The only people I recognize, time and again, as having an "abundance mindset" are people who prioritize wealth and material objects first and foremost, because

The only people I recognize, time and again, as having an "abundance mindset" are people who prioritize wealth and material objects first and foremost, because they recognize there's a whole lot of that stuff out there for the person willing to go out there and get it however they can. Otherwise, I kind of see the term as not very useful. Actually, it might be inherently wrong. A major part of the 'unhappiness' that I see a lot of "smart" people deal with is kind of the opposite of this "abundance" thing - in reality, there aren't enough of 'everything' to go around. Good jobs, reasonably priced things, work-life balance, adequate sick and vacation time, opportunities to advance in a company...it's not that smart people reject these things, it's that some of the conditions are pretty un-sympathetic to merit and integrity based approaches. For all the talk about the US having a very mobile system of social and economic status - which I think it does, global context in mind - it's still a bell curve of haves and have nots. Being smart enough to see that conditions are not very appealing doesn't jack up the seratonin feelings of "oh everything is just great" in my neighborhood. Relevant quote: Peter Gibbons: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars then you're supposed to be an auto mechanic. Samir: So what did you say? Peter Gibbons: I never had an answer. I guess that's why I'm working at Initech. Michael Bolton: No, you're working at Initech because that question is bullshit to begin with. If everyone listened to her, there'd be no janitors, because no one would clean shit up if they had a million dollars.