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Dang it! I Just Found Out Something About Myself That I Don’t Like!
By JLP | August 17, 2006
Have you ever been reading a book and you come to a part that you swear is talking about you? I had one of those experiences earlier tonight and it wasn’t good! Actually, it was good because it showed me the error of my ways, which will help me grow to be a better person (if I actually change).
The passage I’m talking about is in Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in the chapter about the 4th Habit: Think Win/Win. In that chapter, Covey talks about the Abundance vs. Scarcity Mentality. A person who possesses the Abundance Mentality is a person who believes that there is plenty out there for everybody.
Now, here’s what he has to say about the Scarcity Mentality:
“People with the Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit – even with those who help in the production [not a description of me]. They also have a very hard time being genuinely happy for the successes of other people – even, and sometimes especially, members of their own family or close friends and associates. It’s almost as if something is being taken from them when someone else receives special recognition or windfall gain or has remarkable success or achievement.”
Yeah, I hate to admit it, but the last part of that statement reminded me of ME! Pretty pathetic, isn’t it? Actually, my wife tells me it is due to the fact that I am a very competitive person. I think she may be right. Hey, I’m not perfect (read number 26 in “100 Things About JLP“).
Topics: Personal Growth | 6 Comments »
August 18th, 2006 at 7:37 am
It’s difficult enough to recognize and acknowledge our shortcomings to ourselves, let alone in public. None of us are perfect but I have always believed that those who are willing to examine themselves critically and are open to change will be much better from the experience. Life is a journey and you’re on the right path (Proverbs 4:18-19). Keep up the good work!
August 18th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Well, it takes a big person to admit it in public. You didn’t have to tell any of us that.
August 18th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
If you really want to get rid of the Scarcity Mentality, read “God Wants You To Be Rich” by Paul Zane Pilzer. It examines the effect of the belief in scarcity on our economic system, and the rather surprising effects of technological development on scarcity.
It’s a much better read than I’m making it sound, BTW.
August 20th, 2006 at 12:35 am
[...] All Financial Matters found out something about himself that he didn’t like. [...]
August 20th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
The Scarcity Mentality is a hard one to cover come. One of the things I have found that really helps me with my scarcity mentality is giving and looking outside myself. It can be hard – especially if money is tight, but in the end I feel better about it.
August 20th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
That is usually the purpose of those types of books. I like reading books that make me analyze my life and myself. My wife reads books for entertainment, but I read books for educational value. I don’t think it’s a bad thing that you are competitive, but you just have to be a good sport about it