Entitlement mentality

Entitlement mentality

When we were in kindergarten and playing sports and our team lost, we still got the trophy. When in the store with our parents and saw a toy or lollipop we want, we asked our loving parents to get same for us and wouldn’t take no for an answer. When we become teenagers we demanded and were given an allowance even if we didn’t help around the house. When we are adult enough to vote, during national elections politicians promised us lots of things for free as long as we vote them into power; we complied and in turn demanded for them to fulfil their promises no matter what. We are also given access to social security and food parcels from the government so we wouldn’t starve, at least not starve enough to find a job. Those that manage to get a job, demand higher salaries, bonuses and promotions, no matter how little education and skills they have. So, all these create what I call entitlement mentality.

So, what is entitlement mentality? It is a belief that you can have whatever you want whenever you want without having to work for it. It is about being convinced that you deserve things you want and someone has got to give them to you no matter what.

Below are what I believe are some of the pitfalls of this entitlement mentality:

– lack of self development;
As long as we believe that anything we need would be provided for by someone other than ourselves, we wouldn’t stand up and do something; we would not acquire skills we could use to add value to others and hence earn and income for ourselves.

– dependence on others for anything;
There is no such a thing as a free lunch, someone has paid for it. Government doesn’t have money of its own, its uses taxpayers money instead. So, if you are relying on government, you are in fact relying on your fellow countrymen who work hard each day to earn an income the portion of which would be taken ‘without prior consent’ by the government which would in turn use it to pay for what you believe you are entitled to.
We need more taxpayers, not more people depending on government and definitely not those with entitlement mentality.

– lack of responsibility;
Responsible individuals are not really comfortable depending on others for survival. They would rather work for meagre salary for now and work their way to higher salaries or income positions. Those who believe they are owed something may never take responsibility for their lives. The only person responsible in getting you what you want is YOU.

– no being able to leave inheritance for your children;
As long as we have an entitlement mentality, we wouldn’t be able to leave inheritance for our children’s children, as we would be living from hand to month or on handouts.
A benevolent person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren… -Proverbs 13:22

The world doesn’t owe us anything. If we want something, we should roll up our sleeves and work for it.

Check this video