Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Rain beats a leopard’s skin, but it does not wash out the spots

The Ghanaian proverb, "Rain beats a leopard’s skin, but it does not wash out the spots," suggests that while external circumstances may affect a person or situation, the core essence or character remains unchanged. When applied to managing money, this proverb reminds us that temporary financial gains or losses do not change a person’s underlying financial habits or mindset. Even if someone receives a windfall or encounters financial hardship, their fundamental approach to money management will persist unless they consciously decide to change it.

Take Kunto, for example. She receives a sudden bonus at work, significantly boosting her savings. However, despite this financial gain, Kunto's core spending habits remain the same. She continues to spend impulsively, neglects to budget properly, and fails to invest wisely. The "rain" in this scenario represents the extra money she received, but her "spots"—her poor financial habits—remain unaffected. 

Eventually, without proper financial discipline, Kunto's bonus is depleted, and she finds herself in the same financial position as before. The proverb highlights that external changes, such as receiving more money, won’t improve a person's financial well-being unless their underlying behavior changes.

To implement the lesson from this proverb, one must focus on cultivating good financial habits, regardless of external circumstances. For Kunto, instead of relying on windfalls, she should work on building a budget, saving consistently, and making thoughtful investments. This would ensure her financial health is secure in both good times and bad.

The lesson from this proverb is clear: lasting financial stability comes from good financial habits, not from temporary changes in income or fortune. It teaches us the importance of introspection and self-discipline in managing money. Simply having more resources won’t lead to financial success unless one changes their habits, mindset, and approach to money management.


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