MIND newsletter: Possession and scarcity
Happy Saturday everyone! 😉
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Possession and How We See Ourselves
If you have a chance to observe kids in a playground, you might realize that we humans understand ownership from a very young age. ‘It is mine!’ – the kid puts a tight grip on a coveted object, the pouty expressions, and firmly declares that. There is even a term for that – toddler possessiveness.
This can be traced as far back as an interesting quote from William James (The Principles of Psychology, 1890):
A man’s Self is the sum total of all that he can call his.
This also means that what we choose to call ours plays a certain role as extensions of the self – a means to signal to ourselves and others who we want to be and where we want to belong.
It’s a subtle dance of identity projection.
Consider this dynamic within the realm of work. In my interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds, I’ve become intrigued by how someone’s relationship with their possessions parallels their relationship with their career. The emphasis they place on their job title, their company’s brand, or their role within a project can reveal much about their self-perception and the narrative they wish to convey.
Possession and How We Perceive the World
This week, a new thought occurred to me – not only does possession reflect our identity, but it also reveals so much about our worldview. Reflect on our previous discussion about power (and music), where someone noted that our obsession with power stems from perceiving it as limited, thus making sharing seem impossible.
Think about the kid’s scenarios we mentioned early on – perhaps we are so eager to claim that toy as ours because it’s the one and only.
Consider this lens within the context of work attachments. What does it mean when we are so attached to our job title, our ideas, or our company’s identity? Could it imply a hesitancy to explore alternative possibilities? Does it have anything to do with a scarcity mindset, rather than an abundance mentality that acknowledges a wealth of intriguing roles, ideas, and avenues for self-expression?
I invite you to journey through the lens of possession today, as it might spark some interesting ideas about who you are and how you see the world. Some questions to start with:
- How do you typically introduce yourself?
- When asked about your occupation, what aspects do you emphasize or downplay?
- What might these choices reveal about your relationship with your career, your aspirations, and your desire for change?
- Could your preferences hint at unexplored possibilities?
- Is there something you perceive as limited that, in reality, is boundless?
The way we possess, the way we identify, and the way we perceive are interwoven threads that shape our narratives. What is the story you want to tell, and what is the next chapter you want to explore?
Stay curious you all 🙂
