Let’s get real for a minute. Poverty, right? Everyone talks about it like it’s some distant, abstract concept, a problem for governments and economists. But if you’ve lived it, if you’ve breathed it, you know it’s a cold, hard slap to the face every damn day. It’s more than just an empty wallet; it’s a pervasive feeling, a mindset that can chain you down tighter than any physical bond.

For too many, poverty isn’t just a circumstance; it’s a victim mentality. And that, my friends, is a self-fulfilling prophecy designed to keep you stuck in the same goddamn hole you’re fighting to escape. The “Anti-Poverty Mindset” isn’t some woo-woo bullshit or touchy-feely theory. It’s a fundamental, non-negotiable shift: from letting life happen to you, to grabbing life by the balls and making it happen for you. This isn’t about ignoring the mess; it’s about owning your response to it. Especially here in Spain, where the economic tides can shift fast, and sometimes, the comfort of community can lull you into a state of passive acceptance if you’re not careful.

The Shackles of the Victim Mentality: Let’s Call It What It Is

A victim mentality is a parasitic thought process. It feeds on your misfortunes, convincing you that every damn thing is someone else’s fault, someone else’s responsibility. In the context of poverty, this looks like:

• Blame, Blame, Blame: Always pointing fingers. “The government screwed me.” “The economy is rigged.” “My family held me back.” Look, external factors exist, I’ve lived them. But a victim mentality stops you dead in your tracks from seeing what you can actually control.
• Paralysis by Analysis (or Lack Thereof): You feel utterly helpless, like there’s nothing you can do, so you do nothing. “Why bother?” becomes your daily mantra. And let me tell you, that’s a one-way ticket to staying exactly where you are.
• External Locus of Control: Your success? Your failure? All down to luck, or fate, or whatever else is outside of you. You stop believing your own effort matters.
• Refusal to Take Responsibility: No one wants to own their part in the struggle. But dodging responsibility for your choices, even the small ones, keeps you stuck in the mud.
• Scarcity Overload: You’re so damn focused on what you don’t have that you can’t see the opportunities, the resources, or the sheer potential staring you in the face. It’s “not enough, not enough” constantly screaming in your head.

Listen, I know what hardship feels like. I was born into poverty in apartheid South Africa, with a hole in my heart and an abusive stepfather. So, when I talk about these feelings, it’s not from some ivory tower. But here’s the thing: letting those feelings define you, letting them build a mental prison, that’s where you lose. That’s where you suffocate your innate ability to figure things out, to adapt, to win.

The Empowerment Perspective: Your Fucking Antidote

The Anti-Poverty Mindset isn’t about pretending life is perfect. It’s about refusing to let the bad shit break you. It’s about recognizing that even when everything around you is chaos, your response, your agency, is the most powerful weapon you possess. It’s about becoming the conjurer of your world.

Here’s how you build that iron will:

1. Own Your Shit (What You Can Control, Anyway): This is the game-changer. You gotta identify what’s actually within your power. You can’t control the job market in Spain, but you can control how hard you look for work, how many new skills you learn, how sharp your CV is. It’s the difference between “they won’t hire me” and “how do I make myself undeniable?”
2. Internal Locus of Control: You’re the Pilot, Not the Passenger. Believe that your actions, your decisions, dictate your outcomes. Period. My mother, despite her upbringing, became the family’s first millionaire because she understood this. Don’t wait for luck; make your own damn breaks.
3. Embrace the Growth Mindset: You’re Not Broken, You’re Building. Forget “I can’t.” That’s the language of the average. Your abilities? Your intelligence? They grow with effort, dedication, and a willingness to learn. See challenges as opportunities to level up, not roadblocks.
4. Resilience and Adaptability: Bounce Back, Motherfucker. Life punches you in the gut. It happens. Resilience is getting back up, dusting yourself off, and throwing another punch. Adaptability is learning new moves when the old ones don’t work.
5. Solution-Oriented Thinking: Find the Flipping Opportunity. A victim fixates on problems. An empowered individual seeks solutions. Always. Instead of “no jobs,” it’s “how do I create my own income?” or “what skills are in demand right now, and how do I get them?” Look for the unmet needs, the gaps in the market.
6. Gratitude and Abundance: Stop the Scarcity BS. I know, I know. When you’re struggling, gratitude seems like a joke. But trust me, cultivating appreciation shifts your focus from what’s missing to what you do have. It’s about believing in limitless possibilities, not a fixed, tiny pie. This isn’t about ignoring your problems, it’s about building a foundation of strength so you can solve them.

How to Get Your MindShift On: Practical Moves

This isn’t theory, it’s a playbook. Shifting your mindset takes work, consistent, uncomfortable work. But every minute you put in, every negative thought you kick in the nuts, is a step towards the life you deserve.

1. Awareness: Call Out Your Limiting Beliefs. What’s the constant negative chatter in your head? “I’m useless,” “I’ll never amount to anything.” That was my stepfather’s favorite tune, and I bought into it for too long. Pinpoint those specific beliefs, write them down. Now, look at them. They’re just words.
2. Reframe the Narrative: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life. When a negative thought pops up, don’t let it take root. Challenge it. Replace “I can’t” with “how can I?” Instead of “I’m not good enough,” tell yourself, “I am becoming better every day through my actions.” It’s a battle, and you’re the only one who can win it.
3. Small Wins, Big Momentum: Don’t aim for the moon on day one. Break your big goals into tiny, achievable steps. Want financial freedom? Start by tracking your spending for a week. Then save €5. Each small victory builds confidence, reinforces your belief that you can do this.
4. Focus on Your Circle of Control: Draw a line. On one side, things you can control. On the other, things you can’t. Your energy goes only to the first side. Don’t waste a single joule on what you can’t change.
5. Become a Knowledge Sponge: Ignorance is a silent killer of dreams. Educate yourself. Learn about money, new industries, valuable skills. Whether it’s free online courses or library books, feed your mind. Knowledge is power.
6. Build Your Tribe: Surround yourself with people who uplift you, who see your potential, who challenge you in a good way. Cut ties with the “vampire friends” who drain your energy and tell you why you can’t.
7. Self-Compassion: Don’t Be an Asshole to Yourself. You’re human. You’ll stumble. That’s okay. Treat yourself with the same understanding you’d give a friend. Learn from setbacks, but don’t let them define you.
8. Action! Action! Action! The ultimate antidote to a victim mentality is consistent action. Don’t wait for “all the ducks to line up.” They never will. Start now. Take that first small step. Send one more email. Make one more call. That momentum? It’s your fuel.

The Anti-Poverty Mindset isn’t a quick fix. It’s a lifelong commitment. But by consciously choosing to respond differently to adversity, by embracing your agency and refusing to be a victim, you unlock a power within you that’s capable of anything.

I’ve lived it. I was born into nothing but struggle. I had a hole in my heart and an abusive stepfather. But I refused to let that dictate my future. My wife Michele and I built a life that defied every expectation, living and working across continents, creating businesses, and always, always believing in the possible.

If a “coloured” kid from Cape Town can do it, starting from goddamn zero, then you, with your 1-in-400-trillion chance of life, you can too. Stop wishing. Start willing. Your greatness awaits. Now go get it!