Overcome The Poverty Mindset For Good As A Christian Millennial.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

Are you struggling with a poverty mindset? Has this mindset kept you stuck for far too long? Would you like to overcome the poverty mindset for good? Then this blog is for you. In this blog post, we will look at the definition of a poverty mindset, what causes it, the impact of having a poverty mindset, and how to overcome the poverty mindset for good as a Christian Millennial.

Definition of a poverty mindset.
Signs that you have a poverty mindset.
What causes a poverty mindset?
The impact of a poverty mentality on Christian millennials.
How to overcome the poverty mindset as a Christian Millennial.
Conclusion.

Definition of a poverty mindset.

According to Alan Weiss, a poverty mindset is one that influences behaviors consistent with beliefs that money shouldn’t be spent, opportunities are limited, any risk at all is dangerous, any success is temporary and non-replicable, and remaining in the back of the pack is safest. It basically limits you from ever doing anything outside of what is considered normal. So let me ask you this: have you been afraid of taking risks because you are afraid you will lose the finances you already have? Have you been afraid of trying because you believe there are no opportunities out there for you? Are you comfortable living a normal life and never getting out of your comfort zone despite having a great idea?

Signs that you have a poverty mindset.

You struggle with celebrating other people’s success. What is the first thing you do when someone tells you of their achievement? Do you sulk or are you genuinely happy for them? Whenever you find yourself unable to celebrate your friend’s or someone else’s success, it is a sign that you are struggling with a poverty mindset.
Generalizing how people obtained their wealth. What stories do you tell yourself about the wealthy? Do you assume they got their wealth using dubious means? Or do you always think it is because they come from well-connected families and that is why they are wealthy? Always having some sort of narrative to make yourself feel better will lead you to stay stuck because you don’t see the reason to change the narrative.
Expecting the worst always. Do you always assume that every opportunity is a scam? Have you avoided jumping on an opportunity because you are afraid of losing your investment? Or worse, are you always waiting for something catastrophic to happen? Always making up negative narratives in your mind will keep you stuck in a poverty mindset. Because why will you try taking risks if you think you might lose it all?
Are you afraid of talking about your accomplishments? Do you try to undermine your achievements all the time? Are you uncomfortable sharing your achievements? Do you think sharing your accomplishments makes you look like you are bragging and being proud? Do you feel bad or guilty when you have more than someone else? Being uncomfortable sharing your success stories can be a sign of a poverty mentality.
Feeling like you can never have enough. This can look like you never feeling the need to pick up the check because someone else will do it. Never offering to do something for someone because you feel they have more than you. And also denying yourself all the time because you imagine spending is a waste of money. If you struggle with spending money on non-essentials, then this can be a sign of a poverty mentality.

overcome a poverty mindset by taking risks

What causes a poverty mindset?

Since a mindset comes from the view we have had over the years, a poverty mindset can stem from.

The views our parents or guardians had about money. If they always thought that money was never enough and if they struggled to spend it on wants and not just needs, you could have inherited the same view. Our background shapes our beliefs and the conversation you had as a child growing up can lead to you having a poverty mindset.
Financial trauma. Again, if you went through a tragic financial situation like bankruptcy, a natural occurrence that led to you losing everything, loss of a job, or loss of your investment, you could develop a poverty mindset. Because of what you went through, you might find it difficult to spend money. You could want to always hoard what you have and never take risks. And in turn, this could lead to you cultivating a poverty mindset.
Your environment. The people you hang out with can lead to you developing a poverty mindset. After all, you will only say what you hear others say. If your friends have a scarcity mentality, you will eventually develop one. Even Jesus says that a little yeast will spoil the dough.

The impact of a poverty mentality on Christian millennials.

Miss out on opportunities. When you have a poverty mindset, you will avoid taking risks because if the fear of losing your money. Unfortunately, with this mentality, you miss out on opportunities that could have succeeded. After all, there are no gains if there are no risks involved. Most of the people we know had to take a risk. Tyler Perry had to forge his own path to get to where he is today. And yes, it was unorthodox. Oprah, Steve Harvey., and all the celebrities you know who are insanely successful had to take the risk, whether it was being misunderstood or stepping out of their comfort zone to get where they are today.
Fosters laziness and a lack of motivation. When your thinking is that there are limited resources, you need connections to get money, or simply never want to spend, you will never have the motivation to get more. After all, why will you focus on getting more when you know it will never be enough? And what will be the point of you going after it if you need connections to get the finances? Unfortunately, a poverty mindset will keep you stuck as a victim and you will never see the need to be innovative. And the truth is that the finances we all desire to have are found on the road less traveled.
Increase of social vices and making poor choices. Jealousy, hatred, envy, and crime all stem from a poverty mindset. Since people with that mindset have a scarcity mentality, they see the need to rob others of what they have. The unhealthy competition also stems from a poverty mindset. And with this mindset, it’s difficult to wish others well or even want to see them succeed. Have you ever heard someone say that because life is hard, there is no need to make different choices? These people end up saying something like, why try when it has not worked for others? And because of that, they end up making the same choices their parents or guardians made, continuing the cycle.

