I wish I had Superman underwear like my three young grandsons have! They remind me of when I was a little boy. I would watch Superman on TV, and he would always say, “Up, Up and Away” right before he took flight!
After watching Superman, I would pretend to have his superhero powers. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories but as an adult, I now see it was also a great learning experience!
Here are the five truths I learned from the Superman TV series:
- Be content with who you are even though you may be different.
- Be a person with strong character qualities.
- Teach your children to behave in a principled way, and model this in your own behavior.
- Use your gifts to benefit others and protect others from those who use evil means and who are self-centered.
- Always have a positive and an abundance mindset.
People with an abundance mindset believe that today’s short-term pain, sacrifice, and investment in time, energy, and money, will eventually bring long-term growth, blessings, and success.
It turns out that people who adopt an abundance mindset, approach life, challenges, and opportunities in a principled way that literally paves the way for them to succeed.
Every person can adopt a more abundant mindset by observing the differences in abundant and scarcity thinking.
The following are examples of abundant thinkers and scarcity thinkers:
Enough for Everyone
Abundant thinkers know there is enough in the world for everyone to share in a piece of the pie.
They understand that the more you share in a principled way, the more the abundance grows.
Scarcity thinkers believe there is not enough of anything to go around. They fear that there will not be enough for them, especially if they share with others.
Don’t Compare with Others
Abundant thinkers don’t compare themselves with others – only with themselves.
They set realistic goals and then work to achieve them. They encourage others to do the same.
Their goals are based (in a principled way) upon a logical study of achievable results in each step.
Scarcity thinkers continually ask themselves why they aren’t like others or why they do not have the things others have.
If the “others” are younger, prettier/more handsome, the “others” are perceived to have an advantage.
They also lead (in an expedient way) by keeping their workers subservient, since equality would be viewed as competition.
Win/Win
Abundant thinkers find common ground with their colleagues. They know that unresolved conflict is wasted time and energy and subtracts from an abundant environment.
They see win-win and assume that there is a way for all concerned to profit and thrive. They understand that constructive criticism (in a principled way) helps others to grow.
Scarcity thinkers want to be at the center of attention because they want all they can get for themselves.
They know (sometimes unconsciously) that for this to happen others have to lose.
They think that if they can use expedient means to get something done more quickly, their “win” justifies their “survival of the fittest” approach.
Gratitude
Abundant thinkers live lives of gratitude for the abundance of the world in which they live.
They are positive and upbeat. To them, life is a continuously replenished bowl of fruit – all ripe for the taking.
They teach others how to be positive and to live in gratitude.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:8-9 NIV
Scarcity thinkers are not grateful for what they have.
They see their life‘s accomplishments as the result of only their hard work and are unable to give heartfelt thanks to others for help.
They teach their followers that life’s abundance is limited, and they had better do what they need to do to grab (in an expedient way) the brass ring.
Give Time, Talent, and Treasures
Abundant thinkers know that giving their time, talent, and treasures will come back to them in so many ways, thus increasing the abundance in their own lives.
This principled process strengthens and fosters team-building and creative thinking that supports continual improvement.
Scarcity thinkers do not share. After all, they are driven by a deep-seated belief (in an expedient way) that there isn’t enough to go around, so they cannot afford to give anything away.
They truly believe that if they share their knowledge or wealth, they will lose power and possessions both now and in the future.
The freedom and success enjoyed by abundant thinkers becomes obvious when we contrast it with the limiting beliefs of scarcity thinkers.
Just like Kryptonite affects Superman, scarcity thinking weakens our effectiveness and keeps us from realizing our full potential.
What do those closest to you say about you? Do you have an abundance mindset or a scarcity mindset? Please share your comments <here> and share this blog post with a friend or co-worker.
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