Does Mindset Create Poverty?
Written by Kiwi Champ and is filed under the Category: "A Champion Mindset"
The other day, Pastor WD Favour wrote a post on his blog entitled “The Cure For Poverty” I highly recommend that you read it. Pastor WD Favour has first hand experience of poverty and his life is a testimony to the fact that no one HAS to stay there!
Of course there are many folk in this world who are born into poverty (as WD Favour was). But does that mean that this is their destiny? What keeps them there? Could it be their mindset? I believe so.
The poverty mindset is also found in the so called “Western Nations”, except that the outward evidence is not as severe as it is in countries like Africa. But nevertheless the same basic root is at work.
As Pastor WD Favour states in his blog post “The Cure For Poverty is Not Money”, in fact as he also comments in his post, “it is beyond money”. I wholeheartedly agree!
I am sure you have heard the saying “If you give a man a fish today, he will need more fish tomorrow, if you teach a man to fish today he can catch his own tomorrow”.
Well that may not be the actual quote, but its the general idea.
So how do we teach people in poverty to fish?
First we need to teach them to change their way of thinking.
Instead of focusing on things like:
- I cannot see my way out of this, so I have to learn to cope.
- What will I do tomorrow?
Focus on:
- There IS a better way than this, and with God’s help I will find it!
- I was born to conquer, not to cope.
- I believe God can give me the ideas I need to do something to leverage my way to a better life.
I believe that poverty is passed on from generation to generation when a negative and “poor me” mindset is cultivated. In the same way riches can be passed from generation to generation when the mindsets that are taught by example in the home are positive and of the “you can do it” nature.
I look forward to seeing your comments on this subject. It would be great if you created a post on your blog also about this subject.
Let’s have a Blog Action Day, every day, and while you are blogging do check out your own mindset for hidden “minefields” of negative thinking.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
The Church needs to hear this! In fact, I will go as far as saying that the Church has been responsible for cementing the poverty mindset so the fact that many now have their “make poverty history” campaign, they ought to.
We’ve been sitting on the sidelines for too long not teaching what people need to hear and I wholeheartedly agree, poverty is a mindset thing which is why Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Pastor WD Favor obviously knows his name is no accident … He is blessed and highly favored!
Trish
The Influential Woman’s last blog post..You Are What You Think
November 13th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Trish, your comment has reminded me of a mindset in ministry that I have come to dislike immensely.
In ministry circles, at least one that I have spent my entire adult life in, it is considered a badge of honor to be poor.
People brag about how much they “suffer” for Jesus. How does this really honor God? It is one thing to choose to live a simple life, it is another to have a mindset of lack.
Jesus chose to live the way He did but He still lived in abundance. Most ministry people I know who really struggle and suffer have an attitude of lack. I just don’t see how that honors a very abundant God.
My husband and I are currently working our way out of this mindset and the results of this mindset. Was it taught to us? Yea to some degree but I think we “caught” more than what was actually “taught”.
shileen’s last blog post..Be Still … and Be Beautiful
November 13th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Poverty is a judgment where there is no universal accepted definition. Any person not being their pure potentiality could possibly conclude they are in poverty. However, it is for them to conclude not I.
Physical conditions one arrives in and barely sustain life, are a result of collective consciousness accepting those conditions. Otherwise they would have long since been eradicated.
Inhumane conditions are not eradicated by a charitable event or cause. They are eradicated by a consciousness of respect for all life to live their intentions in freedom and peace.
Sending all the energy of peace and happiness
Steve Pohlit
http://liferights.org
November 13th, 2008 at 4:21 am
I recently had a discussion with a friend, regarding this very topic. I’m so glad that you addressed it, as I do feel that having the right mindset is the first huge step in climbing from a poverty state to one of success. I don’t, however, believe it is the only necessary tool in overcoming a poverty state.
A positive mindset, without complete, follow-through action is useless. In other words, daydreaming is good, to a certain extent, and essential to survival for those in a poverty state, yet still, more is needed. The teaching, guiding, nurturing and help from others, who are in a more fortunate state, is, in fact, a key component to the success of one in poverty state and/or state of mind. Without encouragement, and “a hand-up,” from individuals who care, it is very difficult for the poverty stricken to turn their thoughts into reality.
