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Being Broke Is Hard But Looking Powerless Is Worse.
You can be broke but never look defeated.
I remember the day I hit my lowest. I had just enough money to get to an interview, but none to get back home. I stood there in front of the mirror, wearing a borrowed shirt and borrowed confidence. I was broke, tired, and emotionally worn out — but I told myself, You don’t get to look powerless today.
Being broke is hard. Let’s not lie about that. It’s hard to smile when your stomach is empty. It’s hard to stay hopeful when your phone is filled with rejection emails. It’s hard to keep dreaming when your reality keeps punching you in the face.
But I’ve learned something: as painful as it is to be broke, it’s even more dangerous to look powerless.
Why?
Because people start treating you based on how you carry yourself. And whether we like it or not, life doesn’t just test your pockets — it tests your posture. It checks if you’ve mentally given up, if you’ve stopped believing in yourself, if you’re silently screaming for help or standing like someone who still has fight left.
Have you ever walked into a room and felt invisible because of what you were wearing or because you knew you had nothing in your account? Have you ever tried to speak, only to shrink inside…