We Were Not Born Just to Survive: A Quiet Rebellion Against Settling

By Marc Reflects

Introduction: When Struggle Becomes Normal

In many places, especially across parts of Africa, the idea of “just making it through” is not a season—it’s a way of life. We survive, not because we lack dreams, but because the system teaches us to aim low. I have come to believe that many of us—especially those born into scarcity—are not lazy. We are trained by necessity.

I see it daily: youth who hustle without rest, mothers who stretch every coin and every prayer, children taught to obey and never question—because questioning rent, pain, or hunger can feel like questioning life itself.

But today, I want to pause and ask:

Were we really born just to survive?

The Poverty of Low Expectations

Where I come from, young people are often coached into survival-mode thinking. Finish school. Get any job. Avoid trouble. Rent a room. Send money home. Repeat.

Dreaming is treated like a luxury: impractical, expensive, even arrogant. But I’ve learned something that changed me—survival is not our ceiling. It’s the floor. It’s where we begin, not where we are meant to stay.

Living only to survive slowly numbs you. You start accepting the minimum—low wages, poor housing, dysfunctional love—as your destiny. But prolonged survival becomes a quiet captivity.

When Survival Is Systemic, Not Personal

Struggle isn’t just personal—it’s designed.

When someone works full-time yet can’t afford basic housing, that’s not just bad luck. It’s exploitation.

When children of incarcerated parents go without psychosocial support, that’s not an oversight. It’s society failing to imagine their healing.

When young talent goes ignored, it’s not random. It’s the result of low investment in human potential.

I see it all the time here in Rwanda—and in so many African contexts. Our youth carry vision, but the platforms are few. That’s why I advocate for children’s talent discovery. It’s why I defend the dignity of renters. It’s why I created business models that start with zero capital but aim for something real.

My Own Quiet Rebellion: The Zero to 2M Plan

I started with nothing: no land to inherit, no bankable assets, just a sense of duty, some borrowed faith, and a journal of handwritten dreams.

Out of that, I built my “Zero to 2M Plan”—not as a scheme, but as a quiet rebellion. A protest against the idea that we must already be wealthy to pursue purpose. I wanted to prove to myself that structure, grit, and hope could build something lasting.

But money is not the end. The deeper revolution is inner. It’s about recovering hope. It’s about learning that worth is not found in your wallet, but in your spirit.

We Were Born to Build, Not Just Breathe

To live beyond survival means building a life worth waking up for. A life where you:

• Raise children who imagine, not just obey

• Do work that aligns with your soul, not just your debt

• Create love that uplifts, not just endures

• Rebuild systems instead of merely enduring them

This isn’t idealism—it’s restorative realism. When people thrive, they give more, build more, love more. And the world changes.

If You’re Still in Survival Mode…

This is not to shame you.

If you’re reading this while worried about rent, your next meal, or job insecurity—I see you. You are not weak. You are not lazy. You are incredibly strong. Survival is noble.

But I also want to say gently:

You were not born just for this.

You carry more inside you than the world has seen. You are allowed to dream, to laugh without guilt, to plan beyond the end of the week. That is not a privilege—it is your birthright.

A Gentle Revolution Begins

We don’t need to shout to change things. Sometimes, the revolution begins with simple acts:

• Saying no to what drains your spirit

• Saying yes to building slowly, meaningfully

• Refusing to define yourself by your lowest point

• Raising children who feel safe enough to ask “why?”

We plant gardens. We mentor youth. We start side hustles. We ask better questions. We resist the pressure to shrink ourselves.

Because, my friend, we were not born just to survive.

We were born to build, to restore, to reflect a piece of God’s light in how we live, love, and lead.

Let’s Reflect Together

What does "living beyond survival" mean for you right now?

Have you ever felt stuck in survival mode? What helped you shift?

Share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s build this gentle revolution—together.

If this reflection resonated with you, I invite you to read more on Marc Reflects—a space for honest stories, quiet courage, and bold dreams born from humble places.

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