When Least Expected™

Scarcity, Abundance, And Slave Mentalities

February 22nd, 2007 at 11:38pm Manchild

As promised, I’m challenging our critically thinking team members to ponder the possibility that scarcity, abundance, and slave mentalities have nothing to do with the colour of a person’s skin.  But, can it be that the dominant culture in which a person is birthed and raised influence the type of mentality that will govern a person’s response and behavior when Adversity strikes?  Hmmm.

Despite the hatred, bigotry, and hypocrisy of a fatally flawed democracy that legalized slavery, our ancestors managed to excel, succeed, and exceed the expectations of their antagonistic adversaries.  Was it God’s will, or our ancestors’ wise choices, that our generation can still celebrate their history-making achievements and can still enjoy the fruits harvested from their back-breaking labor?  Over the years, I’ve often asked myself,

“How did those to whom little appeared to be given manage to ‘do so much with so little’ while those to whom much appeared to be given ‘do so little with so much’?”

Can it be that our ancestors didn’t have as many ”distractions” to sift through on a daily basis?  Despite oppressive, unduly burdensome circumstances beyond their reasonable control, our generation’s “unsung heroes and sheroes” did more than just survive.  They managed to thrive.  Was it God’s will, or the wise choices of those who paved the way, that enabled our teachers, mentors, and role models to prosper under such adverse conditions?  What do you think?

Can it be that it was a combination of God’s will and wise choices that enabled those who paved the way to help each other to achieve great things while making their big dreams come true?  Can it be that your God-given ability to achieve greatness will depend on whether you have a scarcity, an abundance, or a slave mentality?  So, what’s the difference?

A “scarcity mentality” is derived from the false belief that there is only “one” metaphorical pie for all the families of humanity’s global village to share.  A scarcity mentality gives birth to the competitive mind-set that motivates our blended, extended family members to fight against each other until somebody earns the right to eat the last piece of pie. 

When Adversity strikes, a person with a scarcity mentality will make a “fear-based” decision to die, if necessary, for the last piece of pie.  This pessimistic person tends to have a negative attitude and tends to see a partially filled glass of water as always ”half empty.”

An “abundance mentality” is derived from the healthy belief that there is more than enough raw materials to make enough pies for all the families of humanity’s global village to share.  An abundance mentality gives birth to the co-operative mind-set that inspires our blended, extended family members to work together for the common good of all God’s children. 

When Adversity strikes, a person with an abundance mentality will make a “faith-based” decision to try to find a way to bake another pie rather than to die for nothing.  This optimistic person tends to have a positive attitude and tends to see a partially filled glass of water as always “half full.” 

A “slave mentality” is derived from the undisciplined belief that a person is a slave to his/her natural inclinations, unbridled passions, and bad habits.  Sharing is only a viable option once his/her appetite has been completely satisfied.  A slave mentality gives birth to the self-destructive mind-set that enslaves our blended, extended family members to the impulsive gods of hedonism and self-preservation.  

When Adversity strikes, a person with a slave mentality will make an egocentric myopic decision to sit around eating pies as fast as somebody else can bake them to avoid dealing with his/her lack of discipline.  This over indulgent person tends to have a passive aggressive attitude and tends to see a partially filled glass of water only as a opportunity for somebody else to fill it to the brim.

“In vain do they talk of happiness who never subdue an impulse in obedience.  He who never sacrificed a present for a future good, or a personal to a general one, can speak of happiness only as the blind speak of color.”

Horace Mann, Educator 

© Copyright 2007 by Roderick O. Solomon.  All Rights Reserved.

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Entry Filed under: Cultural Diversity, Inspiration