Scarcity Mindset
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What is Scarcity?
The strict definition of scarcity is when demand for something outstrips supply or the basic premise that there is a finite amount of human and non human resources, so at some point there will be a shortage. This term has come to be associated increasingly with our mental condition and is often referred to as the scarcity mindset which is a belief that resources we rely on to live and survive (e.g., money, time, love or opportunities) are limited and less than is required to satisfy our needs. This results in a focus on what is lacking - much like the gap in the term the gap versus the gain which I wrote about in this post- the focus is on what I don’t have (whether it is real or significant) rather than what I do have. I like to think of this as the opposite of the gratitude mindset which is when I am grateful for the abundance of the wonderful things in my life rather than focusing on what is missing.
Scarcity mindset - like that barren landscape when there is uncertainty where the next stop will be (Iceland 2024). (EXIF data f16, 1/250s, 200mm, ISO1000)
This perception of a gap in what is required to meet our needs leads to all sorts of behaviour shifts such as narrowing focus to the perceived scarcity and possibly even hoarding or delay in making decisions due to the uncertainty of whether there will be enough something (whatever that something is - time, money, love, resources etc.). I can definitely relate to this - stressing or even panicking because of a perceived scarcity whether the impact is significant or not.
We saw a classic example of this during the early days of COVID-19 when there was such uncertainty around the scale of what we were facing and a real scarcity mindset emerged which led to hoarding of such basic household items such as toilet paper - I mean seriously? What were we thinking? Scarcity mindset really leads to isolation and divisiveness with all sorts of negative consequences.
In the end I need to ask myself - how much is enough and what is the real impact of a shortfall?
How Much is Enough?
I’ve faced this question numerous times in the lead up to my retirement - how much do I need to live into retirement with the uncertainty of how many years that will be. I’ve witnessed all sorts of people working feverishly to acquire enough resources for retirement only to be struck with a life altering illness (or a loved one becomes disabled) once that “magic” period arrives. Suddenly priorities change and how much is enough becomes a totally different question. In fact I often say that should circumstances change for me I will adapt (as I always have) to what I actually have - so really what I have is enough regardless of how much that is.
I suspect that some of the challenges around “how much is enough” stem from our perspective and expectations (there is that word expectations again - it keeps on cropping up for me). I know that I found it hard to envision life 20+ years from now and I kept falling into the trap of thinking that the things that interest me now will continue to do so long into the future. It’s a bit sobering to talk to someone further along the retirement path who can clearly articulate how life shifts and interests change as we age - not just from ability, but also from life’s passions.
Diving in Akumal Mexico. (image courtesy of K.McIntyre)
I used to be an avid scuba diver and have logged several hundreds of dives, but my interests have shifted and the time that I used to spend travelling to scuba dive are now spent pursuing photography - it’s not that I don’t like scuba diving, but I would prefer to spend my time enjoying above water pursuits.
It seems that our natural instinct is to feel that there is never enough - according to our mammalian brain. Our ancestors spent their days hunting to survive - never knowing when they would find their next meal, so it’s understandable that a scarcity mindset would be ingrained in them, but we live in a time of abundance or at the very least sufficient and yet I still feel that tug of scarcity.
Why Can’t We Be Satisfied With What We Have?
I can understand some of the feelings of scarcity when we are inundated with news and information input proclaiming that we’re running out of so many resources and in fact I think it is a good thing to exercise restraint. I exercise all sorts of practices to use less, waste less, recycle more with the intent of not squandering what I have, but I still feel an underlying pressure that I have to be aware of and consciously manage - I mean just because I can doesn’t mean I should and don’t get me going on the planned obsolescence of many items we purchase these days.
