Mindset

Sandra Saxon Burnsed

People of means sometimes wonder why the poor among them seem so burdened or sad. Or they marvel at the hoops the poor will jump through just for a crumb from their table. But I’m sure most of the elite simply amuse themselves with the laziness they perceive of the poor as moochers. “Sad isn’t it, that they don’t want to work harder for their piece of the pie.” Funny that in a society built on dreams and fair play, we still adhere to a mindset of elitism, racism, and gender inequality. 

That little nugget at the core of our brains creates fear. It is a survival tool that has served us well since our species was formed. But despite the development of our frontal lobe, the amygdala still plays a major role in our perceived paranoia. In the Christian and Buddhist traditions I follow, self is important; but so too are compassion, selflessness, and generosity. To hold a perceived prejudice against another person is simple wrong. 

Yet here we are, holding on to the notion that anymore different than us is somehow less. Power corrupts. It seems to me the ones in control of the purse stings are the ones most guilty of sowing discourse and fear. Rather through elitism, the caste system, or good old fashion racism; the fear we carry is continually stoked by what we perceive as losing control. One day maybe we’ll figure it out, “that he who has the gold rules”. Money is a tool, nothing more. Money cannot create peace of mind or give you self-worth. If anything it makes you paranoid, sad, and fearful. Maybe we should all take a moment and ask yourselves, what mindset do I follow?