I have nothing to lose

“I have nothing to lose.”
I’ve heard this statement voiced by several people, people I know and people I don’t, recently because of the current economic downturn. And I have been reflecting on this statement to understand why it is resonating with me. And I believe it’s because I feel much empathy toward these people.
Fortunes change overnight. Circumstances change in seconds. Life throws us wobblers. At some point in our lives we will all experience upsets and misfortune but it’s not what happens to us, it’s how we deal with it that separates the people who get through life’s difficulties versus those who don’t.
When people bottom out, if they leave their minds open, they will open themselves to one of the most creative and resourceful periods of their lives. Bottoming out allows us to come face to face with issues we have been suppressing because there are no longer any excuses for why we are in the situation we may find ourselves in. We have reached the depths of our despair and the only way out is to confront ourselves.
People who have nothing to lose have the opportunity to be who they truly are meant to be because no one can take anything from them as it has already been taken. These people are confronted by their inner most desires, fears and shadows. They have the opportunity to completely change direction and head to where they want to go. They can drop all the baggage and pretence and move forward with a lighter load.
I’m not trying to diminish the difficulty people experience when they get to this point as I do recognise that having nothing to lose is an extremely terrifying place to be in because people often find themselves backed into a corner, the weight of the world on their shoulders, and people making demands on them that they can’t do anything about. But if they stopped and really assessed their situation they will see they are free now to operate in the present moment in order to find their way out. They cannot go back and rewrite the past. They cannot go forward and worry about tomorrow. All they can do is focus on the now and how they will pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start all over again.
Having nothing to lose is a freeing feeling when you realise you have the chance to start all over again. It also signals the end of the downward spiral because you are at the bottom looking up. For all those people who have nothing to lose, please remember to have faith and no matter how bad you feel, this time in your life will pass when you accept you are where you are meant to be, learn the lesson and move on.
Remember you may have nothing to lose but you have everything to gain. Here’s to the first step to the new you. We’re all cheering for you sending you love and light and encouragement because you are not alone in your struggle.
Repeat this mantra to yourself as Sir Lancelot said to King Arthur, “I have nothing to lose so what do I have to fear?”