Home / ya-ttitude / Fear; I Ain’t Afraid of No Poverty
Fear; I Ain’t Afraid of No Poverty
Your Personal Recession Buster
The fear of poverty was not my original choice for the first fear to explore, understand and be comfortable enough with for it to be eliminated from our list of great fears. My original first fear to work on was going to be the fear of death, which is almost the Universal Fear, if one of the fears, can be considered universal. But the world today and the situations within has made me change the order a bit. The only advantage to starting with the Fear of Poverty is it is the worse of all the fears. It attacks us at every level and on every emotion. It is a debilitating fear capable of sucking us dry of all desire, ambition, hope and imagination.
There is a ton of talk about the recession, the price of gas, the housing market and the job market. The more negative talk there is surrounding these issues the greater the possibility of our fears taking over us. But if you have your head buried in the morning paper or staring at CNN, FOX News or your local new channel all day log, listening for the whispers of doom, then you have already set you fate solid. You are on the downward spiral that the fear from poverty will bring you. Poverty and Richness follow two very specific paths, two very distinct paths and two paths that sometimes cross over each other, may run parallel for a while, but eventually head in complete different directions.
Remember: Your Richness, just as your success can be defined in a myriad of ways. Richness of financial wealth is just one, but of course your richness can be anything that you want it to be.
Remember: There are many people in today’s world that have acquired richness of financial wealth only to feel empty and unfulfilled. They search for their richness elsewhere; richness is a state of being as well as a state of your Union.
Fear of Poverty is a state of mind; nothing else; but an extremely strong state of mind. A state of mind that can destroy ones ability to succeed, it effects your ability to reason, wipes out your imagination, all but totally eliminates your ability to rely on yourself, eradicates enthusiasm, deters enthusiasm, undermines enthusiasm, and eliminates enthusiasm, it makes uncertainty your new path, teaches you about the worlds of procrastination, annihilates your initiative and erodes your self-control and will power. It decimates your ability to focus on what you should be doing and allows doubt to replace confidence and procrastination to replace ambition.
You’re getting the point here - right?
Bad - very, very bad.
This is a fear that takes some work to eliminate, but is quite easy to understand why its elimination, understanding and control is of paramount importance to our success. This fear is the most destructive of all the fears as it has the ability to permeate your daily live at every level. It is probably the key reason I stopped reading the daily News Papers (sans the crossword and sports section) and stopped watching news on Television. It just seems that reporters just have to go out of their way to push the negative side of the issue. Now I understand that it is their jobs to report the news, but it has always amazed me the ratio of negative news to positive news on any given telecast. It is an unrealistic ratio if you actually jut think about it for a moment. The more you listen to or hear the negative side of an issue; the negative news (which is the same thing over and over again everyday) the more it becomes part of you conscious and subconscious (even worse) mind. Unfortunately just as we work the positive thoughts into our mind so we can allow our subconscious mind to help us the same rule works with negative thoughts. Those negative thoughts permeate our minds and crush our spirits almost on impact. You have to learn to avoid contact with repeated waves of negativity. The more you hear it the deeper it penetrates the subconscious and the harder it is to remove and the easier it is to believe true and fall prey to the negative.
Imagine how much better you would feel each day when you hear the newscaster report that “there is no recession, it was just a mistake in bookkeeping, and all points show a rapid turn-around.” “On today’s recap of the new, we are not going to spend our entire day talking to you about… and hiring experts on… and sending in news crews for…” This is the news… You know your day is much better when you get your shot of news - in a quickie - and move on with your life. If you continue to believe we are headed for a recession - you will be! Run your day and your life as if there is nothing negative ever on your horizon. If you accept the negative the negative will accept you, take over you and ruin you.
Now that we have realized that The Fear of Poverty is something we really need to understand and control, so we can eliminate it here are a few tell-tale signs of the fear and once you realize these signals, elimination is all the easier.
A general lack of ambition: This is quite easy to understand isn’t it? I mean once we are pummeled with all the “worries of the world” that we constantly hear, isn’t’ it just easy to not care and to give up? Here is your first signal that you are giving in to that fear. Are you busy making alibis as to why you cannot make it any better? Are you starting to believe the alibis you are conjuring up? Take a look at this great list of alibis and see just how many of them you are currently using. Realize that not one of them have any bearing on your life and your success. Once you understand that you control your future and your drive and desire are the vehicles to your grand riches. You too will realize that time spent coming up with alibis can be used more constructively to create and design your master plan of success.
Worry is another grand thief of your success and a sure signal to your fear of poverty. Why worry about this when you are the reason it can be overcome. If you have faith in you and the things you are doing and your plan and your desire and your friends, allies and family you are quick to realize you are worrying for naught. Stop the worrying. Use the energy that all this worrying is bringing about more constructively. I think it is Time to take a look at the 4-step plan to your success and design and tweak it into your game plan of success. Bye Bye Worry!
