"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Scarcity Mentality: Causes, Symptoms and More

Have you ever tried to finish a task but kept getting interrupted? The distractions don't come from outside, like loud children or a demanding boss, but in your personal head. It is something you wish and might take into consideration continually. For example, you might be on a weight loss plan and all you may take into consideration are the foods you may now not eat.

A scarcity mentality is if you turn out to be so obsessive about missing something – normally time or money – that you could't appear to deal with anything, regardless of how hard you are attempting.

Scarcity mentality isn’t something you do intentionally. It's the background noise your brain creates if you don't get what you wish. But it’s going to cost you.

Focusing on something you don't have can have a negative impact in your mental health. You can get “tunnel vision” just occupied with the unmet need.

The scarcity mentality also has other effects in your brain and might even cause it to operate in another way.

It lowers your intelligence quotient (IQ). A scarcity mentality can lower your IQ by as much as 14 points. It may not seem to be much, however it's enough to enhance your rating from average to outstanding and vice versa. If you’ve got a median IQ, a lack of 13 or 14 points could cause your IQ to fall into the “poor” category.

It limits your brain function. The scarcity mentality affects your ability to unravel problems, retain information, and think logically. It also influences your brain's decision-making process. A scarcity mentality limits your ability to plan, focus, and begin a project or task. Your brain is just too busy occupied with something you don't have.

It makes impulse control difficult. ‌The decision-making a part of your brain also controls impulses. When tunnel vision affects your brain function, you're more likely to present in to impulses you normally wouldn't.

When we waste our energy obsessing over one thing, other areas of the brain begin to fail.

The opposite of scarcity is abundance. Abundance mentality signifies that there’s enough for everybody.

Scarcity mentality isn’t a personality trait. It is brought on by the things around you.

Try the following pointers to shift from a scarcity mentality to an abundance mentality.

Focus on what you’ve got. Scarcity often stops people from making profession changes because they imagine there aren't enough opportunities. Think in regards to the positive points that you’ve got and allow them to move you forward.

Surround yourself with positive people. The people around you’ll influence you. If you spend time with positive-minded people, you’ll soon think the identical.

Practice gratitude. Gratitude has been shown to enhance mental health and well-being. Create a gratitude journal and write down five stuff you are grateful for day-after-day.

Recognize the probabilities. When you deal with one thing, you may train your brain to go away other things unnoticed. Reorient your mind to search for possibilities and solutions as a substitute of letting the issue get you down.

The tunnel vision brought on by a scarcity mentality causes other essential things to fall by the wayside. Escape this tunnel by organizing your time or automating tasks that would enable you construct a satisfying future.

  • Finance. Automate bill payments and put them on a calendar to maintain track. Enroll in a 401(k) plan together with your employer if one is out there so you may lower your expenses without occupied with it.
  • Work and rest. Schedule time to get away out of your desk and stretch your legs. Get enough sleep at night to enhance work performance and counteract a time-crunch mentality.
  • Exercise. Start exercising with a friend or make an appointment with a private trainer. It increases the likelihood that you’re going to follow a healthy lifestyle, which may reduce stress.
  • Eat. Go shopping every week, plan meals, and fill up on healthy foods. Because a scarcity mentality hinders impulse control, planning will help avoid dietary mistakes.
  • Family time. Secure weekly family time by signing up for an activity or outing that you could all do together.
  • Himself. Give yourself a while each week to loosen up and recharge, even when it's just a number of hours. Better time management can enable you avoid feeling such as you're continually on the go.