We each have two faces of debt, the one face we show to the outside world, and the real face; the one that only we can see.

 

That’s right, just like Oscar Wilde’s famous character, Dorian Gray; we have dual lives; and a painting, a painting of debt, and debt notices, that we hide.

 

We go to work, talk to our co-workers about their evening, weekend, latest television show, etc.  We have our family functions, Sunday dinners, and outings with the kids. But there is that side or picture that we never show.

 

That is the side of the collector’s calls, the demand letters in the Post, the rows with partners over who gets paid and how. 

 

It becomes quite a dual life and brings about inconsistencies that can be the cause of great stress, a pressure pushing down on our lives. A pressure caused by hiding.  Hiding what is really going on.

 

Am I advocating everyone telling their family, friends and co-workers their personal financial affairs?  No.  But be aware of what is happening.

 

We will share our lives with people and talk about what we do and our weekends, but we cannot share our financial lives.  That is the life we keep locked away in a room, only to have the door opened for us by debt notices, collectors and the such.

 

We go out to the shops and make a purchase using our credit card, knowing we don’t have the cash in the accounts to pay the bill.  The picture or other face gets darker, distorted.  But, we still smile as we sign the charge receipt.

 

We apply for a new line of credit, or ask that our overdraft be raised, all with a smile; the hidden picture and face change, distort, and the grimace grows.

 

So how do we face ourselves and bring these two lives together?  

 

By just doing it!

 

Open the Post, see the notices, get full knowledge of who you owe and how much you owe, face the face.

 

I realize the very nature of doing this it is a source of stress in itself, however, it will also relieve the stress of hiding and living the dual life.

 

By not facing the reality of the situation the debt, the painting of our debt gets uglier and more hideous.

 

You cannot lock the debt or painting away as Dorian Gray did.

 

You cannot continue to make purchases using credit and put on airs, while all the time there is this debt issue or picture of debt looming away.

 

Opening the locked door where the debt painting is hanging, taking it off that attic wall, will open the way to seeing ourselves in a better light.