Perhaps the worst idea that humanity has adopted over several millenia, is the idea that there is not enough to go around. Scarcity thinking is behind a lot of injustice and terror on planet earth. It has long been a principal excuse to mistreat and oppress others. It is the main cause of crippling poverty, prejudice and exclusion.
From the moment we are born, we are taught to think in terms of scarcity. We are conditioned to believe that there is never enough of anything. Food, clean water, clean air, land, resources, ideas, talents, skills, potential mates —even God’s love—all are, supposedly, in short supply.
It’s as if it were our destiny that what we value should always be scarce in this world.
And in every facet of life we feel a pressure to respond to the crisis that scarcity triggers. Not enough land with coveted resources? Invade someone else’s territory. Not enough potential mates? Compete with impunity to get yours. Have an idea that might evolve into a thriving business? Guard it with your life. Want to get wealthy? Convince others that they need a commodity that only you can provide.
Yet scarcity thinking is easily disproved. Upon reflection, it is quite easy to see that we all have inherited a great gift. Our planet is wonderfully resilient and abundant with anything we need to succeed and thrive. There is no shortage of sunlight, oxygen and the umpteen chemical reactions that promote and sustain life. There is no actual shortage of food and fresh water. Our intellect and shared experience, together with the earth’s rich resources, give us more than enough to succeed as a species.
The key? We only have to share with others and work together for the good of all.
One of the true benefits of enduring a world-wide pandemic is the happy discovery that there is in fact an abundance of everything if we but only share. A good example is the collaboration of many countries to bring us a fast and reliable vaccine against the Covid virus in record time. Is there anything that we cannot do if we but work together and share our resources and expertise?
Scientists tell us that the earth can produce more than enough food to go around. There is fresh water for all beings. There is plenty of space for all of us. Our technology, human resolve and ingenuity can solve most any problems that we encounter.
If we take care of it, our planet can last indefinitely and be a wonderful home for humans and animals alike. If we take care of each other, we can see ourselves through any tragedy and crisis.
I submit that, as good as life on our planet currently is, it could be so much better if we discarded scarcity thinking in favour of what is true.
And what is actually true?
That this “blue ball” in our galaxy is a veritable paradise —offering all beings a rich and magically-beautiful life.