Worrying about scarcity is our culture's version of post-traumatic stress. It happens when we've been through too much, and rather than coming together to heal (which requires vulnerability) we're angry and scared and at each other's throats.

In a highly critical, scarcity-based world, everyone's afraid to fail.

First and foremost, we need to be the adults we want our children to be. We should watch our own gossiping and anger. We should model the kindness we want to see.

Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism.

Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.

Shame is the most powerful, master emotion. It's the fear that we're not good enough.

Healthy striving is self-focused: "How can I improve?" Perfectionism is other-focused: "What will they think?"