Do you experience a lack mindset on a regular basis? In this article, guest writer Amy Jones shares how a lack mindset might be impacting your health.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
A lack mindset, also known as a scarcity mindset, has been a common topic in recent conversations. With mental health on the decline and so many people putting themselves down, the term ‘lack mindset’ has been coined to shed some light onto the state of mind of those suffering from negative self-perception. Not only is a lack of mindset damaging to your mental well-being, but the results of a prolonged lack of mindset are so profound that physical health can take its toll as a result.
In this blog post, we will shed some light on what a lack mindset is, how it might be damaging your overall health, and finally actionable steps to try to combat these thoughts and replace them with more positive and productive thoughts. Take a look at the following suggestions:
Here’s What You’ll Discover:
What is a lack mindset?
First things first, what exactly is a lack mindset? Well, put simply it is a fixation of what you do not have. This works in the conscious and subconscious mind, having frequent feelings of nothing being good enough, or simply not having enough in life. This can manifest in some different ways.
All of us feel somewhat self-conscious when looking to others who have more, and unfortunately, feel worse about our situations. This is normal and a common response, however, when this applies to all aspects of life and sheds negativity consistently, this may be a result of a lack of mindset.
What factors can cause a lack mindset?
A lack mindset might be something new to you, or perhaps it is something that you have dealt with your whole life. There are some reasons that can lead to this mentality, and here are just a few examples:
- Poverty Upbringing – If you have spent most of your life lacking money and struggling to raise finances, this can be a clear contributor to having a lack mindset. The ideology that you can never make enough money to get by might be installed into your thought processing, causing the constant scarcity feeling.
- Anxiety – People who suffer from anxiety know the familiar feeling of feeling uncertain about the future, and lacking confidence in their own capabilities. In extreme cases, this can cause people to suffer from anxiety attacks, and not want to leave their comfort bubble at all.
- Abuse response – People who have sadly suffered abuse at the hands of someone they trust can often live with a lack mindset. The emotional takedown that they experience evidently leaves them feeling worthless and as if nothing they will do is ever good enough.
These are just a few examples of how a lack mindset can manifest, however, smaller instances such as losing jobs and feeling like a failed parent can also lead to the development of a lack mindset.
How does it affect your mental health?
A lack of mindset can be damaging to your mental health. The constant attack on your own mind can be exhausting, especially when you have aspirations to do better. Many people suffering from a lack mindset may not even acknowledge its effect until it starts to weigh its toll on mental health.
Problems such as anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and uneducated decision-making can be a common result of a lack of mindset. Working to improve your mental health is step one, but addressing the core of your scarcity mindset is the best bet at being a better version of yourself.
How it may affect your physical health
A lack of mindset can also start taking its toll on your physical health. For example, people with this negative outlook may ignore any health warning signs as they expect the worst to happen regardless. On the other hand, it can affect how people treat their own bodies such as following extreme diets and exercise regimes.
Limiting your food intake to dangerous levels can lead to serious problems, yet people with this weight on their shoulders will feel like they are not slim or fit enough. Something so small yet insignificant can have a great impact on your overall behaviour and thought process, but acknowledging the need for change is the first step to take.
Steps to overcoming a lack mindset
There are so many ways to take steps towards combating a lack mindset. Here are just a few you can start to implement into your life today to change your thoughts and life around:
Show gratitude daily
Gratitude is one of the basic principles of a positive state of mind. It may not seem like it now, but you have so many things to be grateful for that should be acknowledged. A lack of mindset overshadows any of the positive things in your life, and this is damaging. Instead, grab a pen and paper and begin to think about some of the things that add meaning to your life or benefit it. These can be simple things or detailed experiences.
For example, if you have children you take to school, do you take them in a car? What would happen if you did not have the car to take them to school? They would be left to walk in the rain, but instead, you can ensure their safe commute to school. Or, think of a person you are grateful for. What do you admire about them?
Accept the present moment
Staying present is crucial. A lack mindset will often leave you focused on regrets of the past and how things could have been better, and also looking to the future anticipating the worst. Instead, stay present and focus on where you are at this exact moment.
A great way of doing this is by using breathwork to ground your focus. Take note of any negative thoughts that come into your mind, and replace them with optimistic thoughts instead. Doing this for at least 10 minutes a day will have great benefits, especially when you find your mind drifting into the negative.
Keep positive people around you
Your circle is a direct reflection of who you are as a person. If you hang around with people who are negative and always expect the worst outcomes, you will struggle to break out of this cycle yourself. Try to surround yourself with positive people when possible. It may involve stepping outside of your comfort zone, however, once you have a circle of positive and supportive people, they will guide you through the toughest moments in life, and bring you back to reality when you start to think the worst again.
Exercise for endorphins
Last but certainly not least, to tackle your negativity at the beginning of the day, you should consider doing a workout within 2 hours of waking up. How our day starts determines how the rest of the day will unfold. Exercise is known to improve our cardiovascular health, and also release something in our bodies called endorphins, which can help with a positive mood and mindset for the day.
Avoid going to the gym or working out to expect change immediately. Simply make it part of your routine to better your mental state, and once your mindset has shifted from lack, start to set your own fitness goals.
Bottom line
Overall, a lack mindset is something that all of us will have to deal with at some point in life. By first acknowledging this self-deprecating mindset, and then moving forward to make the change, you can completely transform your mindset, and ultimately put your mental and physical health in a better state.
Author bio
Amy Jones is a freelance health and wellness writer from Manchester UK. She loves researching and writing about health topics, as well as keeping up to date with the latest health news, and eco-friendly brands. When not writing about aesthetics in Solihull, you can find her taking long walks in the countryside with her dog, listening to groundbreaking podcasts or browsing her nearest bookstore.
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