As you look to re-emerge from the coronavirus lockdown, will you see your time in "captivity" — and your newfound freedom — as rich with opportunity or full of missed chances?

Your outlook may come down to whether you view the world as a place of abundance or a place of scarcity.

When I was growing up I had six siblings and we lived in a tiny home. My parents struggled financially and we kids were competitive about everything. If I had something, I didn't want to give it up or share because I didn't believe there was enough to go around.

I carried this perspective into the early years of my real estate career. If someone else won a listing, I lost that listing, I would think to myself. Real estate agents wouldn't share their methods or ideas to attract more clients. They were competitive and they believed everything was a zero-sum game. That's a scarcity mindset.

Most people think in terms of scarcity but if you think in terms of "less is more," you start on the path toward abundance, because letting go of or giving something away opens one up to receive more. Consider the real estate model. When you stage a house, you want to remove the clutter in order to give people the opportunity to see the potential. You take away to add.

With the coronavirus numbers slowly trending downward, we are thinking about how we will return to where we were pre-COVID-19. But I would ask you to consider what you have gained during this minimalist time we've been living through, how it has added value to your life, and what you are willing to let go of moving forward.

When we detach from things and thoughts that block us from new ideas and experiences, we gain the opportunity for new creation and all the abundance that comes with it. So take stock of the way you used your time during the pandemic and consider whether you feel wiser, stronger, or calmer.

I recognize that for many people, financial and health concerns create real stress, but the next time you feel anxious, stop where you are in your moment and take stock of all you have. The more aware we are of the gifts, the more peace and fulfillment we will discover in our lives.