How to accept living in poverty, contentment in the poor house.

Although this is hardly a good thing, people need to know that poverty is not synonymous with failure or shame. 36 Million Americans today live in poverty. Since everyone cannot be wealthy, how can you find contentment living under your means?

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good Company
• The 3 Necessities

1. Keep your head.
   
   Don't let poverty overwhelm you with grief. This condition applies especially to people who were once wealthy, as it can be very challenging to make the adjustment. It is way too easy to look around and be convicted by lack. Don't get depressed. Just accept that at this point in your life, you are going through this stage.

2. Be content with just life.
   
   You are alive, be grateful. Be grateful for being able to sleep in a bed, and actually wake up again. Life is not about money, life is about life. Be content by being grateful for your life which gives money meaning, not the other way around.

3. Be content with your 3 necessities.
   
   Food, clothing and shelter are infinitely more valuable than riches, mansions and a Porsche. Even though a flawless diamond is more expensive than clean water, living without water will end your life while a diamond does nothing to preserve it.

4. Rearrange your value system
   
   People put more value on money in their minds than it is literally worth. Put your happiness at the top of your value totem pole. Adopt an open mindedness that revolves around other things than money.

5. Be content with today.
   
   Be grateful that today wasn't the day when "the man" came and cut off your cable, bringing you back to the stone age tube with wire hangers and aluminum foil. Be grateful that today wasn't the day that Rent-A-Center came and repossessed your entire house. Be grateful that today is today, and that you have today to live as a you have it.

6. Look forward.
   
   Look toward opportunities that may help you improve your financial situation. Try your best, but don't be overwhelmed if the plan fails, and if it succeeds remember to be content at every level of life.

Tips & Warnings

• "Happy the man, and happy he alone, he who can call today his own; he who, secure within, can say, tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today."- John Dryden

Resources

• get out of poverty and the ghetto
• surviving in a household where your unwanted

[veronica1987]

on 11/28/2009 great article.

[noname1000]

on 8/8/2009 I'm dealing with it right now; even with a professional job and advanced college degree. America is heading into an age of mediocrity, in which people will not necessarily do better than their parents and/or grandparents.

[pats0814]

on 10/31/2008 At the rate of the economy, many people will finally understand the value of a dollar, the real meaning of family and good health. I accenuate the positive in my articles because I know some of us remember the "good ol' days". Life wasn't so complicated and we all had a sense of belonging. You brought out the important points and I enjoyed reading it. Keep up the good work.

[luv2blog]

on 6/27/2008 Been there, done that! Good advice.

[Pixie1976]

on 6/11/2008 My family survived poverty. There was a time we didn't have a penny so thank you, it's all very true.