Become your own 1%: What you can do about inequality

There’s been a lot of discussion and focus lately on the 1% of the world that pretty much controls all of the wealth in today’s society. I will start out by saying that this blog has nothing to do with slinging mud at the Republicans or Democrats; rather, it focuses on what you can do as an individual.

I am certainly not trying to downplay the fact that inequality does exist in our society, nor that our lawmakers and policy changers should do nothing about it. Instead, I wonder what it is that we can do for ourselves to help deal with the anger, frustration, and general sense that things today are just not fair.

Although some would tell you that “that’s just life,” and we should “just deal with it,” I tend to have a different sort of approach that might help some. You see, ever since I survived cancer I learned something timeless for myself that I will never forget: I don’t need to play the victim. Easier said than done, always.

In life, we have the beautiful option of framing things. Framing a situation is like being the creator of your own dictionary, and it’s something we do naturally as human beings. The problem comes when there is a generally accepted frame of reference supported by a large number of people. What’s wrong with a bunch of people agreeing on something? Nothing, in of itself, but it makes it very difficult to be the “odd one” out. Well, now I am going to invite you to become that odd person.

When so much emphasis is placed on the fact that we all, most likely, fall into that 99% of the population that is not able to partake in the elite treasures of the world, we frame ourselves as victims. Think about it. What’s worse, is that a lot of us feel like it’s out of our hands, and that’s there’s nothing we can do to change it. Or is there?

I invite you to do something, and take it seriously. I want you to make a list of all the things that make you a fall into the 1%. This may seem odd at first, but bare with me. I am certain that there are things, besides wealth, which place us into a very narrow margin of our own. Before you roll your eyes, if you aren’t already - just take a moment to ponder this, at least for your own good. Your frame of reference has placed you, most likely, into 99% of the population, thereby causing you to feel wronged. The issue I see with that is that we have allowed ourselves to be placed into this category. But guess what? I doesn't have to be that way.

I am part of that 1%. But not because I have millions of dollars, but because when I was told I had cancer, I was given the assurance that I would be cured within six months, with a 99% certainty. Guess what? I fell into that 1%. Eventually, I was diagnosed as being in remission, but I was a lucky part of that 1%, and I will wager to say that something has either happened in your life, or that you posses some type of trait, that is so rare – it’s probably only shared with about 1% of the population. Think about it. I bet if you think hard enough, you’ll find the 1% within you.

And no, finding that 1% won’t change your economic status, or make you a millionaire, but it can do one very important thing for you: it can give you back your dignity and self-esteem. I’ll be damned if I ever find myself playing the victim card again. And no one can take that away from me, no matter how many people disagree with my definition of 1%, because I am the owner and editor of my own dictionary of life, which defines my happiness the way I see it, not how everyone else does.

What’s your 1%? Share it with us.

All the Best,

Joshua

#inequality #onepercent #wealthy #richpeople #injustice #betterment #socialcomparisons