Failing to be able to make decisions is another signal and a keynote to fear of poverty. You are so paralyzed by this fear that a simple decision cannot be made much less a complex one. You might want to go back and reread this section titled Curing Abulia which is your step-by-step plan to getting over that fear of decisions. Make a decision - any decision and get on with it. Standing by watching the world pass you by is doing you no good, and as you let each one of your great ideas stay undecided, someone else will be benefiting from it as they have decided to go on with it and take the chance. The old nothing ventured nothing gained works well here. But remember you are allowed to make a mistake, you are not allowed to quit!
Being over-cautious is another indicator. It is understood that you automatically go into hibernation mode with your ideas and your money the minute you feel the fear of poverty. It only adds to the hysteria. Do not forget that your success is just ahead of you and you need to do whatever it takes to get it, including staying focused and confident in your decisions. Amongst the overly cautious are the members of the great Nation of Procrasti-Nation. This is place you do not want to live and you don’t even want to spend a weekend visiting. Those of you who are card carrying members of the great Procrasti-Nation need to take that card out of your wallet and destroy it! Here is an old post of mine called Ya-ttitudeTM Battle Lines Are Drawn that will show you the way to coup that Nation and become a member of the “I want it’s!”
Last but definitely not least is your negative Mental Attitude. A positive mental attitude is your greatest defense against fear - all fears and any fears. To that realize that a negative mental attitude is your fears greatest ally. So you now know which side you need to be on it. Sign on and salute your positive attitude - Your positive Ya-ttitudeTM
We covered a whole lot with this section. I recommend reading this a few times. Or better yet - cut and paste it into a word document and print it out. Read it a few times and then read it a few more times. Make it part of your mind-game against fear.
When you have your plan, your desire, your group of allies and you mind shut tight against negative influences you have not time to fear poverty or no reason to as you know where you are going and when you are to get there. You are one step closer to that success. You are one step closer to achieving your riches!
Next time:
Fear; Embarrassment and Criticism fall by the wayside
February 4th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
[...] Fear; I Ain’t Afraid of No Poverty [...]
May 27th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Hey Benny
Another good post on tackling some tough issues. I believe fear is one vicious cycle. Fear begets fear begets fear.
With regards to fear of poverty. This one is so tough because you hear those with the least are happiest. While those with the most are empty. These are spiritual riches which are forever whereas the material will disappear before you know it.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:17 am
The good thing about spiritual richness is you can never really lose them, and when you have them if you lose the material ones, you know you will be able to get them back - always.
Have confidence in yourself - and what you can do - and you will never be afraid of losing a thing!
May 27th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Hey Ben, good to see you have just what I need to see.. something *#*#ing positive! heh Like gee, I’m in a world of worry just now. I recently moved to a new town, took a major chance and quit a good job.. stupid, yeh I know, got a little too cocky, now all I have is my payout to survive on. Aussie fuel is almost 2.00AU a Lt now and because thats gone up so has everything else… so to cut it short, I’m jobless in a town 60km away from the nearest city and got money enough to last till next fortnight , partner is on my back big time… but! just as I’m writing this I got a phone call from a recruiter, may have a job …see your positivity payed off already LOL . . but yeh I belive You become what you think.. Think Poverty , go that way… Think positive, and things start to fall into place
..sry for the long comment 
May 27th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Well your attitude has proved you right - as well as your confidence. Based on your latest post - you landed the job and at a substantial pay increase. So your ability to stay the course and know that you are great - allowed you to lose the fear and go for it!
go here for the post and celebrate:
http://7eventy3.com/blog/?p=53
Ben
May 27th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Do I fear poverty? I can honestly say no. There are things to help you out if you’re caught in a situation. You just need to know how to handle your resources.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:04 am
I am glad to hear it Shirley. You always need to know how to handle your resources. It is a skill that allows you to rest assured that you are in control. And with that - you are not afraid - you are confident and secure!
May 27th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Great news.. I got the job
May 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Congratulations… I actually read it early this morn and added it to my initial comment - look up to see it! You a’int afraid!
May 27th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Congratulations Joo!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 27th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Another great post Benny…you have no idea how great it is for me to read your posts…for the most part, they mirror my thoughts and feelings right down to the fact that about a year ago I stopped reading the daily newspaper and watching the news…that is not to say I don’t know what is going on in the world I just don’t allow myself to watch/read it over and over again!
