When we think of poverty, we tend to focus on its physical manifestations – the lack of material resources, the absence of basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare, and the challenges of surviving in adverse conditions. While these are certainly valid concerns, they only scratch the surface of what poverty really means and how it affects people.
In my opinion, poverty is primarily a mental state rather than a physical condition. It’s a mindset that is characterized by a sense of lack, limitation, and disempowerment, which can lead to a range of negative outcomes such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and a lack of motivation.
This mental poverty can be just as debilitating as its physical counterpart, if not more so. It can make people feel helpless, hopeless, and trapped in their circumstances, with no way out. It can erode their sense of agency and autonomy, and make them feel like they have no control over their lives.
Of course, this is not to discount the very real material hardships that people living in poverty face. Access to necessities such as food, water, and healthcare is essential for survival and well-being, and the lack of these resources can have severe consequences for individuals and communities.
However, it’s important to recognize that poverty is not just a matter of having or not having material resources. It’s also about the mental attitudes and beliefs that shape our relationship with those resources, and how we perceive our ability to access and utilize them.
In many cases, people living in poverty may have access to more resources than they realize, but their mental poverty prevents them from taking advantage of those resources. They may lack the confidence, knowledge, or skills to make the most of their opportunities, or they may be weighed down by negative self-talk and limiting beliefs that hold them back.
That’s why I believe that addressing poverty requires a holistic approach that addresses both the physical and mental dimensions of the issue. We need to provide people with the material resources they need to survive and thrive, while also empowering them to develop the mental skills and attitudes that will help them make the most of those resources.
This means investing in education and skills training programs that help people develop the knowledge and competencies they need to succeed in their chosen fields. It means providing mentorship and coaching to help people build their confidence, resilience, and self-efficacy. And it means creating supportive communities that offer social connections, resources, and a sense of belonging.
By addressing the mental dimensions of poverty, we can help people develop the resilience and resourcefulness they need to overcome the challenges they face, and to create a better future for themselves and their communities. It’s not an easy task, but it’s one that is essential if we want to create a more just and equitable world for all.
Poverty is just in mind
