It seems like everywhere I go, I hear about gratitude. Olympic athletes, award winners, politicians, and service providers are all grateful. And so am I. However, when a word becomes obsequious, I think it loses its power.
Instead, on this day before Thanksgiving 2024, I’m not going to make my grateful list. Just for today, I’d rather flip the script and talk about abundance.
The definition of the word, according to Dictionary.com, is “an extremely plentiful or over sufficient quantity or supply.” What immediately comes to my mind is a Las Vegas hotel buffet. The abundance of food served, and food wasted is most definitely over sufficient. And the paradox of the buffet food versus the food insecurity being experienced by people in the immediate areas surrounding the Las Vegas Strip is incomprehensible to me. We need to do more. We need to do better.
We can start by taking baby steps. Find out the location of the nearest food drive, and drop off a few cans. Or donate a coat you no longer wear. Bring an empty suitcase to a women’s shelter or, better yet, fill that empty suitcase with clothes, cosmetics, and whatever else the shelter suggests. (Call first to make sure your donations will be accepted.)
Let’s also not lose sight of other, non-tangible examples of abundance, including that which may be considered emotional or spiritual. When we think about, and even emphasize abundance, our thoughts alone can foster a positive mindset, encouraging gratitude and the recognition of opportunities around us.
And what do you assume to be the opposite of abundance? Obviously, we can look around at the unhoused, the unfed, and the unwell. Those are also tangible examples. When we consider our own personal development, the principle of abundance often contrasts with a scarcity mindset, perhaps causing us to focus on our limitations and our fears.
Can you see the significance of abundance in your own life? If not, give it another try. I believe that cultivating an abundance mindset can promote personal resilience, creativity, and collaboration.
Here are four ways to cultivate your own abundance mindset:
- Surround yourself with people who understand abundance. If you’re not looking up to those people, find yourself some new people.
- Focus on what you already have – practice daily gratitude. Retrain your brain to become a glass-half-full kind of person.
- Create win-win situations by brainstorming solutions. There doesn’t always have to be a winner and a loser.
- Recognize possibilities. Instead of telling yourself that you can’t, try opening up your mind to something new.
My dad personified the abundance mindset. No, he didn’t have a lot of money. Nor did he win a ton of awards. My dad’s abundance came from the many people whose lives he touched, sometimes merely by remembering their names, or engaging them in conversation. And that mindset manifested in his attitude of positivity — one which has motivated me to do the same.
And so, on this Thanksgiving Eve, I wish you abundance.
