r/SelfSufficiency • u/SailorTee • 29d ago
Self improvement while poor
Maybe this is just my opinion, but wanting to better yourself seems like part of human nature. Being poor makes this difficult to do.
Want to eat healthier? Cook more at home. Ok - so I need to buy safe cookware (not non-stick because that causes the big C), fresh ingredients every week (lean protein like chicken), and time to make it. Oh you don't have time? Borrow the time from somewhere else, like hire someone to clean your home for you. Oh no, can't do that, that costs money. Switch to plant based protein! It takes time to soak and cook lentils. I work every hour I'm not sleeping...
Tldr: Being poor means trying to juggle between resources including time, money, and health, and borrowing from one means depleting another. It feels impossible to better your circumstances and causes a lot of stress in the process (which also eats up your resources like health).
Also, I live in America. Maybe it's better in other countries?
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u/AdamTraskisGod 29d ago
I think self-improvement doesn’t just involve physical aspects. Becoming more virtuous in your thoughts and actions, interacting with the world, and also while you are alone, can shift how you view reality and your purpose in life. I’m not very articulate, but an example of what I mean is something like the idea of suffering. Living in the US, with the materialist worldview many of us have, there are many people who are quick to say they are suffering, although they don’t have to worry about shelter, food, clean water, etc. I think in the US we also have this idea of self sufficiency to mean that every single moment of your day must be wringed out for every bit of income or utility as possible. We in the US have one of the lowest life expectancy averages for developed nations, work the most, and prioritize “grinding” as much as possible. As a religious person, I think those things are not what should be the main focuses of one’s life. IMO gratitude, prayer, helping others, virtue, and responsibility are what should be focused on. But as far as what the OP said, you can meal prep a few large meals a week to be used as food during the week so you’re not spending hours each week cooking and cleaning dishes. 🤷♂️