Scarcity thinking is usually associated with money. We think of it as worrying about not having enough, being afraid to spend, or constantly watching the bank account. But scarcity can reach much further into our lives than we realize. We can experience scarcity around time, opportunities, love, success, energy, attention, creativity and even happiness. And because scarcity thinking often operates quietly in the background, we may not recognize how much it's influencing our choices.