She swept the area with her eyes to see if anyone was looking as she and her two small boys walked into the compound opposite them. It has been over 9 hours since they had a proper meal. She made up her mind to go over to the compound and ask to pluck the mangoes off its tree. At least if they had some mangoes they’ll survive till the next day. In their neighbor’s compound, one of her sons asked her a question that would haunt for days. “How long would we continue like this?”
No doubt, this year took everyone by surprise affecting different areas of one’s life. As the number of affected persons increased, the number of people who got affected by hunger skyrocketed. Palliatives provided were not as helpful as expected
Not being able to provide for yourself or your family is really depressing. Sometimes, this type of depression is unparalleled because you’re always very worried. Creditors are calling, rent is due, the light bill is expired, children are sick and there is no money to buy drugs. Whether single or married not being able to pay your bills due to lack of funds is terrible.
I mean knowing that your next paycheck is coming and you’ve got a bigger debt to settle when it comes leaving you with nothing is just messed up. You still borrow again to survive, I mean, it’s depressing. Financial depression alone is a ridiculous pandemic and like that little boy asked his mother you constantly worry about how long it would continue to be so.
Mindset Shift
I have got two answers for you: very soon or very long. This form of Financial Depression is unlike other forms of depression where you can get help by speaking to a therapist. Here you need to first listen to a new gospel. The old truth your mind had played back to you as you’re all alone, no one would ever send help to you and you would never have enough unless the government or God magically sends you a destiny helper.
However, the real truth is that you’re 79% of all the help you would ever need if you change your mindset from worrying based on solution-based thinking. Times are tough no doubt but you can fan the flames of hope to live again by thinking of what to do to change your financial situation. Rather than just scrolling through social media as a means to kill boredom and look for giveaways, you can use it to research what you can legally do to be financially independent.
Research
“I have searched online before and lost all my money to Ponzi schemes and scammers, I don’t want to try again,” you say. I’m sorry you went through that but you were looking for a get rich quick scheme not a sustainable source of income. The internet is a gold mine when you harness it properly and it’ll give you whatever you search for. Wouldn’t it be better if you searched for ‘profitable skills online’ then patiently learn it? Note the word patiently because you’re building something that would be able to sustain you.
Next time you search for what you can learn to do online here are some free ideas you can look out for Digital Content Creation, Dropshipping, Digital Marketing, Blogging/Vlogging. These ideas are what you pay for outside but I’m giving them out free of charge.
It’s not wrong to pray and hope someone would help you. From experience, people prefer to help someone who is already doing something than someone who isn’t doing anything at all.
Save
How can I save when what I have isn’t sufficient? You said it right, it isn’t sufficient in the first place, so why not save anyway? Please really try and do this. Don’t consume all your earnings or gifts at once. Remove some amount out of your income for an unforeseen future. If I were you, I won’t only save but invest it. Not in Ponzi schemes though. I have had my share of them too.
In conclusion, understand that you need to tell yourself I have all it takes to be stable even if things are difficult for me now. Listen, when your thoughts begin to shift from broke thinking to how can I not be broke again thinking, ideas would begin to form in your head. Don’t stop there and say I need big money to start. Write it down, break it down, and start from the easiest one.
I might not have seen you before but I don’t see you as broke, I see you as going through a process. Tell yourself this isn’t the end of the road. This too shall pass. When next your kids cry because they’re hungry become motivated and look for what you can do legally to sustain your family.
If you’re single like me, when next you call people who you think should help you and they narrate their story don’t feel bad, it’s a motivation to be more productive. You’re stronger than you could ever imagine. Don’t be confused about where to start, start by learning. It might not bring profit but you’re on the right path.
NB: I understand some financial depression cases might be a huge loss of money or backstabbing of business partners or trading went wrong and stuff like that. If you want to talk about it, you can send an email to jestintherapy@gmail.com.
