Another day has gone by, and still my to-do list seems just as long as when I started the day. Is it just me, or does each minute run directly into the next, and the next, and the next?
Why does there never seem to be enough time? Time to get things done, time to play, time to think or Ponder our next move. With all the technology at our fingertips to make life, faster and more convenient, why do we still feel like there’s not enough time?
But if we had more time to do all things we want to do, wouldn’t there still limitations. For me, there never seems to be enough money to make all the things happen as quickly as I like them to happen.
So there’s something else we never have enough of: money.
Oh I would be so much more efficient if I just had this tool or this gadget. If I didn’t have to spend so much time cleaning I could do more worthwhile projects. how hard do I have to work to be able to afford a housekeeper?
Time and money are not the only things we crave. There is one more. I call it the need for opportunity – resources.
For example, I’ve often wondered, do I need to buy better curriculum for my kids to get a better education? Or I wish there were more activities around our community and things they can take part in to improve their chances of success in life.
Living in Hawaii often feels like I’m missing out on all the things families on the mainland have access to (no, the irony is not lost on me – I know many families wish they lived here).
Families from all kinds of backgrounds and situations find themselves wishing for more. If you feel like there’s just not enough time, money, or resources to go around, I understand and I feel that need deeply.
Consider this: in the hustle and bustle of modern life, the concept of “enough-ness” often revolves around time, money, and resources. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that there’s never enough of these essential elements, leading us to live in a state of perpetual scarcity. When we constantly feel like we’re running out of time, money, or resources, it can trigger anxieties and prompt us to make hurried decisions based on fear rather than thoughtful consideration.
This way of thinking is called living in scarcity – the fear that there will never be enough. The scarcity mentality is like a shadow that follows us, casting doubt on our abilities and fostering a sense of lack. It’s a mindset that perpetuates the belief that there will never be enough to go around, prompting us to hoard what we have and compete fiercely for more. In this mindset, every decision becomes urgent, driven by the fear of not having enough to meet our needs or desires.
But what if we shifted our perspective and embraced abundance instead?
Living in abundance doesn’t necessarily mean having an excess of material possessions or unlimited time at our disposal. Instead, it’s a mindset—a way of approaching life with a sense of gratitude, possibility, and resourcefulness. It’s about recognizing that there are countless opportunities and options available to us, even in the face of perceived limitations.
When we adopt an abundance mentality, we start to see our challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Rather than dwelling on what we lack, we focus on what we have and how we can leverage our resources to create positive outcomes. This shift in mindset empowers us to make decisions from a place of confidence and abundance rather than fear and scarcity.
One of the key principles of living in abundance is learning to do the best we can with what we have. Instead of worrying about what we don’t possess or what feels unreachable, we focus on maximizing the potential of our time, money, and resources. This might involve making strategic choices, prioritizing our goals, and seeking creative solutions to overcome obstacles.
For example: we don’t have the means to travel as much as we’d like, so from the time our kids could understand the value of money, we made savings goal charts. Each opportunity to save was tied to a different fun experience or travel opportunity. We even made a goal chart to adopt our dog. (Best investment ever).
Instead of shrugging our shoulders and telling the kids, “We can’t afford that,” we turned the lack of money into an opportunity to invest our time and resources into attaining a long-term goal. I promise you, this activity has been one of the most emotionally rewarding things we’ve ever done. Our kids have learned the appropriate expectations of our lifestyle and know how to earn money for what they want.
We are constantly training ourselves to embrace abundance with a sense of calm and resourcefulness. We delegate tasks, streamline processes, and ask for help. As a family, we are learning there are abundant ways to manage our time effectively.
Living in abundance is about cultivating a healthy relationship with time, money, and resources based on gratitude and wise stewardship. By adopting a mindset of abundance, we can appreciate the value of what we have, practice financial mindfulness, and make decisions that align with our long-term goals and values.
Parents, keep in mind: living in abundance requires a willingness to embrace acceptance—to acknowledge that life is inherently unpredictable and that challenges are inevitable. Rather than resisting change or clinging to a fixed idea of how things should be, we learn to adapt and flow with the natural rhythms of life. This doesn’t mean passively accepting hard times or giving up when things get hard, but rather facing it with resilience and a belief in our ability to overcome obstacles.
The shift from scarcity mentality to abundance mentality is a journey of self-discovery and growth. It involves challenging deeply ingrained beliefs and habits, cultivating gratitude and resilience, and choosing to see the world through a lens of possibility rather than limitation.
So instead of hiring a housekeeper, we train the kids to learn all the domestic skills they need to live in their own someday. Our daughter and son learn the same things and I talk through mine and Dad’s responsibilities with them so they see the bigger picture.
Instead of waiting for community activities to come to us, we save up to have experiences outside of Hawaii. Our trips help us to gain a global perspective and rekindles a love for our own island experience.
So how can you switch your perspective a little today? How have you been thinking or living in scarcity?
Remember, friend: true abundance isn’t measured by the quantity of material possessions or external achievements but by the richness of our inner lives—the depth of our relationships, the fulfillment of our purpose, and the joy of living authentically. By embracing abundance in all its forms, we can experience greater fulfillment, connection, and meaning in our lives.