Changing Scarcity Mindset to a Growth Mindset With Rare Disease

I have been learning more about scarcity mindset, and it got me thinking about how common and easy it is to fall into such a mindset when living with a rare disease.

A scarcity mindset restricts our view of the world and our lives through thoughts of what we don't have, our limitations, etc. In contrast, a growth, abundance, or possibility mindset – while aware of reality and present limitations – focuses on what life can be rather than what it is not or the fear of what it may not be.

My scarcity thoughts are connected to my health

I started an exercise of identifying my scarcity thoughts. I found many of them surround my health and my fears associated for the present and the future such as fear of my health worsening and how that will affect my employment ability, my future finances, etc.

After listing all my scarcity thoughts, I identified how these thoughts affect my daily life, my choices, how I view myself, and how they make me feel. Next, I picked one thought to start combatting. I listed all the evidence I had for and against the thought. I used each piece of evidence against my chosen thought to help reframe my views surrounding that scarcity thought.

Reframing scarcity thoughts

For example, I can counter the scarcity thought, I won't be able to work as long as I want to by recalling all the evidence against that thought. This includes reframing the scarcity thought with growth thoughts such as I don't know how long I will or will not be able to work but I do know I can make wise financial decisions to help me prepare if that happens.

I can counter I can't do anything I used to do with I can still do things I enjoy in a modified way.

Another technique I like is to add yet to the end of scarcity thoughts – I can't do everything I want, yet. This also allows for growth and future possibilities without a stagnant view or thought pattern.

Becoming more aware of our thought patterns

The type of thoughts we have shape our worldview and our thought patterns. Therein lies the beauty of utilizing reframing thoughts – we can change our thought patterns.

The more we utilize reframing, the more we become aware of the type of thoughts we are having. At first, it can feel like we have increased bothersome thoughts. As we are becoming more aware of them, they may feel like they have increased due to us noticing them more than we did previously.

During this initial phase of awareness, it can be worrisome or overwhelming to feel or believe that we are taking steps backward in our efforts. However, rest assured, the thoughts have not actually increased; it is simply our awareness that is increasing.

Listen to your body

Our body can serve as a notification system for our scarcity thoughts, especially while we are working to increase our awareness of them to change them.

I remember when I first realized that I was experiencing chronic anxiety. I am not even aware most of the time that I'm having anxious thoughts; my body first notifies me of my anxiety level by producing chest pain.

After I became aware of my anxiety, it seemed that I was having chest pain more and more frequently. With this new awareness, I was able to start utilizing my body's notification system to evaluate what was occurring and what my thoughts were to identify and address the source of my anxiety at that moment.

I still experience frequent chest pain, but it occurs less now and serves as a reminder to help me take a moment to take a breath and reassess my focus, thoughts, and views in that moment.

What scarcity thoughts have you noticed, and how are you combatting them? Share with us in the comments below.