Embracing What We Have

Lessons from an Impending Storm

As I sit with the impending snowstorm in Georgia and watch the empty shelves in stores, I am struck by how much we, as a society, panic when faced with the unexpected. The rush to gather what we think we’ll need reflects more than just concern for our safety—it reveals the deep anxiety of not having enough and, perhaps, not being enough.

Moments like these are about more than food, water, and essentials. They shine a light on our relationship with preparedness, scarcity, and acceptance. When we aren’t prepared, it’s not just about what we lack physically; it’s about our ability to accept and work with what we already have. This scarcity mindset, deeply rooted in supremacy culture, pushes us into cycles of fear, striving, and grasping. It disconnects us from gratitude, creativity, and the resourcefulness that could guide us through the storm.

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The Cost of Panic

When faced with uncertainty, panic often feels like the natural response. We see it in the rush to stores, the hoarding of supplies, and the frantic energy that fills the air before any real threat has materialized. This panic isn’t just about survival; it’s about control—an attempt to shield ourselves from the discomfort of the unknown.

But panic often leads to imbalance. The shelves empty not because no one has enough but because a few take far more than they need. This mirrors the systems of inequality we live under every day, systems that convince us that safety and abundance are only accessible through accumulation.

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What Preparedness Truly Means

Preparedness is often misunderstood. It’s not about having everything; it’s about trusting in our ability to adapt, create, and make do. True preparedness starts with presence—with the ability to pause, take stock, and work with what’s already available. It’s a practice rooted in gratitude and resourcefulness rather than fear.

Think about the last time you opened your pantry and thought, “There’s nothing to eat.” Was there truly nothing, or was it that you couldn’t see the possibilities in what was there? This is how scarcity mindset limits us—it narrows our vision and keeps us from seeing abundance in unexpected forms.

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Accepting What We Have

The storm is a teacher. It asks us to stop, to settle, and to make do with what we already have. It challenges us to release the idea that more is always better and invites us to see the richness in simplicity.

This isn’t easy in a culture that equates worth with accumulation. But imagine the freedom in being able to say, “What I have is enough. What I am is enough.” Imagine the creativity that could flourish when we let go of fear and lean into possibility.

Here are some ways to practice acceptance during times of uncertainty:

1. Take Inventory
   Before rushing to get more, take stock of what you already have. Look at your supplies, your skills, and your community. You may find that you’re better equipped than you think.

2. Get Creative
   See your resources through new eyes. That half-empty pantry might hold the makings of a meal if you’re willing to experiment. That quiet time indoors could become an opportunity to connect with loved ones or reflect on what truly matters.

3. Practice Gratitude
   In moments of scarcity, gratitude is a radical act. Take a moment to acknowledge what is present in your life—whether it’s a warm blanket, a kind word, or the time to rest.

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Lessons from the Storm

The storm reminds us that we cannot control everything, no matter how much we plan or prepare. It invites us to embrace uncertainty, not with fear but with trust in ourselves and in the abundance that surrounds us.

This is not to dismiss the very real challenges that come with scarcity—financial instability, food insecurity, or lack of support. But even within those challenges, there is often a space to shift our perspective, to honor what we have rather than fixating on what we lack.

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A Call to Reflect

As the snow begins to fall, take a moment to pause. What do you already have that could sustain you through this storm—physically, emotionally, and spiritually? How might this be an opportunity to practice gratitude and resourcefulness?

Storms, both literal and metaphorical, will always come. But in their arrival, they offer us a choice: to panic or to pause, to grasp or to trust, to live in scarcity or to embrace abundance.

Let this storm be a teacher. Let it remind you of the power in presence, the freedom in simplicity, and the strength in trusting yourself and the resources you already possess.

Reflective Prompts

Here are some prompts to help you explore your relationship with preparedness, scarcity, and acceptance:

1. What do I already have that I often overlook or undervalue?

2. When faced with uncertainty, how do I typically respond? How does that serve me—or not?

3. What small acts of gratitude or creativity can I practice today to embrace abundance?

4. How can I prepare for challenges in ways that center trust and resourcefulness rather than fear?

5. What lessons have past storms—literal or metaphorical—taught me about resilience and acceptance?

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Looking Ahead: Tomorrow’s Exclusive Article

While today we reflected on embracing what we have and finding abundance in simplicity, tomorrow we’ll dive deeper into “Scarcity as a System: How Supremacy Culture Perpetuates Panic and Hoarding”.

In this exclusive piece for paid subscribers, we’ll explore:

• How scarcity is engineered to keep us in cycles of fear and striving.

• Ways to disrupt these systems in your own life.

• Practices to cultivate abundance and trust within community.

If you’re not already a subscriber, join us to access this and other deep reflections, prompts, and tools for your liberation journey.

Subscribe today and continue the work of transforming scarcity into sufficiency.

In solidarity and liberation,
Desireé B. Stephens
Educator | Counselor | Community Builder
Founder, Make Shi(f)t Happen