A Closet Full of Lessons, Letting Go of Scarcity
Welcome to this installment of Mind Shifts, a bite-sized blog about mindfulness, meditation, and more. Each month I’ll share bits and bobs with the intention of sparking some mindful magic.
The other day, I decided to tackle a long-overdue task—cleaning out my closet. It started as an innocent attempt to organize and declutter. But as I pushed hangers aside, I noticed something curious: I had five black dresses. The catch? Only one of them fit. The rest? Well, let’s just say they were very stylish fifteen years ago. Now they hung as pieces of the past.
As I stared at those dresses, and later tried them on, a thought struck me: Why was I holding onto them? Was I really that confident that 2010 me would make a spontaneous reappearance, that I could slip back into not just these clothes but also an outdated version of myself, or that these styles would once again make me feel confident and comfortable when I wore them? The truth hit me hard: my closet might have looked abundant, but my mindset was drenched in scarcity. Where else in my life was I clinging to things—ideas, habits, even beliefs—because of a “just in case” mentality? And more importantly, what could I gain by letting go?
The Scarcity Mindset in Action
I have a feeling I’m not alone in this. If you still have jeans from college or have held off on burning your favorite candle (Yankee Candle Jack Frost), you get it. Scarcity whispers things like, "You might need this someday"; or "What if you can’t replace it?"; It convinces us that keeping something we’re not using is safer than trusting we’ll find what we need when we need it.
Take my black dresses, for example. I wasn’t keeping them because I loved them or wore them often. Heck, I didn’t wear them at all. I was keeping them because I didn’t trust myself to find an appropriate black dress if the need arose. They were physical placeholders for my doubts. And here’s the kicker: while they hung in my closet, gathering dust, they took up space—space that could’ve gone to something I truly loved and wore.
The Cost of Scarcity
Scarcity is sneaky. It doesn’t just live in our closets; it creeps into our relationships, our schedules, even our beliefs about ourselves. It tells us, “Don’t let go. You might not get another chance.” But this kind of thinking comes with a price.
For me, the cost was emotional clutter. Those dresses didn’t just take up physical space; they carried the weight of “what ifs” and “maybes.” And every time I saw them, they reminded me of a version of myself that no longer existed.
Mindfulness teaches us to meet the present moment with openness and curiosity. It’s about seeing what is, not what was or what might be. When I finally let go of those dresses, I felt lighter—not just because my closet looked better, but because I was no longer tethered to the past or fearful of the future.
How Mindfulness Identifies and Transforms a Scarcity Mindset
Mindfulness has a remarkable way of shining a light on the subtle narratives we carry. When we practice mindfulness, we create a space to observe our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. This simple act of awareness helps us identify scarcity thinking as it arises. For example, mindfulness might reveal the internal dialogue that says, “I should hold onto this just in case,” or “I’ll never have enough.” By recognizing these patterns, we’re no longer operating on autopilot. We can pause and ask, “Is this thought true? Does this belief serve me?”
Once we’ve identified scarcity thinking, mindfulness also provides tools to work with it. Through practices like deep breathing or body scans, we can ground ourselves in the present moment, where abundance resides. Instead of focusing on lack or fear, mindfulness gently redirects our attention to what we already have. Noting scarcity-driven thoughts as they arise helps loosen their grip. Non-attachment teaches us that our worth isn’t tied to what we own, and acts of generosity expand our sense of ‘enough.’ Mindfulness allows us to appreciate the richness of now—whether it’s connecting with loved ones, spending a great day in nature, learning something new, or even realizing that one black dress fits beautifully.
Embracing Abundance Through Mindfulness
Abundance isn’t about having more; it’s about trusting there will always be enough. Mindfulness nurtures this trust by helping us shift our perspective. When we practice gratitude, for example, we become attuned to the blessings that surround us. Instead of yearning for more, we start to see the sufficiency in what is already here. Mindfulness also encourages us to let go—of things, expectations, and attachments that no longer
serve us. It’s not about recklessly discarding but about mindfully releasing what weighs us down.
With each intentional act of letting go, we make space for new possibilities and invite abundance into our lives. If you’re wondering how to start embracing abundance, here’s a small challenge: pick one area of your life where scarcity shows up. Maybe it’s your closet, your pantry, or even your calendar. Ask yourself: “Am I keeping this out of trust or fear?” Then try letting go of one thing that doesn’t serve you anymore. Notice how it feels to create space—physically and mentally.
A closet full of dresses that don’t fit isn’t abundance; it’s a reflection of scarcity. True abundance is knowing that when the time comes, I’ll find what fits—in every sense of the word. So, as February rolls in, I invite you to join me in this practice of letting go. Whether it’s clearing out a closet, releasing old habits, or rethinking outdated beliefs, let’s make space for trust, for possibility, and for the beauty of the present moment. Because when we stop clinging to “just in case,” we open ourselves to “just right.”
What I’m Loving Right Now - Swedish Death Cleaning
Don’t let the name stop you from reading on! Once I tackled the black dresses, I looked for a guide to help me continue the purge. I found Swedish Death Cleaning. Swedish Death Cleaning was introduced by Margareta Magnusson in her book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. It sounds a little morbid, but it’s extremely useful and pairs well with living a mindful life. The idea is to remove the burden of decluttering for your loved ones after you’ve passed away, so you’re left only with the essentials and those items that have the most meaning.
Mindful Shift Invitation
Pick one area of your life where scarcity shows up. Maybe it’s your closet, your pantry, or even your commitments. Ask yourself: “Am I keeping this out of trust or fear?” Then try letting go of one thing that doesn’t serve you anymore. Notice how it feels to create space—physically and mentally. Listen to an Abundance Meditation HERE
Leavin’ You with a Quote
“Abundance is a process of letting go; that which is empty can receive.” – Bryant H. McGill
Until our next breath together,
Lisa
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