I had the privilege of taking some outdoor family photos for my sweet friend, Claire, on some of her family’s property in North Texas a few days ago. I was outside for a large part of that afternoon before we did the pictures, and it was a beautiful, sunny day. A hat-and-sunglasses-preferred kind of day. I went inside to cook supper for all my little minions, and when I came out afterwards to leave for the shoot an ominous cloud was rolling up. The Weather Channel app really let me down because there was zero mention of that in the forecast. Sometimes I think that Grandpa Joe with the arthritis in his knee is as good of a weather forecaster as the meteorologists! But seeing as how I have done nothing to further the study of meteorology, nor do I even pay for the weather app, I’ll stop complaining about it. Until the next time, anyway.
My thoughtful hubby checked the radar while I was on my way and informed me that it would indeed be raining soon. It was also getting dark quickly, so there was no time for Claire and her family to warm up to the camera – it was laughter and smiles now or never! Fortunately, Claire is just how she comes across in these photos – bright, cheerful, and always with a smile and laughter at the ready – and she brings that energy to her family as well. Her sweet husband clearly really cherishes his family and was incredibly cooperative, and her kids made my heart happy with their laughter, smiles, and love for their parents.
There are two kinds of people in the world – those that categorize people into groups and those that don’t. Just kidding, that’s one of my husband’s favorite jokes. Anyway, back to the actual point, there people who have a scarcity mindset and those who have an abundance mindset.
People with a scarcity mindset believe there is only a limited amount of everything (success, money, happiness, etc), so anyone who has those things is therefore limiting others’ ability to have them. Maybe it sounds too childish to be true about such wise and discerning adults as ourselves 😜, but more of us are like that than we’d probably like to admit. When I struggle with jealousy or comparison, I am operating from a scarcity mindset. Claire, however, always seems to have an abundance mindset. She believes when things are better for others, it is better for everyone. When people around her are happy, she is happy with them. When good things happen for them, she cheers with them. And these are the kinds of friends you need in your life because, not only do they celebrate with you, they encourage you to be a better person.
We were able to crank through pictures in record time because of their happy and easy-going natures, and the raindrops started falling right as we were taking the last few. I love the joy in these photos and hope that they will serve as an encouragement to the rest of us to be like Claire and live with a mindset of abundance!!
What about you?? Do you tend to have a mentality of scarcity or abundance?
(Also, Claire is a photographer, and I know she brings this same positive, encouraging attitude to her photography clients. If you want a photographer who would become a great friend and make you feel great about yourself, you should check her out on Instagram @claireworthamphotography!!)
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