QUEZON City, Philippines (June 14) – Half of Filipinos, or 50 percent, consider themselves poor, according to the results of a new Social Weather Stations survey. If we do not have a sufficient amount needed to fulfill our dreams or even manage our daily needs, we consider ourselves poor.
Why?
A person can be poor not only because he or she has no money. A person can be poor not only because he or she is not able to buy any product on the market that has an expensive price tag on it. There are a thousand views about what poverty is.
It is not just about money. Poverty can simply mean lacking the positive attitude to handle the bad things in life.
Poverty is thinking that we cannot overcome life’s failure.
Ever heard or read the quote: “Poverty begins in the mind”? We should stop thinking or referring to ourselves as poor. Instead of whining, let’s think of ways that can make us more able to achieve our goals in life.
Of course, there are those that would argue that poverty is not as simple as that. Poverty can cause a lot of suffering which may lead to physical sickness. But such a condition can also be had if we are not happy. So, a positive attitude can really matter.
Another aspect that proves that poverty is just a state of mind is the fact that the rich does not always stay rich and the poor does not always stay poor. It depends on proper attitude.
The present administration is very pro-active in fighting poverty. Its efforts include higher pension for senior citizens, free medicine for indigents, added incentive and combat duty pay for policemen and soldiers, gratuity pay for job order workers and contractual workers in the government and the regularization of employees.
But one should not only depend on the government. We also need to help ourselves. We can change our status in life by changing our mindset. It is as simple as that. If we think that we are poor, then we will be poor. If we think that we are rich, then we will be rich.
Change how we think and we can change the world.
Sources: https://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20170428131124
(written by Arlyn Dungao, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin)
