Every person sees the future through one of two lenses. These lenses determine how one approaches their decisions. 

Here are the two lenses:

• Scarcity – the belief that there is a short supply
• Abundance – the belief that there is more than enough

Your outlook will determine your opportunities. I have yet to meet someone thriving into the future with a scarcity mindset. Although, I commonly meet people stuck in their challenges that exude scarcity. Your future depends on which side of the lens you look through. 

Behavior is an overflow of belief. The moment you believe the future is scarce is the moment you’ll lose motivation to get there. However, the moment you believe the future is abundant is the moment you’ll begin to create the drive that will lead you to greater success. The future belongs to the abundantly optimistic, while the present is inundated with the scarcest pessimists. Scarcity keeps you weighted down in apathy, while abundance keeps you soaring in enthusiasm. The great poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

So if our future hinges on being more optimistic than pessimistic, we need to develop our ability to be optimistic. Many people think you are either born pessimistic or optimistic, but research shows us optimism is like a muscle; it can be grown with intentional effort. 

Let me share with you how we can grow our positivity muscle and become more abundantly optimistic:

1) See Setbacks As Setups

Challenges are just stepping stones to growth. When you change your view from obstacles to opportunities, you’ll begin to see solutions. Negative people only see problems, while successful people see potential. What appears to be a setback can actually be a setup for something extraordinary. Abundance always believes there is purpose hiding behind problems. In fact, every problem has a seed of progress in it. Unfortunately, most people don’t mine a problem long enough and deep enough to find this seed. 

It is easy to want to give up when faced with obstacles and problems, but to reach your potential, you have to fight through those setbacks and unforeseen challenges. The resistance you face is not necessarily a bad sign; it is often a sign that you are on the right path. So, shake off the dust and get back up. Remember this: you cannot climb a smooth mountain. The uneven, jagged, and rocky places create the hand and footholds you need to reach the top. When it seems like there is no way, remember what Thomas Edison said: “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this––you haven’t.”

2) See Less As More

Don’t be afraid of loss. In fact, sometimes, the only way to add is by subtracting. Those that fear losing and having less are trapped in their own fear. My mentor John C. Maxwell taught me early on that you have to give up to go up. If you want to go higher, you have to be willing to let some things go. Scarcity always tries to hold on and never let go of what you’ve got. But abundance is willing to let go of what you’ve got in order to get what you ain’t got! Less is more if you believe in an abundant future.

Author André Gide said, “You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” You will have to sacrifice your sense of comfort to fulfill your purpose. Whenever we are courageous enough to step outside of our comfort zone into the unknown, we have the potential to discover new areas of opportunity. 

3) See What Could Be as What Is

Too many people wait until they’ve got something before they do something. They wait for title and position before they lead with influence and confidence. They wait to have lots of money before investing with what they’ve got. They wait for others to befriend them before opening up and being a friend. Basically, too many people are putting off living life until they “arrive.” You don’t get to a greater future until you start living like it now. I always say, “Every day is an audition for the person you want to become.” See what could be and live like it is. Then you will begin to live more abundantly.