Breaking the Poverty Cycle
Healing Money Trauma
Hi. I’m a recovering poverty addict. And I broke my poverty cycle.
(Hiiiiiii Caaaaandis)
Let’s be real, gravity is just harder to overcome the closer to the “bottom” you are - and we build bigger muscles because of it. There are systems that legitimately targeting under-resourced people in order to keep us poor because it benefits a few bank accounts. Financial systems will only change when there is more equitable representation within them - they are a very real representations of power. If we want more sustainable and less extractive financial systems, we need to have more previously impoverished people with healthy money mindsets making money and leveraging power.
So how does someone poor get in the door?
Let me tell you how I did it.
Actual results may vary.
I took my power back. Sounds simple, right? All those muscles I developed in my poor days - the scrappiness, resourcefulness, joy-seeking, enjoying the little things, the dreams - all of it made me so, so, so, SO strong and resilient. I can see why isolated privileged people used to not know what to do with me. I just spoke a different language, one of equality, collective resource management, and embodied joy. I still speak that language; I didn’t lose it.
I confronted every single person who took my power away and demanded they give it back. In reality, there was only one person - ME.
I confronted my limiting money beliefs. I confronted the times I gave my power away due to conditioning, people-pleasing, wanting to hide, burning myself out, not feeling like I mattered. I confronted EACH version of myself that gave away my power. . . and learned to love them all.
I love my coping mechanisms. I love my inner monsters. I love myself for being manipulative, for being “less than” and saying “no” to money or people who had it. I love myself for pushing it away. I love my poverty addiction.
Because now I know when I’m starting to behave that way again and can redirect myself without using all that strength against myself. I don’t beat myself up for slipping or falling into old belief systems as I integrate new ones. I don’t live a life of punishment for myself or others anymore.
Recognizing I had a problem and needed support was my first step.
It’s uncomfortable.
But so is going to the gym. I can say with honesty, that while total health is my goal, I feel great about prioritizing my healthy relationship to money first because it allows me the ability to pay for things like pilates instruction and general healthcare.
Being in my Financial Power is also uncomfortable for people who want me to be financially powerless.
So many people benefitted from my financial powerlessness. And they took it to the bank!
No more. That was my decision and my commitment to loving myself.
The Sweet Release
You know what feels better than being addicted to poverty?
BEING WEALTHY. The kind of wealthy that feels like gratitude, safety, kindness, community, travel, spaciousness, and love. I’ve got that. I want that for you too. That’s why I dedicated my life to extending my hand to lift us all up together. Let’s use our muscles to our collective and personal benefit instead of against our own health.
My hand is here. Take it in yours.
A Note on Systemic Oppression:
This article focuses on what singular people can do to change their lives. Systemic issues are not only solved through individual action, but by actions taken by those with the power to change the systems. Individuals are not fully responsible for the broken systems they are forced to participate in. A good example is recycling. Is it nice that in some places, individuals and families can recycle their plastic? Yes! Is that going to have the same impact as manufacturing industries changing their approach to packaging, distribution, or construction regarding plastic? Nowhere close.
My goal is to initiate enough personally healthy relationships to money that eventually, those with power will get into the fold and make those changes happen. Who knows, you could be the leader we need in a few years to make oppressive financial systems a thing of the past!