Nikhil Kabadi

“Sir, mein akela hoon iss hafte bhi. Mehene ke baara hazaar mein kaun kaam karega?”

[Sir, I’m the only one doing the job this week too (picking used linens in train coaches). Who will agree to work on a monthly salary of ₹12,000?]

What struck me about this snide remark from a cleaner to the ticket collector during a recent train journey is how we perceive “abundance”.

My exploration into abundance began as a self-inquiry: If we assume we are already mindfully productive and making great decisions toward an abundant future – why would anyone invest time in learning how to make better decisions?

One of the reason cited often to justify we live in an increasingly abundant world is the data on poverty reduction.

Apparently, only 8% of India’s population is living in extreme poverty, down from 60% in the 1980s.

This number is from a metric called International Poverty Line defined by World Bank to measure extreme poverty as: what ~₹165/day ($1.9/day) can buy when comparing different countries.

In 2022, World bank updated it from $1.9/day to $2.15/day (~₹183/day). And this change lifted 20 million people out of extreme poverty!

There’s also a “broader poverty index,” used by upper-middle-income countries that is set at $5.5/day (~ ₹470/day).

If we consider the broader poverty index, globally, ~50% fall in poverty. Yes – every second human being on Earth is living below ₹470/day.

No wonder, even after earning a salary of ₹12,000 (₹400/day), the cleaner and the Indian Railways are at odds to what defines abundance.

The goal of reducing extreme poverty to zero is a noble cause. But, associating $5.5/day with abundance is unempathetic and reflects a privileged mentality.

This also exemplifies what I call Focusing Illusion: the tendency to overemphasize the perception of abundance while neglecting the ignominious scarcity of reality.

And there are numerous such examples…

Consider longevity. While average lifespans have increased, the quality of those additional years – our healthspan has not necessarily improved. Living longer doesn’t always mean living healthier.

Information is more accessible than ever, yet the sheer volume doesn’t equate to knowledge. If we measure information abundance by data volume, platforms like TikTok and YouTube could be misconstrued as premier educational institutions.

Yet another example – suicide rates have decreased from their peak decades ago. So is depression finally conquered? Unfortunately the absolute numbers remain almost the same. Alarmingly, there’s a steady rise in suicides among younger adults each year.

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” – Albert Einstein

Abundance isn’t merely about metrics; it’s about meaningful measures – for the individual.

The more I read about abundance, the more exciting the future looks. But at the same time, it’s disheartening to know that only a very tiny fraction of population will enjoy it. Most others will be led astray by focusing illusions.

It’s my ardent desire to have this abundant future available for all that drives me to build and shape Mindful Productivity.

Mindful Productivity is a collection of skills to make better decisions. Abundance simply doesn’t happen. It comes from tiny investments we make with each decision.

Life is short. Make better decisions.