Rachel Zhu
Something I’ve been thinking about a lot over the past year has been the concept of an abundance mindset. For those of us who don’t know what this is, an abundance mindset believes in a wealth of resources and opportunities, encouraging collaboration, generosity, creativity, and long-term thinking.
I find myself particularly intrigued by this concept, often returning to it in times of need when I am struggling and feeling low. It’s a beautiful thing, to see the world through a lens of abundance, to believe in and live life in a way that is giving and loving, as opposed to guarded and fearful.
Rachel, Micaela, Gisel, and Joanna at GrizzlyCorps Winterfest at Blodgett Forest Research Station in Georgetown, CA
As a child, I was taught to look at the world through a scarcity mindset. Both of my parents had incredibly tough upbringings where they often struggled to have even the most basic of needs met. Emotionally, financially, and physically, they grew up stunted, learning time and time again that they could only rely on themselves. I grew up in a very different environment, thanks to the many sacrifices of my parents, yet I was still raised with the same anxieties they carried with them from their own childhood.
“When are you going to get a real job?”
“You need to go to graduate school, it’s the only way to secure your future.”
“Be careful of who you trust, you never know who’s going to hurt you.”
Over the years, these questions, and this way of thinking have worn down my sense of self and affected my view of others and the world around me. I had become anxiety-ridden, constantly worrying over what I would do with my life, panicking when I had nothing lined up, and constantly feeling like I wasn’t good enough. I celebrated the successes of my friends and family, but along with the joy I had for those around me, I felt a sense of deep fear and insecurity in my own life. It felt like with every instance of success shared by others made it seem all the more unattainable in my own life.
I hadn’t even noticed how deeply this way of thinking had taken hold of me until we began discussing what it means to have an abundance mindset during our monthly cohort trainings. At first, I treated these reflections as platitudes, but the seed had been planted, and I began to notice how the people around me treated me with kindness and acted in abundance.
Rachel picking strawberries at GrizzlyCorps Springfest at the Lost Sierra Food Project in Quincy, CA
Within the first two weeks of my fellowship, I was given jars of honey, boxes of yu choy, and bouquets of flowers from growers, simply for being there. These were growers who were busy 24/7, who were constantly laboring in order to keep their operations running, yet they had taken the time to bring gifts, welcoming me with open arms into my new role. I was really moved by the fact that these growers would share the fruits of their labor with me, a stranger who had just come into their space. Their generosity was a profound reminder of the importance of community and kindness, teaching me that even in the midst of hard work and challenges, there is always room to extend a helping hand and show appreciation.
My friends and coworkers also inspired me with their acts of kindness and support, like my roommate and fellow GrizzlyCorps member Micaela, gifting me cuttings from her own plants and always sharing tips on how to keep them happy. Or Tenaya, who taught me how to surf, and Nina upon hearing how I was going to surf with Tenaya, offered me her wetsuit for the year. Nat gifted me a beautiful frog dish just because I had taken the time to admire it, and Jose and Daniel brought fruits and vegetables from a farm stand to my apartment and made salsa verde when they came to visit.
There are so many other beautiful acts of kindness my community has shown me in the past year that I haven’t mentioned, and I want to thank everyone who has touched my life, big and small. I am so incredibly grateful to have been able to be a part of such a warm and welcoming community.
Rachel and fellow GrizzlyCorps members Micaela, Tenaya, Alaina, and Jose at Lake Tahoe
But more than the kind acts the people around me have shown me, it is the way they live life that has had a profound impact on me. For the past year, I have seen so much positive energy, excitement for life, and optimism for the future. Their approach to life has made me reevaluate my own perspective and inspired me to look to the future in a different way. I find myself wanting to move forward with a new mindset, one that embraces possibility and optimism.
I completely understand the anxieties of my parents and why I was raised with a focus on caution and scarcity. Their experiences and worries were incredibly valid, however, I can also acknowledge that this isn’t the only way to live life, and in fact, is not the best way for me to live my life. It’s ok to not know what you’re doing, and stress and pressure don’t need to be a motivating factor to live a successful and happy life. You don’t need to feel guilty for prioritizing happiness.
I now realize I have a choice in how I live my life, and I choose abundance.
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