Swimming downwards

‘Whatever status or power you have, use it for those who are vulnerable; whatever money you have, use it for the poor.’  (Jasmin, Philippines)

We face a global paradox. Some reports show that the wealth gap between richer and poorer countries is narrowing and, at the same time, the wealth gap between the richest people and poorest people within those countries is widening. The reasons behind these changes are dynamically complex and, as a non-economist, well beyond my ability to grasp. That said, I’m interested in how, psychologically, we make sense of and respond to such phenomena.

Deutsche Welle (DW) produced an interesting documentary in 2024 that showed how the wealthy often attribute their success to their own personal qualities such as their attitudes, abilities and hard work. By contrast, the poorer often attribute their poverty to environmental conditions that lay outside their ability to control. It’s an example of attribution theory, a way of explaining (and, sometimes, rationalising or justifying) our varied human experiences.

In my work, I see the polarity itself is too simplistic. I do see individuals who stand out from the crowd in their own culture and context, shattering the mould and breaking free from apparent constraints to achieve success. I also see individuals who possess similar qualities yet fail to make headway because they simply don’t have the same opportunities. It’s as if the cultural and contextual tide they are born into is way too strong to swim against alone.

At the same time, I see individuals who become wealthy in spite of demonstrating little effort or aptitude on their own part, as if the inherent benefits of their background, context or connections naturally sweep them upwards. I also see individuals who possess everything it would take to become successful in their own context yet, for whatever reasons, don’t grasp the nettle or take the plunge. At times, it’s just that different people have different priorities.

The counter-example that inspires me most is Jasmin in the Philippines. She grew up among the poorest of the poor where, contextually-speaking, the odds are absolutely stacked against her. Yet by power of prayer and determination, she defies a universal human instinct for acquisition and achieves the most incredible things. As far as personal wealth is concerned, she refuses to swim upwards and, instead, uses everything she has for the benefit of the poor.

I want to be more like her.