Self Empowered Woman

 

February 28, 2007

Taking Responsibility For Your Debt

Filed under: Take Control Of Your Life — Kakak Neng @ 5:43 pm

Taking responsibility to settle your debt must be a priority because for as long as you don’t , you wil carry the burden in your heart and in your mind.  When you owe someone money, you must make the effort to return it and do not underestimate the karma that comes with it.  By default, you owe that person a piece of yourself for as long as you are in debt and your sense of honour will never be fully gratified until you do.

I find it particularly disturbing with people who borrow money for years and yet continue to live their high lifestyle.  Once someone remarked to me hotly when I asked for my money back that I would get it back some day, have no fear.  He defended his integrity by also saying there was nobody in this world who is never in debt and that pretty much concluded the episode.  And then there are those who would cite all sorts of problems, cost of house repair, car repair, high cost of living etc.   I refrain from judging here.

I have thought deeply about this issue and I try to understand it.   There is a greater problem beneath the psyche why this attitude to debt exists. Somewhere in there you believe you have no power over yourself and your circumstances.  You lack the motivation to honour your soul.  When you borrow with such ease and disregard the repayment issue, something happens to your sense of value.  You have just eroded your integrity as a person with self-worth and self-respect.  I am not talking about people in destitute situation.  I am referring to people with substantial asset who care for their exterior appearances and yet have little regard for how they feel inside.   It is interesting if I can even scratch the surface and understand the psyche beneath.

Some people claim it is hard to save, but you know what that is crap.  A long long time ago I used to earn SGD 350 a month, and I always put aside $50 before I consumed the rest.  What I saved stayed in the bank and this habit has taught me an important lesson that to never have to borrow is to safeguard my self-respect and live a life of freedom from shame. 

It is important to me that people do not judge me as a debtor.

It is important to me that I do not give away my power by borrowing.

It is important to my sense of self-worth that I honour any debts.

It is more important to me that people know me for the poor humble woman that I am rather than high society borrower.

 

 

 

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3 Comments »

March 6, 2007 @ 1:37 pm #

Dear Nora,

Good article. I read it with interest …. and how true. Something bothers me though.

You wrote this:

1. It is important to me that people do not judge me as a debtor.

2. It is important to me that I do not give away my power by borrowing.

3. It is important to my sense of self-worth that I honour any debts.

4. It is more important to me that people know me for the poor humble woman that I am rather than high society borrower.

Now, correct me if I am wrong but isn’t there a discrepency there? Numbers 1,2 and 4 seem to contradict Number 3.

Yes I know what you mean but if I had said that when marking exam papers, all my students would have passed.

I believe you are trying to drive home an important point, viz. not to borrow, period. Then you say you must honor your debts.

I honestly do not mean to be critical but I guess it’s all these years of teaching the language that has confused me I guess.

Best Wishes.

shay

March 6, 2007 @ 1:41 pm #

The second last paragraph should read: I believe you are trying to drive home an important point, viz. not to borrow, period. Then you say you must honor your debts. To me, it seems like a contradiction.

March 6, 2007 @ 2:09 pm #

Dear Shay
Thanks for your interesting observation. You are right, however it seems to be a contradiction because I should have qualified , that for no 3 its applicable only in the event that I do need to borrow, I would honour the debt.  Anyway, the background to that article was I was letting off some steam and wrote passionately with someone in mind (who is a “high society” person).  I do stand by my belief that one shouldnt borrow but the world is not a perfect place and there are desperate people who need to borrow, which is fine but they must honour their debt.  Thanks for reading.
Nora

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