Scarcity Tunnel

The story begins with a woman, who had suddenly lost her job and got divorced. So she worried about not having enough daily necessities for her and her children all the time. One day, she received a new credit card. She grabbed it right away and ran out to buy toilet papers and food that can last for months with the credit. She has forgotten that there were the electric bills standing out there. Without the ability to pay the expenses, she became in debt. And a vicious cycle began.

It might look insane to us to spend all the card credits to toilet papers while not paying electric bills. But this is caused by a “scarcity tunnel”, as introduced by the episode.

In the “scarcity tunnel”, as the podcast puts, one has a tunnel vision that one can only see the things he/she does not have. It is like covering the eyes of the horse with the “flip” so that it can only see the things ahead and not anything on the sideways. When one is having this scarcity tunnel vision, the thing that is lacking is on top of the head, and everything else is abandoned.

Of course, we might not be so scared about not having enough toilet papers (except when you’re stuck in the toilet without toilet papers) that we will accumulate toilet papers for months, but we all have our own fear. Fear of not being accepted in a social circle may lead us to put on a mask and act not as our true selves. Fear of failures may prevent us to try something new or take on a new role. Fear of insecurity may lead us to hold onto something worldly that does not really give us true security. Examples? Money, houses, cars, or even a boyfriend/girlfriend.

But why do we fear? I have no answers for everyone.

Lack of security.
Fear of not having enough (inadequacy) leads to greediness, which drives us insane to take more and want more of something we may not actually need.
Fear of being ignorant leads to dishonesty, where we make stuff up to make ourselves look good and worthy.
Realizing our fear of deficiency that may trap us inside the scarcity tunnel may be a solution for us not falling into it.
“It is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things in all that is allowed to the choice of our free will.” -Ignatius Loyola (1491–1556) and the Spiritual Exercises)

But why am I fear?

If adequacy gives us a “tunnel vision”, could we make use of it for the greater glory of God?

This is perhaps why Jesus says “How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:3)

When we think we are poor in spirit, we will focus on the spirit.

And perhaps, when we are having a tunnel vision on God, we put all our effort into seeking Him, and therefore having the kingdom of Heaven!

It suddenly makes so much sense.

Thanks God!

*The podcast episode mentioned here is the episode “Too Little, Too Much: How Poverty and Wealth Affect Our Minds” featured on Hidden Brain.