On poverty
What is poverty?
Consider that poverty has absolutely nothing to do with one’s bank account balance (or lack of a bank account).
I have found that poverty is a function of attitude. Whether or not you believe that it’s always and ultimately up to you to invest your time, talents and resources to create what is personally meaningful determines your performance.
My personal test for the poverty mentality in play: Is something unacceptable to my heart yet justifiable by my intellect? If I answer, “Yes,” then I know I am believing I cannot create what is personally meaningful.
Most people when asked, “What is the opposite of poverty?” reply, “Wealth.” I am certain the opposite of poverty is personal freedom. [If you dream of winning the lottery, aren’t you anticipating that money will buy you freedom?]
In communities throughout Kenya, we begin four-hour workshops with the question, “Who here is poor?” Almost everyone raises their hand. During the workshop people examine their beliefs and discover that they believe they are poor and their behavior reflects this belief. Once they realize that only their thinking is poor, their behavior changes.
Future performance then reflects their new attitude. Suddenly they actually see the resources they have been tripping over for years.
The biggest resource they again see is each other.