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3 Everyday Examples of Scarcity in My Life
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I first learned about the scarcity mindset from an NPR podcast. For some reason, something about the concept immediately triggered a compelling interest in me. The podcast episode had a couple of intriguing statistics, sure, but that’s not what drove me to learn more.
Scarcity made sense as a brain function. But more than that, it made sense in my life. It made sense for everyone’s lives. As I researched and wrote about the scarcity mindset, I kept coming up with a mental list of where scarcity played a role in my life. Everyday examples of scarcity that affected my thoughts and behaviors.
I guess it’s about time I wrote them down.
What is scarcity?
A scarcity mindset makes us believe that there is never enough. It orients our mind toward unfulfilled needs, making us focus on what we lack rather than on what we have (or could have).
More than just “thinking about something a lot,” scarcity can completely take our mind’s focus and ability away from other things. Researchers refer to this as “mental bandwidth.” Just like a computer can only handle doing so many things at once, so do our brains. If we focus so much attention on the things we’re lacking, we’re not able to focus on anything else.
This is why poverty can literally lower someone’s IQ, or we can get tunnel vision about one thing and completely miss something else.
Scarcity is wired in us from evolutionary times. Back in our caveman days, we needed to focus on what we were lacking to survive. It’s a bottom-up intrusion in our brains, meaning we don’t consciously summon it.
Which is why it’s so powerful.
3 Everyday examples of scarcity in my life
1. Ordering food
I’m what some people might call “cheap” (and what other, wiser people call money-savvy). I’m not particularly eager about spending money on eating out. In my mind, I calculate out how much unnecessary money I’m spending on a meal that I could make myself. Not to mention, I get food-conscious about eating unhealthy.
As a result, I don’t eat out a lot. So when I do go to restaurants, I rarely venture away from my usual orders. What if I don’t like the new meal I order? I don’t want to waste the precious opportunity because they came around so infrequently.
I now understand that an everyday example of scarcity is at play. My mind focuses so much on the lack of eating out that it elevated these moments to a whole new point of emphasis. Gosh, I would stress about what to order (and still do, at times).
Now I try to reassure myself that it’s not the last time I’ll be eating out. I’ll go to many restaurants in my life. If every experience isn’t perfect, it’s okay.
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2. There are too many books!
I love to read, despite not doing it enough. When I get immersed in a good book, I literally feel like I lose my sense of self. For this reason, I love libraries and bookstores. They make my soul happy.
In Portland, Oregon, there’s a bookstore that takes up an entire city block – a true book lover’s haven. However, last time I was there, I didn’t feel the usual joy. Rather than marvel at the sheer numbers of books, I felt stressed. I would never be able to read all the books that I wanted to read!
Scarcity made me see the bookshelves as inevitable unfulfillment.
I need to remind myself to focus on and cherish the ones that I do read.
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3. Pack the travel itinerary
Traveling is a passion of mine, and I’m fortunate to work at a job that allows me to traverse the world. My cousin Callie is my original traveling partner in crime. We’re known for our detailed itineraries and carefully thought-out plans.
Ten destinations in twelve days with thirteen bus trips and seven overnight reservations? Check, check, check. For our first big trip to Ireland, we made a loop of the entire country. We wanted to see as much as possible.
This “don’t miss anything” attitude stayed with me for all my trips. I tried to soak up every experience, filling my trip to the brim with plans. When I went down with a bad fever in Switzerland and Italy, I cursed the daily three-hour naps I needed to take. All I could focus on were the experiences I was missing out on during that time.
When I plan for trips now, I assure myself that my traveling days are far from over. I can always go back to a country, or prioritize something different on my next trip. I can’t see it all, so instead of focusing on what I miss, I must appreciate what I see.
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The Effects of Everyday Examples of Scarcity
These three everyday examples of scarcity all demonstrate how scarcity has played a role in my life. In all of them, scarcity took something joyful and turned it into stress. My brain’s tendency to focus on what was lacking made me neglect the positive experiences that I had right in front of me.
I would guess that scarcity plays a similar role in your life. I’d also wager that it takes away some joy from you as well. The first step in overcoming this is to be aware of when it’s happening.
To learn more about how scarcity is affecting your life, and what you can do about it, check out my post 7 Ways a Scarcity Mindset is Hurting You.
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