What would I do if I could do anything?

We sometimes put ourselves into an extreme scarcity mindset, thinking, "I have to make this happen, otherwise my life is doomed". It's a hard place to be, feeling like we are walking on a high, swinging bridge without a safety net. This mindset makes us obsessed over the log we stand on, the next one, and the gaps between, constantly worrying about the consequences of a misstep.

A few weeks ago, my son mentioned he was planning to upgrade his 3d printer. It wasn't the best option, but it was the only option he thought he could afford. I asked him, "If I could help you with some money, what other options will you consider?" At first, he insisted there were no other options, then he came up with two more possibilities. It turns out these were much better than the original option and the additional money required was way less than he thought.

I seized the moment to point out what had just happened. When you remove your limit and allow yourself to think bigger, suddenly more and often better options appear.

When we are in scarcity mode, we suffer from tunnel vision and often miss the obvious, much better options that lie just outside of our narrow view. This fear can lead us to make poorer decisions, like compromising our values.

The situation itself didn't change, but our mindset did. And with that shift, life could become more relaxed and enjoyable.

What's one thing you feel a sense of scarcity, believing that there's only one way forward? What if you asked yourself this question instead: "What would I do if I could do anything?"