Will there be enough?

Finn has been our family dog for four years and Chloe is a new addition. She is little, cute, and getting a lot of attention.  

If Finn could talk, I think we would hear things like this:

When is she leaving?
Quit touching my stuff.
Hey, these are MY people.
Who made this decision? 

I think what he is really wondering is:
Is there enough love to go around?

We know as pet owners that there is more than enough love to go around for all. But, watching Finn's behaviors is causing me to reflect on my own struggles with scarcity mentality. I hope this tool is as helpful to you as I find it to be. 

Will There Be Enough?
Consider in your life where you may feel that resources are scarce. For you, is it money, time, friendships, jobs, partners, recognition, opportunities for your children, credit, invitations, food, clients, followers, likes, or love?

Sometimes we wonder if God has enough love to go around, if prayers are all heard, or if forgiveness really is unlimited. 

When you find yourself wondering if there will be enough for you, be aware this is just a mode of fear. This fear appears in the form of scarcity mentality, fear that there isn't enough for all of us to have what we want. 

The quickest shift comes from noticing what you already have and expressing gratitude. This makes a quick mindset shift away from thinking about what you don't have and moving into thinking about what you do have. 

Another tool to quiet your worry is with inner dialogue. What would a dear friend say to you about this worry? Maybe something like these statements:
You already have plenty of _______________.
More _____________ is coming to you soon.
Let's think about another way to find what you are looking for.

Another practice is to visualize what you long for coming to you. Imagine your future self receiving what you are seeking. And, as a compassion practice, imagine all who long for the same thing you do. Picture all of you receiving what you are seeking. And you might add a prayer: May all who desire ___________ receive it in abundance. 

We naturally wonder if there will be enough to go around. This wondering is hard-wired in us for survival. But, for many reading this, we are't worried about a bed to sleep in tonight or food to survive. We are worried about not getting what we think we deserve, but when we realize we already have everything we need, our perspective changes.

When Finn trusts that there is plenty of love to go around and he might be gaining a fun new friend, then the scarcity mentality will disappear. As I watch him work through this, I wonder if God is watching us hoping we will trust that there is more than enough for all of us. 

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." - William James, 1842-1910

Sending you love,