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HOW POVERTY MENTALITY AFFECTS OUR MENTAL HEALTH

POVERTY MENTALITY is a serious factor that affects a man’s mental health as a result of poverty. Poverty mentality affects the way a man reason, talk, socialize and in fact poverty mentality controls how a man behaves including his character and contribution to the society. There are a lot of people most especially Nigerians suffering from poverty mentality.

Poverty alone is a disease which controls our mental health negatively, this writer suffered poverty mentality for years but thanks to the internet and Education which is gradually changing my mentality. The cause of poverty mentality is majorly poverty and lack of education. Although There are different types of poverty mentality, but they are all the same just little differences. Below are categories of poverty mentality.

1. THE RICH BUT POOR.

This type of people has the money, but they still look poor. Despite having a business that fetches them money, they won’t eat good food, go for medical checkup nor spend a dime on their family. They can afford to buy a car but prefer to trek because to them buying a car is like wasting of Money as they don’t want people to see them as rich even when they can afford it. People see this type of people as stingy man and woman but sometimes it is not that they are stingy they might just be suffering from poverty mentality especially when that person is from a poor family but luckily escaped poverty.

This type of people will just be Saving money and investing money but to eat good food out of the money becomes a problem, when they are sick they prefer agbo (herbs) rather than go to the hospital. You may be rich and still be suffering from poverty mentality. If you have parents suffering from poverty mentality, please always educate them to eat good food, get medicine and buy what they want as long as they have the money.

2. ACCEPTING POVERTY AS YOUR DESTINY.

Poverty mentality will make you think that you are poor is your destiny which is absolutely wrong and not so because God is not evil. Some people believe that being poor on earth is a “destiny” and that there is big reward for them in heaven after death and this has always affected their mental health. Prayer is good as long as your faith is strong but sometimes prayer is not enough, you need to take action.

Fasting 30 days and nights with the prayer point “I want to be rich” when you have nothing to bring that money to you is a waste of time. “Work and pray” not “Pray and pray.” “Life is Vanity upon vanity” That is a poor man favorite quote, my brother if you die poor, it is still vanity and if you die Rich, it is still vanity, choose your vanity well.

I know it is God that gives riches but running from church to mosque praying for riches doesn’t really work, you need action, that is, lay your hands on something productive and believe in God. As you can see there are many fake prophets these days, some will give you Fake Prophecy just to milk you. If Truly riches are by prayer, then my parents should have become a millionaire by now. It takes grace, Smart Work, patience and prayer to eradicate poverty. If you ever believe that being poor is your destiny and Fate, then you May be suffering from Religion poverty mentality.

My own definition of riches is not until you are a billionaire but that particular moment when you are neither poor nor rich then you are okay. The solution to this category is, Pray to God to show you the way, believe in yourself and Work hard then exercise patience because good things take time. Never should you accept that being poor Is from God, your destiny or a curse. Even if it is a generation curse, try hard to break that yoke.

3. EVERYONE USING IPHONE AND EXPENSIVE PHONES ARE RICH.

Do you always see people Especially students using iPhones and other expensive phones as rich?? If yes, then you might be suffering from poverty mentality. Illiteracy is a disease and poverty is a disease now when you combine the two together you should know the result will be bad. Having a diploma or a university degree Doesn’t mean you are educated, you May be a graduate and still be Poor upstairs.

Education Plays a vital Role in our life and it is the panacea to poverty. Your ability to think and reason beyond imagination is what makes you a Standout literate Person. Where some of us get it wrong is thinking that getting Education is an automatic ticket to get rid of poverty, No its not. Education exposes you to many opportunities and it really helps you fight poverty mentality.

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There was a particular day my neighbor confronted me and asked if I was a yahoo boy and I asked why he asked me such question, he said “because I can see you are using two (2) expensive phones,” I was just laughing because the two phones are not even up-to 120k I had to educate him on the nature of my work and yet he doesn’t understand, I overheard him and his wife discussing that using 200k phone is a waste of money, that the money should have been used to purchase land instead. I Was just laughing that day. I didn’t engage them in the conversation because I knew they might be suffering from poverty mentality.

I told the man’s wife that Someone Using Expensive phone doesn’t mean that the person is a yahoo boy or that the person is rich. You need to understand that choices are different and how people spend their money is best known to them. If I have the money, I could buy 500k phone because I know the features and operating system will beat that of 60k/60k I’m using which will be of benefit to my job. There are many people like my neighbor who reasons this way, they think having an iPhone Mean that you should be rich, that is a sign of poverty mentality.

4. MENTALITY OF ENTITLEMENT.

Feeling entitled to other people money and personal belongings is a sign of poverty mentality. Did you suddenly become an enemy to your friend because S/he didn’t help you financially Knowing fully well that S/he has the money? If yes, you may be suffering from poverty mentality. You need to understand that ‘giving’ is a choice, you should not feel entitled to other people’s money because it’s their money. This maybe one of the reasons your friends no longer pick your call because you always feel entitled to their money. The solution to this type of poverty mentality is for you to start thinking positive, start thinking what you can do for yourself and your country and not what your country and others will do for you. By gradually practicing these tips, you too will graduate from the spirit of entitlement to a giver.

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In addition, maybe you still don’t understand which category you belong, Poverty mentality is that particular moment you start to think that a 25yr old guy can’t be rich, that a 20yr old woman can’t get a PhD degree, you think every successful woman is ashawo, you think every rich woman depends on a man, you think every youth driving a car are yahoo boys and ritualist.

Poverty is a serious disease that affects one’s mental health which always results in negative reasoning. There are still people that make money legitimately both online and offline and are doing well in life but if these people show you the Way, your reaction is always “nah SCAM” it’s so sad that poverty mentality has shaped some people to the extent they think every online means of earning is scam. The moment you change your mindset to be positive that is when you will begin to see things turning around for your good.

HOW TO ERADICATE POVERTY MENTALITY?

1. GET EDUCATION.

Education is not limited to classroom alone. Make research and learn more. The more you learn the bigger you grow. Stop saying “Education is a scam” Education is never a scam. It plays a vital role in one’s life especially on our mental health. When it comes to eradicate poverty mentality, education is a key factor to consider.

2. CHANGE ENVIRONMENT.

The environment you live in contributes to your mental health. Try to mingle with people with positive mindset. Doing these will save you from poverty mentality. I don’t know for others but the friends I mingled with have really contributed positively to my life in so many ways Which directly saved me from poverty mentality.

3. INVEST IN YOURSELF

Try and invest yourself, if possible, learn a new skill, upgrade yourself and stop bragging about the past focus on the future. If you have the money, try to eat good food, if you have the money for transport don’t trek, if you have the money to buy drugs do it not until things get worse. Buying shawarma for others while you soak garri at home is typical example of poverty mentality brother you too also deserve a good life.