My mother and her husband are very unhappy with me because of that …we had a very heated discussion about this…at one point they told me I had my “head in the sand”…and I wasn’t “contributing to society”…just because I don’t read the newspaper or watch the news on TV…
Fear is something that visits me at different times in my life, in varying degrees, for different reasons…when it rears it’s head I deal with it as best I can…I know all the appropriate words to tell myself…
When I was 18 I did fear poverty but I learned to deal with it , which I did for 5 years…at this time of my life I don’t fear poverty…but I wouldn’t be happy if I had to rebuild my life again … :0)
I’m a stronger person… having figured out for the most part what works for me …I understand myself reasonably well and know what I need to say to myself and when…that is not to say I have everything under control…I do the best I know how!!
Enjoy your day Benny
Cheers
May 27th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Morning Heather…
And thanks for all the kind words. I have that argument with many people. They do not understand why I do not want to read the paper or why I am not watching the news. I know exactly what is going on in the world. It is that wonderful thing called the internet. I can get m news in snippets and decide how much and how little of a story I want to get personal with. I do not need someone telling me the same thing over and over and over. I am pretty good with the grasping the concept-thing. I battled with myself about going personal in the poverty post. Going over some of my past stuff… Obviously I didn’t go that way. I am still thinking that I may have an addendum to that post before the next - not sure yet…
Ben
May 27th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Wonderful…wonderful…
May 27th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Thank you Dicky - I usually like a comment with a bit more substance - but hey - welcome aboard - I love newbees…
Ben
May 27th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I was raised in a poor family and although I became quite affluent after college I made a decision to move to where I really wanted to live that reduced my income greatly. Since that time I have lived a very simple rural lifestyle. Although my income is low and from time to time I may have worries or concerns about it I learned long ago how not to get sucked into the fear vortex.
From time to time I do find my mind dwelling on fearful thoughts about not having enough money for this or that and that’s when I sit down pull out a piece of paper and write down the worst possible case scenario. For me just writing it down dissolves the inclination to cling to the fear. Then I make my plan, keep focused on the “prize,” and I keep moving forward because forward is the only direction I can move.
It’s remarkable that once again I’m posting after Heater and once again she is sharing a similar story to my own. Five years ago I likewise chose to distance myself from the continual barrage of bad news stories on the radio & tv. I am aware of what’s going on but like Heather I don’t want to hear it over and over again.
Have a grand day Ben.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Working at something you love, living where you love - doing the things you love, being with those you love - far outweigh any other things in life. It is the magic that makes us feel fantastic about everyday!
I never said it would be possible to eliminate it - but if we understand it and the signs we can control the fears and use them to our advantage as they were designed to do! Not to fall prey to them.
May 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I can’t say we were exactly rich when we were growing up. Have to admit though for the most part we were happy.
We all wore hand me down clothes, grew all of our own vegetables, to hold us through the winter.
Was I deprived or feel poor. NOT ever.
Sure we had some tough times, like when my dad broke both his knee caps in a car accident. Didn’t make us poorer, made us work together to keep food on the table.
(pssst I even stole a chicken once so we could have meat to eat> for heaven’s sake don’t tell anyone. LOL)
Oh yeah I got caught too. Ended up working it off LOL Collecting eggs.
Reward got eggs to take home for free.
Afraid to be poor, no the best things in life are free
Again Benny your writing impresses the Heck out of me
May 27th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Sometimes I impress the heck out of me too - I honestly did not think this was a great article. I wrote - erased - wrote - deleted and wrote a few times. That might Be why it took a few days to get here. But I am glad you enjoyed it.
If you have the Ya-ttitude that you are not poor - that you will never be poor - then you won’t - it really is that simple. Of course you have to work at it and on it - that isn’t A secret - but you see - even from your “mistake” came a great “success” - you paid for you err in judgement and were still rewarded in your efforts…
May 28th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Great advice!
I grew up in poverty, married young and poor and together we have worked our way into a very nice upper middle class financial lifestyle.
I was always taught that money was the root of all evil and only brought unhappiness, but it simply isn’t true. I can honestly say that we are happier now than when we were struggling to pay the bills and eat, but it isn’t only because of the financial security, it is the security in knowing that we have one another and if all of our material blessings vanished overnight, we would still be together.
Money has always just been icing on the cake and not the main ingredient in our relationship, and I personally believe that is the key to finding balance.
May 28th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Chelle! I thought you would never come by and say hello! I was offended now I feel better. I agree with you - Money is not the root of all evil, the evil comes from you being in love with money. I do not love money or collect money. I love the things money can buy for me - it is a big difference.
To quote Chelle: “if all of our material blessings vanished overnight, we would still be together.”
This is so true. I know that if I lost everything I have my mind, my family, my friends and my skills. I can get the money back with my plan and goals. I have my wealth of happiness from all the other parts of my life, not the money.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Great post! I agree that worry is the enemy. Time and energy spend on worrying is best spent on just about anything else…
May 28th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Worry is such a great waste of time and energy - both of which can be spent on productive endeavors… or simply enjoying yourself!
