Activity 3: Abundance And Scarcity (20 minutes), Workshop 5: Generosity, in the Principled Commitment Program
Materials for Activity
- Writing paper (at least one sheet per participant)
- Pens or pencils
- Tables or hard surfaces for writing
Preparation for Activity
- Set up tables, or find books or other hard surfaces for writing.
Description of Activity
Using these or similar words, invite participants to focus on the concepts of scarcity and abundance:
Our levels of generosity and gratitude can be affected by two spiritual outlooks: scarcity and abundance.
The spiritual mindset of scarcity is a "glass half empty" outlook — seeing such resources as time, energy, money, and love as inadequate. A scarcity outlook can cause us to hoard our gifts, or to share our gifts only when we're sure we'll get something of equal or greater value in return.
A spiritual mindset of abundance perceives gifts such as time, energy, money, and love as plentiful and accessible. It involves a focus on gratitude for all that we are able to give and receive, rather than a focus on those things we are not giving or receiving.
Mindsets of scarcity and abundance can exist no matter how much money a person or family has. Extremely wealthy people can view resources as scarce, and people with very low incomes can experience life as abundant.
Distribute writing paper and pens or pencils. Encourage participants to spend five minutes writing in response to the following question:
- Recall a time in your relationship when you were filled with a sense of abundance. What was it about that time that gave you a feeling of abundance?
After journaling, encourage participants to pair up with their partners and spend ten minutes sharing their responses with each other. Ask them to discuss:
- What can we do to increase our mutual sense of abundance in our relationship?
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Last updated on Saturday, October 29, 2011.
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