This is From The Balance Beam

[TheBalanceBeam] - Balance and Scarcity, revisited

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THE BALANCE BEAM
Ideas and Inspiration for Creating a Life that Works
Vol. 3 No. 7, April 16, 2001
Published by Success Builders, Inc.
http://www.SuccessBuildersInc.com
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"He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened."
Lao-tzu
In this issue: BALANCE AND SCARCITY
====================================================================== Dear Friends,
This week we're continuing on with the series on obstacles to achieving life balance. The focus of this issue is what happens when the fear factor surrounding the notion that "enough is never enough" sets in.

If you want to check out earlier editions of The Balance Beam that you may have missed, you can easily retrieve them by clicking on http://www.successbuildersinc.com/newsletter.html and going to the Archives section. If you are not yet a regular subscriber to The Balance Beam, you can also enter your subscription information at this location.
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Today's Topic: BALANCE AND SCARCITY

Tom is a 38-year old independent website designer. Three years ago, he elected to leave the ISP company he worked for to become a "free agent". His decision to do this was based on his belief that working solo would offer a great deal of freedom and opportunity, and would provide him with the variety he enjoys in his work.

From the very beginning, Tom was clear that he did not want to build a web design company or create an empire. He simply wanted to free lance and provide a steady income that would provide for himself and his family. So he wisely forged alliances with other web designers to whom he could refer work if he became too busy.

When he first started on his own, Tom was diligent about networking and creating exposure for his web design services. He became very involved in his local business community and met many key people. At the same time, he created his own website to advertise his services, and did a masterful job of getting it connected in cyberspace. Before long, business started pouring in. Tom's talent and expertise were obvious, and the marketing seeds he had planted began to generate many potential clients who were interested in his services. Things had gone according to plan, and Tom was loving it.

By the time he entered his second year as a free lancer, Tom was working an average of 50 hours a week. He occasionally found himself overwhelmed by the demand, but rather than refer work out to the other designers he had cultivated as colleagues, Tom held on to virtually all the projects that came his way. After all, he reasoned, you never know when the well will dry up, so it's best to hang on to all the work you can and stockpile the proceeds, just in case.

Today, Tom is finishing up his third year in business and he's exhausted. His norm is now 65-hour workweeks, and the idea of a free lance business providing him with freedom is just a fleeting memory. Although he continues to get repeat business and new clients, his quality of work has slipped, causing him to worry that his reputation will suffer. If you ask Tom why he's doing this to himself, he will repeat the story about the well drying up and launch into a litany of questions that all begin with, "What if...........?" Tom's life is out of balance because he has a scarcity mentality. Despite the fact that he's created a stable business and has healthy reserves of money in the bank, from his perspective, enough is never enough.

There are many reasons that contribute to the development of a scarcity orientation to life. Those who were raised during the depression learned to fear the bottom dropping out in their childhood. People of any age who were raised in families where resources were limited naturally worry about there "never being enough." And the competitive, win-lose nature of western culture reinforces the notion that there's only so much to go around, so it's important to elbow in and get your share. Regardless of how a scarcity mentality develops, the problem is that it keeps us locked up in a struggle with life. And that struggle often takes the form of lives being out of balance as people sacrifice what's most important to them and what is conducive to their well-being, for what will bring in a few extra bucks.

Could scarcity be driving your life out of balance? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What are my fears related to money? Go ahead, lay it all out on the table - especially those items that begin with, "What if......?" Identifying and isolating your fears will allow you to separate legitimate concerns from the voice of the "gremlin" inside your head.

2. What is my realistic financial situation? Make an appointment with a financial planner so that you can objectively review your financial status. But before you go - and this is the key - spend some time thinking about what your true lifestyle objectives are. This is a question about values. What REALLY matters to you? Then commit to creating a financial plan that will serve your well-being, rather than controlling you and causing you to struggle.

3. What is the return on investment for the life energy I am trading for money? Recognize that the work that we do for money is exactly that: an exchange of life energy. To the extent that we are re-energized and fulfilled by our work, it's a good exchange; however, when we work to the point of becoming drained and unbalanced, the return on our investment diminishes.

4. How can I replace my scarcity orientation with an "abundance mentality"? Abundance is the opposite of scarcity. It's about believing that there is plenty to go around out there, and if I create a life that utilizes my talents, reflects my core values, nurtures my spirit and cares for others, I will get what I need. Abundance stems from a trust in the circle of life, the notion that "what goes around comes around".

Coaching Tip: Shifting from a place of scarcity to an abundance mentality requires both a head and heart approach. Use your intellect to analyze the realities of your financial situation and set a course that will serve you well. At the same time, remember that abundance stems from trust, faith and grace, which are firmly rooted in places in the heart.
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Words to live by:
"True financial freedom lies in defining ourselves by who and what we are, not by what we do or do not have."
- Suze Orman