While some people may see poverty as a strictly monetary issue that only impacts the wallets of those who deal with it, there are many other ways in which poverty can negatively impact one’s life. However, while being impacted in multiple ways can feel like an endless onslaught of misery, one can still rise above the challenges and come out as a stronger and more resilient person. If you are curious to see the solutions or in a position where you feel you need them, read on and discover what they are.

Types of Poverty

Wealth is not just about money, and a large part of what can be classified as wealth is well within each person’s control. Some common types of poverty include:

Lack of Self-Confidence or Esteem – Comparing yourself to others and rarely being satisfied with the person you see in the mirror.
Lack of Nutrition or Physical Abilities – Eating food that does not help your body and not exercising as often as you should.
Lack of Time or Money – Giving up your time to make whatever money you can while being too scared to take a risk and dedicate your time to being skilled enough to make more money.
The Lack of Connection, Based on Trust and Respect from Your Spouse, Family, Friends, and/or Community – Not respecting yourself and your boundaries as well as the boundaries of others.

Dealing with any type of poverty can feel suffocating and potentially hopeless, and overcoming them may not feel feasible, but it is important to remember that everyone has their own challenges, and many people may experience the same challenges as you. Understanding that everybody worries about money or how their wardrobe may make them appear to those around them can be a valuable first step toward feeling better.

Money and Self-Esteem

These two topics seem to be inextricably linked most of the time, with people living in poverty having lower self-esteem than those who are not. But, what is important to keep in mind is that wealth will not immediately result in higher self-esteem.

Pursuing a career that does not interest you or making hasty choices that do not align with your beliefs, all in the name of wealth and accumulating as much money as possible, can negatively impact your happiness with that career and your day-to-day life. Further, if that career or choice does not work out, you run the risk of losing more of your self-confidence than you would have otherwise. Not to mention that money is not a very healthy way of dictating your worth as a person and your status in life.

Self-Compassion and Self-Esteem

Important tools that everyone has, regardless of their wealth or stature, are self-compassion and self-esteem. These consist of being kind to yourself and viewing yourself as part of a larger whole, equal to everyone around you. In addition, self-compassion and self-esteem can be used without needing to put down those around you or lift yourself above them. It is meant to be a cushion around yourself rather than a shield against others. And when self-esteem fails you and you become embarrassed or feel defeated, self-compassion can provide you with a calm and caring concern that anyone would need in moments of low self-esteem. According to Paul Gilbert and Chris Irons, researchers who have worked on the development of compassionate mind training and compassion-focused therapy, self-compassion is related to well-being because it helps people feel safe and secure. Self-esteem is related to well-being because it helps people to feel superior and self-confident.

The Importance of Self-Worth

Sometimes looking to the future while reflecting on the past can help strengthen your sense of self and your resolve to overcome hardships. When impoverished people are reconnected with feelings of self-worth, it can help weaken the psychological barriers that make them think it is too difficult for them to make good decisions or access the tools they need to live better lives. An experiment was conducted over the course of two years on a group of 150 people in a soup kitchen. Participants were asked to recount an experience in their lives before taking on a handful of problem-solving tests. This group, when compared to a control group that recounted no experiences, performed much better on the tests, with results that were tantamount to an IQ increase around ten points.

“This study shows that surprisingly simple acts of self-affirmation improve the cognitive function and behavioral outcomes of people in poverty.”

— Jiaying Zhao - University of British Columbia professor

Changing Your Life With Self-Compassion

Regardless of the difficulties you may be going through emotionally, physically, or psychologically, self-compassion has the potential to help you through the dark times you may feel will never pass. Its ability to help depends on your willingness to try. Shame and self-judgment can shut down the learning centers of our brains and make it much more difficult for us to grow and change when faced with adversity. Conversely, a more positive attitude toward ourselves can strengthen our ability to learn from our mistakes, making us stronger individuals with a healthier outlook. Self-compassion can also have chemical benefits to our bodies. It releases oxytocin, which helps us feel safe and secure and limits our feelings of distress.

Keys to Self-Compassion

While it can be easy to judge yourself and point out every fault you think you have and every mistake you make, it can be just as easy to follow the three keys to self-compassion and gain a much more positive understanding of yourself and your accomplishments.

Mindfulness – Paying attention to how you feel each moment and coming to terms with the fact that you are in pain. Mindfulness is not about wallowing in that pain, it’s about understanding it and facing it without fear.
Kindness – Do not suppress your pain or try to solve the problem before it can be identified. Take your time and remind yourself that you need to care for your well-being.
Common humanity – Remember that other people are just like you, all dealing with their own issues, and the idea that you are the only one suffering will only make you feel worse and more alone. Self-compassion can help you see your situation through the lens of our shared human experience.

What You Didn’t Know About Self-Acceptance and Overcoming Poverty