What Makes People Poor?

The rich and the poor are two contrasting sets of people operating at contrasting states of economic and material well being. While richness is positive and the aspiration of many, if not everybody, “poorness” is negative and unwanted by anybody. While the rich has many friends, the poor is hated even by his neighbour, so says the book of life. But why are people poor?

The term poor  could be said to mean Passing Over Opportunities Repeatedly. The poor is often unaware of the opportunities existing around him. Even when he does, his financial and material status is such that he cannot meet the requirements of those opportunities. These explain why the poor keeps passing over opportunities repeatedly and survives only at the mercy of poverty. Studies have proven that most poor are the products of their thoughts, actions, beliefs, and most especially, fears. How does the poor mind operate?

Thinks Impossibilities: A poor mind thinks and sees impossibilities in everything. He is always doubtful and will always find one explanation or another to give why something will not work. This is why all pessimists are poor.

Sees Constant Risks: A poor mind sees risks everywhere and in everything as well as avoid challenges. Everything in life is full of risks for a poor mind and as he avoids these ‘imaginary’ risks, he continues sinking deeper and deeper into the muddy grounds of lack and impoverishment.

Full of Excuses: Reasons and excuses never finish on the poor’s lips. He gives reasons he cannot do a particular thing and as he finds one excuse to give, he is often presented with many excuses. By that he perpetuates in his poor state.

Lack and Limitations: Thoughts of lack and limitations always fill the poor’s mind. “If I was born to Mr A”, “If my parents were richer”, and the likes are the unending lamentations of the poor. A poor mind never has what is demanded nor does it find itself qualified.

Wishes for the Best:  A poor mind always wishes for the best in life. It wishes to drive the costliest cars, live in a luxury house, have all the money in the world, etc. In fact, it aspires for the tops but such aspirations are hardly backed up with actions.

A Miser: a poor mind is a crocodile; shy to bite and shy to let go. A poor mind withholds everything it has. He is a miser and exhibits the highest form of selfishness and stinginess.

Thinks only of Survival: Any money that comes the way of the poor is only for the financing of expenses. All he will ever work for is to spend for sustenance and scarcely does he dream of saving not to even mention doing savings itself.

Sees Problems as Obstacles: A poor mind sees every problem as obstacles. Instead of trying to find solutions to these problems, he will quit promptly whenever a problem arises. By so doing, he continues signing newer agreements to remain in his poor state and never to make any progress.

Seeks Sympathy: A poor mind always carry a face that will attract sympathy from people. He expects everybody to be interested and contribute to his welfare. But more often than not, he gets apathy in place of sympathy.

Unsatisfied and Ungrateful:  A poor mind is always ungrateful because his expectations from people do not always come true. He expects someone else to solve all his problems for him. Therefore, if you solve some and leave some, you have never tried enough.

A sincere assessment of ourselves and our thought patterns is very inevitable here. The vulnerable ones and the victims could easily break off from the captivity of poverty by readjusting their mental states of being. May God help us.