When people face challenges, they often seek help from their close circle.
If anyone in their close circle is well-to-do, people often expect he’ll help solve their life problems.
In most cases, though, this causes trouble for everyone in the circle.
This is the real-life story of X. X, a good-hearted 25-year-old.
X got married and started his life. Because he took the entrepreneurship path, his life had its own struggles, and as one can imagine, it included money issues as well.
One fine morning, X got a call from a close family member: he needed ₹ 50k for 3-4 days. X’s total saving at that time was no more than ₹ 15k.
X wanted to help and had no idea how the world works, so he borrowed money from another close family member and lent it.
Though the ₹50k amount was not easy for the other family member, X managed to get it based on his little credibility.
X had no idea how the world works, so X chose to loan the money to someone despite the fact that he was not the owner of that money!
After 15 days, X was asked to return the money.
The money did not come back.
So X politely requested the borrower to return. The borrower promised to return it back within 2-3 days.
Some more weeks passed.
The money did not come back.
X learned one more thing – the borrower also borrowed ₹30k from X’s best friend without X’s knowledge.
X was an amateur, and so were his decisions. He was yet to learn how the world works.
X chose to repay his best friend on behalf of the borrower out of his personal savings.
This was when monthly salaries were no more than ₹ 5-6k, so the borrowed amount was a big chunk of money. X’s income was around ₹ 6k a month.
After many months 50% of the money came back. It was also apparent that the borrower had all good intentions, but his situation was not controlled.
The borrower’s history was excellent: he never defaulted on any human aspects of relationships. He had been a good, loving human being. But the truth was – neither the borrower nor X understood how the world works.
X passed through a lot of stress. He had never borrowed any money from anyone for any of his personal or business needs. Still, in order to help the apparently needy borrower, he borrowed the money despite his counter-beliefs.
However, based on this episode, X learned what he must do: Never “lend” any money to anyone. If you need help, consider it that day’s expense and do not expect it to return.
Of course, if the money comes back, great. If it does not come back, okay. This is an effective way to remain “calm” and not “unhappy.”
Unlike X, 99% of people do not conclude such things from such experiences. they become bitter.
When people become bitter, they and their close family members suffer.
Understanding how the world works is super-crucial if one wants to live a regretless life.
The world works based on certain principles which are in accordance with nature. If a Cloud does not have water embedded in it, it won’t rain, or if the seed does not have substance, it will not grow. You got the idea.
Unsurprisingly, the world will make people understand how it works, not in a nice way. The world has no bias; it has its function, which cares nothing about our likes or dislikes.
Eventually, X became a successful entrepreneur … experiences like these have shaped his thinking, his awareness, and how he sees the world.
Note to Self:
- People don’t want to take total responsibility for their lives, so they choose an easy path and expect others to solve their problems. Beware of them and their impact on our lives.
- Lend money only when you consider it an expense without any expected return.
- If you don’t have the money to lend, do not borrow it to lend it to others. It is a surefire recipe to invite a disaster in life.
- We are the designer of our life experiences; we can cause situations to serve us…or not. Up to us!
