Abundance Versus Scarcity

What would it be like if we celebrated one another’s success and happiness instead of resenting it and seeing it as taking away from our potential position of success or happiness?

?I was walking with my husband, and we were chatting about random subjects that came around during yoga. He mentioned a yoga teacher who succeeded partly due to a brilliant plan to offer free yoga classes on YouTube. I found myself making a snarky comment about her. Then I thought, what the hell? This woman is a sister. A fellow yoga teacher and successful entrepreneur who has made some excellent choices, and I am genuinely happy for her and proud to have a sister succeed in a challenging market. Look how easy it is for my ego to sneak in and whisper, “I should have done the videos; I could have succeeded, too.”

?The fact is, I have succeeded. Maybe not as a famous yoga teacher, but I am a yoga teacher, and that is enough. I am also a coach, writer, volunteer, activist, poet, sister, auntie, Gemini, etc. Her success does not take away from my own.

?An attitude of scarcity means that there is one pie, and if another person gets a piece, there is less pie for me and a limited amount left, so I need to hustle to get fed. In other words, when I apply for a job, and Jane receives it, it is easy to resent Jane because there are only seven pieces of pie left, and when those pieces are gone, I am screwed.

?On the other hand, an attitude of abundance allows for acceptance, grace, and gratitude. Jane gets the job, and I trust that while there are seven pieces left in this pie, an infinite number of pies, all different flavors, exist, and there will be a delicious piece just right for me. I am genuinely happy for my sister Jane, proud of her, and free to move forward and search for my flavor.

The next time you find yourself comparing yourself to another woman, either being smug at your superiority or bitter at her perceived elevated status, pause for a moment and consider what it might be like to consider her your sister instead of a rival. Consider that relative placement regarding happiness or success is an illusion and serves no purpose but to keep you in a judgmental state. Practice gratitude, generosity, and grace. Wish her well and support her in any way you can. You might be surprised by how this changes your perspective on life.