someone . . . or other reasons not known to me. Other times, it has been tempting to feel like an accomplishment was less meaningful if many people succeeded (i.e. everyone got an A in a class) than if only a few people achieved the same level of success.
I have since come to understand that not having a scarcity mentality encompasses much more than being happy for someone else when they win.
Disclaimer: Before I continue, let me be clear about Donald Trump's recent gain. This will not be celebrated by me, since he harmed too many people to "win" a position. He has not contributed to a foundation of abundance, which requires safety to flourish. Instead, he has magnified fears and emphasized scarcity. His agenda of bullying or sweet-talking people into following him is based in fear, and it will not withstand or abide the agenda of real freedom -- "liberty and justice for all." *
I have learned through some pretty heart-wrenching experiences how expansive an abundance mentality is, and how it is the answer to all problems where people are concerned about distribution of resources. Each time that I have witnessed or been directly involved in a situation that has been approached with an abundance mentality, there has been an increase of energy, strength, and resources to pour into the solution. To be honest, these occurrences have been rare in my experience. Most organizations I have belonged to have encouraged (maybe without realizing it) competition and division more than unity. This does not mean that competition functions only with a scarcity mentality, but it takes a lot of humility and hard work to create an atmosphere of unity and love in a competitive environment.
While some of my abundance-guided experiences have been in a spiritual setting, I consider these water to wine or loaves and fishes experiences transcendent of the expectations embedded in a particular religion or group. However, choosing an abundance mentality does require belief in something larger than what seems readily and tangibly apparent. Abundance solutions rely on the integration of diverse qualities to create something better than we could each create on our own, or within a closed group. Abundance will not thrive, or even develop enough to survive, if a problem is approached with fear. It requires compassion and understanding -- including openness to the viewpoints of others -- to incorporate a solution based on abundance.
I have seen this play out with efforts to help the poor and needy, to improve the environment, to solve major public and mental health problems, and to expand services of all kinds to people in need. I have even seen it in politics, although the mainstream media does not usually publish these examples. Whether it happens among family members, friends, employees, among members of communities, it is about recognizing the benefits of sharing knowledge and resources.
It is, in essence, about the value of sharing. The willingness to be generous attracts and creates in others the desire to share.
Of course, this approach is not a substitute for recognizing real problems that need to be addressed, but rather it is an attitude that naturally leads to real solutions for problems.
Without an abundance mentality, I would not have hope for the future. I am grateful for those who have expanded my understanding of abundance, and who have increased my ability to love well beyond the limitations of my fears.
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