MC BLOG: Abundance or Abundance?

By Robert Middleton - Action Plan Marketing

I got quite a lot of very positive feedback to my eZine yesterday, "Sarcity or Abundance? Neither!"

But I also had a number of people assail me with the idea that the word abundance was in no way associated with greed. The problem of course, is that we get attached to words. What's importance is context and meaning.

In my article I pointed out that "abundance mentality" is often a thinly disguised way to talk about greed. It's all about the feeling. This way of thinking about abundance is very constricting, very limiting. Ultimately it's a distortion of the word.

But, yes there is another way to use this word that is about a completely different kind of feeling. Lori Silverman, author of "Wake Me Up When the Data Is Over", emailed me with several examples that I thought were great:

Abundance is an open parking space near the door of the mall when I am in a hurry.

Abundance is having a friend call and say exactly the words I need to hear.

Abundance is the sun shining outdoors 330 out of 365 days a year where I live in Arizona.

Abundance is someone unexpectedly buying me lunch.

Abundance is an author asking me to provide a testimonial for a new book they have written.

Abundance is needing a new stove on Christmas Eve and having the manager at the local Lowe's store offer to deliver it for free at 3:30pm in the afternoon.

Abundance is my housekeeper leaving me a small gift to thank me as a customer when I know she lives paycheck-to-paycheck.

Abundance is having my siblings buy me a heart scan for my 50th b'day and having it show I am in perfect health (unusual for a woman my age).

Here's what's neat about what Lori shared with me. These comments comes from her private "Bert and Ernie" journal in which she documents "evidence of abundance" as well as that which she is thankful for on a daily basis. By noticing these experiences in her personal and professional life each and every day, Lori keeps her focus on what truly matters.

And all of this is most definitely abundance in the most positive way. Some things are unlimited. Kindness, love, and creativity know no limits. And when you live a life of contribution, you see this kind of abundance all the time.

Another thing is true: It's not wrong to make more money. It's not wrong to be rich. The question is, how attached are we to money and riches? If our money and riches come as a result of making a contribution, offering a valuable service, and doing the right thing, this is certainly the kind of abundance that works.

But whenever you think, "I'll be happier if I make more money, and the more the better," you're heading down a path where there is little joy or fulfillment. When your focus is on making a contribution, you tend to attract both riches and happiness. 

There's a saying that's going around Twitter these days that is appropriate here: "Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value." - Albert Einstein

Comments

[Brian Bartes]

Robert,

Thank you for the great post. I especially enjoyed Lori examples of abundance. Like much of life, its meaning lies not in the word itself, but rather in our interpretation of it (i.e., the meaning we attach to it).

Lori, in her subsequent comment, mentioned the dictionary definition of "plentiful." Here's another one-word definition--"enough." For me, the distinction comes through the lens of gratitude, as opposed to the lens of greed, or neediness, or lack.

~ Brian

http://wwww.worklessmakemore.com
http://www.lifeexcellence.com

[Lori]

Hi Robert,

Thanks so much for sharing my thoughts with your readers. Abundance is an important term for us to understand--I love the dictionary definition which refers to "plentiful." Imagine all of us having a plentiful mindset, one without fear of "not getting our share of the pie." And certainly not one focused on "greed." When we have a plentiful mindset, generosity out of a love for others, comes easily and effortlessly.

I find the more I record evidence of abundance, the more I realize I have--and the more I need to be thankful for. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Best wishes to you,
Lori Silverman
http://www.partnersforprogress.com
http://www.wakeupmycompany.com
http://www.sayitwithastory.com

[Judy Murdoch]

Got to your article today, Robert so I missed the "brew ha ha" around the word "abundance."

"Abundance" is a perfectly nice word that has been so over-used, mis-used, and woo woo'd that perhaps we should simply put it on a lengthy vacation.

"Contribution" works just fine for me. Although I guess I always viewed it more as "win-win-win": the business owners wins, the customer wins, and the community wins. And profitability is a by-product of that triple win.

The whole financial mess is the result of a lot of people focused on just one or two elements coming out ahead (I think we can guess which one a lot of operators on Wall Street were focused on) but it's a three legged stool and it needs to be in balance.

Otherwise things get out of balance and we get a mess.

The triple win works well as a business model for me. I think it's a blast when everyone wins.