How to overcome the poverty mindset as a Christian Millennial.

Shift your perspective.

Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, focus on what you have. If you have a job, be grateful for that. If you have a business, thank God for the business. You might lack in one area, but you are not lacking in all areas. The beauty of our God is that He will never leave you fully depleted. And even when it seems like you are in the wilderness season, there is always something that you can do.

Remember Moses and the Israelites when the Egyptians were pursuing them, and before them was the Red Sea? God has Moses use the rod he had, to part the water, and it worked. What I am getting at is that there is something that you can do. Let’s say you have a business. Think of ways you can scale it. If you have a job, find other creative ways you can make money on the side. Side hustle, maybe? A podcast where you share your knowledge? Shifting your perspective is the key to overcoming the poverty mindset. Instead of looking at the glass half empty, look at the glass half full. What is your edge? Find that and use it.

David lacked the professional skills to fight Goliath. He, therefore, resorted to what he knew best. And that was why he won. You, too, need to find that unique proposition that will help you stand out.

you have it in you to change your poverty mindset into an abundance mindset

Change your confession.

Changing your confession is important. Remember that death and life are in the tongue’s power and those who love it will enjoy its fruit. What do you want to experience in life? Speak it into existence. And how this works is that. When you speak something long enough, you will believe it. Why not change your confession to a positive one? Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. And when you find yourself speaking negative things, it’s because of the narrative you keep playing in your mind. So how do you do that?

The first step is to note the words that come out of your mouth. Are they creating or destroying? Once you are aware, the next thing is to change your thinking.
Replace negative thinking with positive thinking. This comes from changing your environment. If your friends have a poverty mindset too, it might be time for you to limit your interactions with them. Surround yourself instead with people with an abundance mindset. These people will encourage you to take risks and introduce you to a plethora of possibilities. You might even realize that you had what it took to achieve financial freedom all along. As a child of God, I want you to know God has already equipped you with everything you need to be successful. It is within you. And also the experiences you have gone through till now are enough to birth your purpose and give you the edge you need to stand out. After all the Bible says that it is your gifts and talents that will make room for you before kings and queens.
Embrace failures. It is through failure that you learn. And failure gets you closer to success. Every time you fail, you learn one more way not to do something. And sometimes when you are persistent enough, you will get the breakthrough you need. Believe that it is possible for you to get that breakthrough and succeed in that business venture. And believe that failure is not a forever thing. In the end, you will succeed if you don’t give up.

Invest in Financial literacy.

Changing your confession will come from the renewal of your mind. And investing in financial education will help you with that. Ignorance is not bliss. And unless you know the opportunities available for you, you will never take them. Read books, take online courses, and listen to podcasts of people who changed their financial situations. This will help ignite your faith. And it will help you realize that if it can happen for them, it can happen for you too. God is no respecter of persons. What He has done for others He can do for you.

Read about investment opportunities. What is available for you? What side hustles can you start? Are there any digital products you can create based on your expertise or experience? The reality is that you have so much more you can give than you realize. Don’t minimize your experience and skills. There is someone who is looking for training in that very area. And you don’t need to be great to start, you only need to start to be great. Find ways of making money outside of your 9-5

Seek professional help.

There it is through a financial coach or advisor, find someone that can help you make wise financial decisions. They will also help you get out of that limiting mindset that leads to a poverty mentality. And again working with a financial coach or advisor will help you set goals that will eliminate hopelessness. You cannot have your past hinder you from success. Sometimes it could be that you need both a financial coach and a therapist. Seek the help you need to move forward and overcome the poverty mindset.

overcome the poverty mindset by changing your confession

Have a financial plan.

When you have a financial plan in place, you find structure. And it is with this that you can make financial goals that you can achieve. You see understanding your financial position and taking responsibility helps you use what you have to get to where you want. What can you do right now? What financial goal can you achieve right now? Set small ones for a start. As you achieve them you will gain the motivation to set bigger ones. And before you know it, you will realize that you have achieved more than what you imagined.

Conclusion.

A poverty mindset is exactly that, a mindset. And this means that you can change from a poverty mindset to an abundance mindset. Remember this: if you think you can or can not, you are right. I want to encourage you to change your confession so that your narrative can change. Embrace success. Take risks and learn to reward yourself when you hit a milestone. This will help motivate you to achieve even more. Regardless of your financial background, you have the power to achieve financial freedom. After all, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.