Abundance, maths and magic
Photo by Almos Bechtold on Unsplash
What do we think about when we think about abundance?
For me, the word conjures up notions of plenty, of generosity. We can be abundant with our time and our resources, sidestepping the worry that there isn’t, or won’t be, enough. We can be abundant with our thinking too. The concept of the ‘abundance mindset’ shows up in the work of Dr Carol Dweck (in her ground-breaking book Mindset) and, predating even that, Stephen Covey’s iconic The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Both identify the impact of expansive thinking on one’s experience, behaviours and attitudes to life.
When working with creatives, I encourage divergent thinking as a method for dislodging a feeling of stuckness with a specific project. I might ask: ‘what options do you see here?’ and then: ‘what else?’ and ‘what else?’ Identifying as many alternate possibilities as we can see—in life as well as in creative endeavours (because what is life, after all, if not a creative endeavour?)—is fundamental to our ability to choose. That choice, in turn, leads to empowerment. An abundant mindset (as opposed to one of scarcity) creates a sense of possibility, freedom and expansiveness.
Recently, I came across the work of Phil Bolton and Inga Umblija, who have devised a formula for what abundance might mean for our lives and work. The idea of ‘containing’ abundance in a formula might seem a bit counter-intuitive. But it enacts, mathematically, the very infinite nature of abundance. Their formula is as follows:
Abundance = (Mindset + Possibilities)^Boldness
If, like me, you’re not maths-y, you might struggle (as I did) to understand the significance of the squiggle between what’s inside the bracket and the concept of ‘boldness.’ This is the formula when it’s put into words: ‘abundance equals mindset plus possibilities to the power of boldness.’
The key phrase here is to the power of: the multiplication of the number by itself, which increases its value exponentially. If we add boldness to the already potent combination of a positive mindset and the ability to see infinite possibilities, magic happens. The boldness is crucial. Without boldness—the capacity and the willingness to ACT—there is no abundance. We need to be prepared to gather our courage, step up and embrace whatever practices will make manifest the things we dream about.
I feel like I’m just beginning to grasp the power of this combination of possibility and boldness for myself. Recently, after years of renting, I bought a home of my own. It was a popular property and I knew I’d need to act decisively. The sale price was within my grasp—but only just. I made spreadsheets and tussled with columns of income, expenditure and essential spending. What could go and what had to stay? Where could I find the extra money to make it work? I projected what I could borrow (from a no-interest loan) and offset it against what I might earn in the future. My first bid on the property was unsuccessful (which is another story) but in the end the lead bidder dropped out and it was mine. I’d submitted a figure that made sense to me, that resonated in my core, that reflected what I felt was the actual value of the property—even when I knew I was in competition with someone else.
What happened is a long story but, in the end, it was enough to secure the deal.
So, my home ownership is founded on mathematical calculation with a bit of blind faith thrown in: maths and magic, as I’ve come to call it. And I feel the effects of that magic in my home—in a converted chapel, light-filled and spacious, with a view across the hills—every day.
Seen in the context of the abundance formula, this magic has been possible because of the combination of my mindset (the belief it could happen), my willingness to explore multiple possibilities and boldness in acting quickly and being clear about my needs. My home is a place of sanctuary, rest and peace for myself and others. It’s a gathering place for family and friends. It’s a space where I can think, be and create. The maths facilitated the magic. And in the end, that magic supports something greater and more expansive than me.
That, surely, is abundance.
