How Poverty Empowered My Mindset

Poverty forces me to plan ahead, allowing me to empower myself with the right tools to live a better life by changing my mindset.

Image by Annelise Lords

Empowerment means:  the act or action of empowering someone or something: the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties.

Growing up in poverty, hopelessness lived in hearts, minds, souls, intentions, actions, choices, decisions, and many other places that denied us opportunities for betterment. With limited resources from my country, parents, and life, I must find a way to survive. #Iintend2survive, so, I began a search for the right tool to empower me.

I detest the destitution of my life along with the pain that accompanies it. I know that I must find ways to halt it. I am aware that stopping humanity’s impoverished state will take every human on the planet. Yes, only in unity can we stop poverty. I found the right tool without paying a penny.

My mindset or my way of thinking.

I think this was the best route that would allow me to slow down poverty’s cycle. I have witnessed the consequences and results of how various ways of thinking have contributed to the hardship in the lives of many Jamaicans. Yes, I can see life as it unfolds from the actions, choices, and decisions of many around me.  

Pauperism creates many instabilities in my country wrecking the lives of many Jamaicans.

Frequent water lock-off.

I learn to plan and prepare for life disasters and disappointments. I store water in large containers especially when it rains. I learned to economize the water I use as my water bills can be high. I recycle water and use it to water my garden.

When water goes away, I have water to drink, cook, flush toilets, bathe, and do what I want for days. The people who don’t plan have to buy water at a higher rate. Or they can go around and beg for water. Water is life. Humans can go without food for days, but not without water. I learn to plan ahead.

Thanks to my thinking and ability to plan everything, I empower myself to prepare for life’s challenges.

Frequent power cuts demand that I have a plan, and a backup plan too. I use common sense and mostly buy clothes that don’t need to be ironed. Plus, everything that needs to be ironed is washed, ironed, and stored in my wardrobe for days and sometimes weeks before they are to be worn.

Life showed me the value, consequences, and rewards of planning ahead while empowering me to live better and be happier with fewer problems.

 Through my thinking, I learn awareness too. I don’t pack my freezer with food as I cook often.  But I always have ice in my freezer in case of power cuts, my food will stay cool until light returns. Also, not open my fridge often when there is a power cut.  Jamaica is very hot.

The ones who don’t plan and aren’t aware have to throw away their spoiled foods. The power company doesn’t compensate us for spoilage.

I am saving for Solar power.

My awareness and focus force me to study the instabilities of my country and find patterns in how, why, and when things happen. I can predict some of these disasters before they occur. I also learned how not to take life or living for granted.

Awareness is a powerful tool that shows us the truth in humans and life. I don’t assume that everything is going to go well.

By being aware, I can see and understand life, living, humans, and our world better. My world is cruel and unforgiving, and to live and survive, sometimes you have to be both. I refuse to be what my world wants me to be because of the lack of resources and limited opportunities at my disposal.  My mindset or how I think helps to determine that. I must live,  so empowering myself with the right tools is important.

Poverty forces me to think economically allowing me to empower myself with tools to manage my finances well. Being able to do this, I am never hungry, and neither will my children. I learn to cook and bake early. Cooking meals saves me lots of money and keeps me healthier. I then save money on doctor bills. I raise my children to think that way.

How I think will determine if I stay poor or not. Our mindset or thinking can be a tool or a weapon. A friend or a foe.  We have a choice of what to use to empower ourselves and life.  

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.