I grew up poor, so did a lot of my friends, it is a normal state for many people. From about seven to the time I left home we were poor. The only thing I was sure of when I left home was I was never going to become a part of the ‘poor system’ no matter what happened in my life. I knew little about the world and life, but I knew that one thing.
When poor, utilities and other items, such as the phone bill, and cable, are cut off from time to time. Checks are often floated and occasionally bounce, because in the the world of poor there is not enough money to go around each month. When there is money to turn something back on there is a ‘Poor tax’ to be paid as service or reconnection fees. These fees are pretty severe, further crippling the already short money supply. Paying a Poor Tax for one service usually means not paying another bill that is due risking having it shut off.
The world of Poor Tax and other ‘fees’, is a downward spiral where families and individuals realize they simply can not afford to live ‘normally’. There are two other sides to being poor not usually spoken of. People who are always short of money find ways to make their money stretch. Normally this compensated for in ways one may not be proud of.
Some money stretching activities seem harmless when you are poor, such as asking for a water cup at the local fast food, and filling the water cup with soda. Other ways involve buying stolen food, or stealing food yourself. Buying shoplifted or otherwise stolen personal items are typical of purchased stolen items. Buying stolen tires or a battery for the car you can not afford to insure happens too.
Secondly, an emotional Poor Tax is often paid. Being poor bestows on some poor people a difference that only they can see. Once they leave their house or neighborhood, they are out of their comfort zone. Out of their comfort zone feel quite self conscious, and feel less than. Of course they were not equal by their own standards to start with, but being out and about, feels more obvious. Poor people tend to think everyone knows they are poor, and not equal in the eyes of other’s eyes they glance into.
Lucky poor people, or those who have the opportunity to improve their life eventually arrive at a point where they are able to leave the poor life behind them. They worked hard and received an education, or otherwise struggled out from under the grinding wheel of being poor.
For some no longer poor people, poor thinking has never left due to a lifetime of feeling poor. They can not quit thinking about being less than. Thinking poor any time is a self limiting belief, but thinking poor when the situation no longer exists is worse.
Thinking poor shuts a lot of doors that are normally be opened in life. When opportunity doors open, a poor thinking person does not recognize them for what they are. For them, life opportunities never appear, or fall through. Finding a career instead of a job is very difficult, and feeling equal to others is difficult because deep down many people who once were poor do not feel as equal as those around them. Thinking poor is not limited to an economic state, some people in all walks of think poor.
To stop thinking poor change what you think. Thinking poor because you do not have en equal amount of money lends itself to having little respect for yourself, others, and money. This is wrong think, and low self esteem, along with poor money management skills. Low self esteem and poor money management skills mean – Thinking poor keeps you poor.
Stop struggling trying to meet some silly material standard. It may have already passed, or may never be met. Treat money with the respect and money will respect you back. Treat others with respect, and they will respect you more. Taking care of what you have and keeping your emotional self in a positive state, will bring treasure into your life because you will now be ready to accept them.