With the combination of a positive mindset and a small glimmer of hope from others who care, a person can be dramatically transformed, empowered and driven to create a positive and upward stream of success for themselves.
- RhondaH
RhondaH’s last blog post.."Death By Chocolate" Layered Trifle Dessert
November 13th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I read this post with delight. I live in Africa, that by itself speaks volumes.
I have experienced poverty. I was so poor and hungry that I begged for ‘chewing stick’ to serve as food! I hawked bread on the streets of my town.
Poverty is evil! I wrote in details about it at http://wdfavour.com/the-cure-for-poverty and anyone who cares about the plight of the poor should consider reading that post.
My consistent message to the poor among whom I labour daily is this, “You don’t need charity. You need a miracle of the mind.”
You see, monetary charity, without positive mental transformation is impoverishing, not enriching. It is important that all who want to assist the poor realize this. It’s hard, I understand, to convince both poor and rich people that the cure for poverty is not cash. Yet, it is important to create an atmosphere where the poor can ‘positivise’ their mindsets and take greater responsibilities over their thoughts, actions, decisions, choices, and so on.
Thanks Jill for this post and may God bless your efforts.
WD Favour’s last blog post..The magic ingredient of life
November 14th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Thanks to The Influential Woman (Trish Jones) and Shileen for their comments and testimonies revealing the church to be responsible for “cementing this mindset” and they have done it using the tactics Shileen testified to confronting those who teach that “Suffering for Jesus” honors God. Horrors! Deliberately trying to “suffer for Jesus” thinking that this honors God has been one of the big traps many “religious christians” have fallen into.
I am with you Shileen – it does not honor God. In fact it dishonors Him, since Jesus died to eradicate from our lives all that has to do with the curse and to enable us to experience the abundant life! (Life to the full).
What much of the church needs to wake up to and face is that true Christianity is not religion, but a lifestyle. As mentioned above it is an ABUNDANT lifestyle. (John 10:10). I am thankful that some areas of the church have embraced this, and pray that more will wake up and shake themselves of the stench of religion and start to LIVE the lifestyle of simply following that “friend that sticks closer than a brother”, Jesus Christ Himself.
Steve, I agree that many fall into the trap of collective consciousness accepting those conditions. This is the trap of resignation, an attitude that will always keep us a prisioner to our present condition.
No one is destined to stay in poverty or in any negative condition for that matter. There IS a way out, The way out is to repent (recognize you are going in the wrong direction and change direction), ask forgiveness of God (and others where necessary), forgive yourself and start the new journey in the right direction!
Rhondah, thanks so much for your contribution. Changing the mindset and no more is indeed useless. Action always has to follow to achieve the desired results. This is one of the reasons the “Law of Attraction” teachings don’t “work” for many. They try to daydream, imagine, think and even declare their dreams and wonder why nothing happens.
This happens both inside the church (where it is known as the “Faith Teaching”) and outside the church (where it is know as “The Secret” or “The Law of Attraction”). The principle is the same in both places: positive thinking (positive mindset) PLUS actions = sucess.
Thanks to all for your great contributions. There is much material here for more blog posts.
Keep spreading the word! Mindset is SO important and action must follow!
November 14th, 2008 at 9:14 am
There are many “Faith Teachers” who only “talk” faith but I admit, I am actually a believer in the “Faith Teaching.” Faith is a way of life but the problem is, people don’t believe when they pray, they don’t believe God’s Word and they neither speak it or pray it.
We’ve been seeing God do some great things in our lives lately (my husband and I) because we’ve been praying and believing what he said.
I remember once needing enough money to pay my mortgage and telling God “if you don’t provide, it’ll look bad on you.” Who was I kidding … we don’t have to force God’s hand, we just have to believe.
Every blessing I should ever have in life was established before I was born so now, I’m learning how to manifest those blessings in my life. And now, my mortgage never got paid that month! I wasn’t believing, I was begging and even worse, “blackmailing” God.
I know better now … I’m a Kingdom Kid and God has given me access to all that is in the Kingdom but I have to see it to have it.
Thanks for this great post Jill … It’s lovely to be connected to Believers and not religious Christians.
Pastor WD Favour – when you coming to England?! We’re supposed to be a rich nation but we poor in mind.
Trish
The Influential Woman’s last blog post..You Are What You Think