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I had just gotten back from the market a few days ago, and I was lamenting how I spent more money for fewer food items.
In the past, one hundred thousand naira was enough to get all our food supplies for the month and still have a reasonable amount left. But now, I'm spending such a large sum and not getting all my value's worth.
Basically, I have come to realize that a large percentage of us are just working to feed ourselves. For people who survive on one income, it's baffling how they cope. Because even with my multiple streams, if I relent one bit, then life becomes a struggle.
Some times, I get really overwhelmed with the economic situation such that I can't help but just lament about it. Recently, as I prepared for work, I was lamenting again over the price hike to the hearing of my mom, who was doing breakfast with me. When I got done lamenting, she consoled me and said I shouldn't worry; God will come through, and the price hike will turn to a price slash.
As much as her words were meant to be soothing and comforting, I find them deceitful. If there's one way I have been able to overcome and navigate life's hurdles, it's being realistic and not finding solace in deceit.
At the moment my mom said that to me, my mind was going to start being comfortable, start hoping, and wishing for the day that life will be cheaper and things could go back to the way they used to be.
Unfortunately, as a development economist, that ideology is like wishful thinking, and such a mentality will only compound issues and make life difficult for me. So what I did was not to make my mom feel bad or ridiculed.
Instead of wearing a frown, I smiled to lighten the mood. And then Respectfully informed her that I do not view life in such a way because life doesn't get easier; Instead, we work harder or smarter, as the case may be. Plus Instead of me to be thinking about how things will get cheaper or starting to pray for the standard of living to drop, it is better and more efficient for me to take up more job roles or get involved in activities that will improve my income.
My mother nodded in agreement and said that I'm right. She further affirmed by saying, I just quoted one of life's basic principles, and if everyone could cultivate such mindsets, life wouldn't be as difficult.
From personal experience, I'd like to think that I make use of both resistance and acceptance to ease difficult situations. If there's anything that I cannot change, I accept it by coping with it. I do not just dwell in the predicament but I also find means to thrive by not getting overwhelmed with the negative effect of the situation.
Again, when certain difficulties within my control arise, I make sure to not dwell on their negative effect nor accept it. Like the experience with my mom, I thrive by putting in the required effort to rise above the situation.
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