Filing for bankruptcy can be a shameful and disheartening process for most people. People typically associate their wealth with their personal and professional achievements. The path to professional achievement can be very spiritual and some people feel a deep connection to their net worth. With others, money is not just a personal asset, but it plays a role in many of their relationships. This is especially true for men, who are still characterized as the head of the household and the provider for their families.
Filing for bankruptcy can feel like you’ve lost at the game of life; you’ve lost years of hard work, your reputation and your position in life. Bankruptcy can be even more damaging when it’s added to the loss of a job, an unfortunate medical condition or a tragedy in the family. With any loss, there will need to be a mourning process. Mourning is a very healthy way to recover from a loss; it is the first step in realizing and accepting your new fate. Grieving only becomes unhealthy when the person cannot move on the next phase of acceptance and begin to plan for their future.
The most important thing to realize with bankruptcy is that it happens all the time to good people and you are not the first person to experience trouble with your finances. This is why bankruptcy exists, as a chance to start over. Don’t look at it as a loss, but a beginning to your new financial future. A lot of people spend beyond their means and lose control of their finances as they lose control in other areas of their life. Where do you think the term “Retail Therapy” originated from? This is your chance to take control, to understand the value of your income and your hard work. This is also your chance to detach your idea of self-worth from the size of your bank account.
You can also recover your sense of self in becoming financially independent once again. You may not have as many material items, but they were only a façade to begin with. Living beyond your means can be a very hollow lifestyle, where denial and deferring your problems only create a snowball effect. It can easily feel that your possessions own you. Declaring bankruptcy forces you to be honest with yourself and to make necessary changes in your life. These changes will help you feel in control once again and give you true confidence in knowing your strength of character, not a self-esteem built around brand names.
Look at bankruptcy as an opportunity. Life will go on and you will be stronger for it. This is your chance to change your bad habits, learn about yourself and to live without being controlled by material possessions. You should contact a Rio Grand Valley bankruptcy lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your bankruptcy options and to get started on your new life!
Jeff Davis is the Owner of the Davis law firm, and a highly experienced Harlingen, McAllen, and Edinburg bankruptcy attorney. To find out more information about a Rio Grand Valley bankruptcy lawyer, please visit www.jeffdavislawfirm.com.