The redpolls attacking the evergreen pine cones with a scarcity mindset for food supply. (EXIF data f7.1, 600mm, 1/1250s, ISO800)
It would be very easy to blame all overindulgence and excess on media and external forces, however I firmly believe that I have the ability to control what I do and think - there is a part of me that knows I am very capable of adjusting my habits and lifestyle to align with my resources and savings. I have done it many times in my life where I want to save up for something, or I want to cut back on spending and be a bit more resourceful with what I have. In each case I’ve been able to make adjustments to adapt to changed circumstances. It seems to be an ongoing battle against some ancient instincts that tell me I don’t know when my next ?? (you fill in the blank) will be so I’d best take advantage of the availability of ??(you fill in the blank) now.
I think that sometimes I am not totally aware that I have enough - I lose sight of what I actually need versus what I’d like. As Michael Easter says in Scarcity Brain, we need to really understand why we crave what we think we must have. Figuring that out will help in countering overindulgence and the not enough mindset.
"Our world is overloaded with everything we're built to crave. The fix for scarcity brain isn't to blindly aim for less. It's to understand why [we crave]". - Scarcity Brain - Michael Easter
How To Combat Scarcity Mindset?
I feel like I’ve come across scarcity mindset with my photography - I wrote about GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) which is where photographers think that the latest gadget or new camera/lens will improve their photography. I have even come across it when planning for a photography walk or a photography focused trip - I’m so worried about not having enough choice in terms of lenses or gear that I overpack and am weighted down by choice. How many times have you packed for a trip only to come home with a whole lot of items of clothing that you never wore - I know that I have.
When I think about Michael Easter’s quote that we need to understand why we crave before we can address the scarcity brain - this makes sense to me because restricting myself never seems to work long term. I seem to fixate on what I’m denying myself and then eventually I get tired of restricting and I tend to overindulge without restraint.
When I think about my photography experiences with scarcity mindset, I think that it is often related to FOMO (fear of missing out) on some perceived opportunity - if I don’t take my long lens then I’m sure to see something where the longer focal length is necessary to capture the image, or I should take my wide angle lens or filters just in case I have the opportunity for slow shutter speed work or landscapes. When I dig into the why like this it starts to become clear to me that it isn’t so much FOMO as lack of clear direction. I am not willing or able to commit to what I want to photograph and therefore I’m trying to cover every possible scenario.
Knowing I wanted to take some minimalist images helped me to decide which lens and accessories to take on my photowalk. (EXIF data 120mm, f16, 1/400s, ISO800)
It is often beneficial for me to spend time planning out a photo shoot to determine what I want to capture based upon the location, time of year, weather etc. When I spend this time then it becomes much more clear to me what gear I need to bring to meet that outline. I feel my mind calming down and no longer feeling like I won’t have the right gear or I won’t have enough time - suddenly scarcity mindset starts to evaporate as I focus on what I plan to do. Once I get to my location I further refine that feeling by staying focused on the plan - failure to do this often makes me feel pressured for time and the scarcity spiral starts again.
It’s always amazing to me how often the answer to my challenge is slowing down (I had a recent experience I wrote about here) - taking time - and even trimming down expectations - limit my gear or time or location and I’m far more productive and happy with the result compared to when I go out with an open ended purpose and no constraints. Constraints really work my creativity muscles as I have to focus on how to use what I do have rather than focusing on not having enough (gear, light, time, etc,)
The Road to Happiness is Enough…
When I’m feeling balanced and not giving in to the scarcity mindset I have such a feeling of peace and calm. My thoughts and ideas get funnelled into creative pursuits rather than scrambling around trying to fulfill that void of not enough. It really seems to me that enjoying the simpler less complicated things in life brings me more joy and fulfillment and I don’t mean this in a trite cliche sort of way - gratitude drives a lot of contentment in my life. In fact I can be much more content and happy with less instead of more and I feel more gratitude for what I currently have instead of ruminating on what I wish I had.
Have you noticed any times when a scarcity mindset creeps in to what you’re doing or thinking? What are your thoughts around how much is enough? I’m curious to hear your thoughts, so please share them in the comments below or drop me a note directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button.
A country road, some early morning sunshine, snow and a field full of prey is all that this snowy owl needs to feel content. (EXIF data f5.6, 1/1250s, 840mm, ISO800)
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