May 29th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
To worry or not to worry - is the big question! Simply worrying is unproductive. Add a dash of planning for what worries you…and you won’t have to worry about it anymore!
May 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
If you have your plan in place - worry never enters the equation. So worry is never part of the question. If you are prepared and confident and working on your goals… WHY WORRY?
May 29th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Benny, this is an excellent post. Very thought out, with plenty of deep links. One can never get enough of this type of inspiration. The fear of poverty is just that. The bigger one’s fear, the more consuming it becomes and eventually becomes one’s reality.
I have enjoyed reading the comments (congrats Joo on the new job) to see how people are responding to this.
I like how you touch on the spirituality of it all. Being poor, or having a “poor” mindset is just that. It encompasses every area of our lives if we let it. No one wants to have “poor” health, “poor” relationships, etc. We all want to be rich.
One of the tools I use to help combat my fear of poverty is the following verse:
Phillipians 4:19 L“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Keep up the excellent work Benny.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
My background is definitely in business, so many people think that when I speak of riches or success that it is always financial. If you are seeking richness it should be in all aspects of your life. It is much easier to attain richness of finances if you understand all the other possible riches as well!
Thanks for the visit - I appreciate all the kind words…
Ben
May 29th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Fear is the most crippling disease of all. Just imagine all that would have never happened if all the inventors, engineers, business people, etc. had listened to their fears. We would have no electricity, no cars, no light, etc. Now, just imagine all that we can do if we choose not to listen to our fears, but instead choose to fill our minds with positive thoughts whether it be about poverty or failing or whatever it be.
That thought of poverty sure makes us cringe though and hold on to all that we have. Ironically though, we will never have any more than we hold on to. We will never be able to move forward if we hold on to our fears.
Recognizing the source of our fears is so huge in letting go and being able to be positive and push forward out of it.
May 29th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
We would either not have them or never have heard of Edison, Ford, etc…
The other thing that fear does is allows someone else to capitalize on OUR fear. We might have done this or that - but since we were afraid to… Someone else did…
Do not let fear hold you back - go go go!
Nothing to fear, because you know you are great and I know you are great… we can’t both be wrong!
May 29th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Oh and by the way Benny, it’s funny that you were going to write about death first. I just finished writing about death in my last post. kinda funny.
And congratuations Joo!
May 29th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I am going to do death as the last one. As it is kinda of the Universal fear. I just visited your blog a few seconds ago - the post was great!
May 29th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Hello Ben, This is excellent work you are doing here. I was especially pleased to see you say that wealth can be defined in a myriad of ways.
I wrote several pieces on wealth at the inception of my blog and spoke a lot about how we define “being rich”, what things other than money makes us rich. I think in American culture wealth as become something that we define solely as monetary wealth at the expense of other highly important forms of wealth. I believe that if we can claim these other forms of wealth as well that we become more well rounded. It also can help be happier human beings when we Do achieve our goals concerning monetary wealth. All that aside I think we miss some of the most valuable things in life if we ONLY define ourselves in terms of how much money we have.
Also, I love your tell tale signs of FEAR OF POVERTY. Very nicely laid out. This is another great post! I am glad that you are helping others grow. It’s a good thing in the world.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Thanks Robin -
Being rich is something can be achieved with absolutley no money. We all realize that we need money and for each that total sum is different. But money can only do so much. We need the richness of soul and of heart to make that richness of money mean something!
May 31st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Great post. I don’t fear poverty; I don’t know why, but I don’t. I do worry way too much about things, many of which don’t come true. I bookmarked your link on the 4-step process. Cheers.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
It is a wise man who can “decide” he will not worry about poverty. The 4-step process is the core - and from there all can be achieved!
May 31st, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I was thinking about all the gloom and doom media recently. It hit me that that media tends to drive attitudes, the economy and consumer confidence to the extremes.
When things are bad the media’s emphasis on the bad news only harms consumer confidence. When things are good the media’s emphasis on that only causes undue optimism. One has to wonder how much of the stock market and recent housing bubble’s were caused by the media’s constant stories of how much things are going up.
May 31st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I do not know if the “drive” the boat - but damn do they steer it. Bad news seems to be the “flavor of the day” every day. I can tell you - Living here in Fla… They so look forward to the Hurricane season and are so damned down when they have no “storms” to talk about - often going to the coast of Africa to show us “something that we need to be fearful of.” I agree - they so seem to be the force that pushes us in direction that we do not want to go into… yet we go anyway…
Positive begets positive - someone should start the All Positive All the Time News Network!
June 1st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
[...] fear of criticism is almost as universal as the fear of death and just as destructive as the fear of poverty. The fear of criticism can and will rob a person of all their initiative. This is THE fear that [...]