Maya’s Daily Struggle

Maya is a young woman living in Lebanon who works hard and tries to plan for her future. But lately, her money no longer feels predictable. Prices change week to week, her salary loses value before the end of the month, and even simple decisions like buying groceries or saving feel uncertain. Her problem isn’t just inflation, it’s a loss of confidence in the currency she depends on every day.

What the Visualization Reveals

To understand Maya’s experience, I created a visualization of the Lebanese currency over time.

What we see in the graph is striking:

• From 1972 to the mid-1980s, the Lira was almost perfectly stable. The line is completely flat. Life was predictable.

• Then, around 1987, the currency spikes dramatically from 6,457 to 22,266, and by 1992 it reaches 22,638. This steep climb shows the first major collapse in trust.

• After 1992, the currency stabilizes again for nearly 20 years. The line flattens and people slowly regain confidence.

• But the most dramatic shift happens recently in 2020 the currency jumped from 19,598 to 46,508 in a very short time.

This steep rise reflects the instability that defines Maya’s daily reality. Each spike represents a loss of confidence; each flat period reflects regained stability.

How We Restore Trust

The visualization shows that the solution is not only financial, it’s behavioral. To support people, we must rebuild predictability, stability, and trust. When the value of money becomes predictable, everyday stress decreases and people regain control over their financial decisions.

The data also proves that stability is possible. After the 1992 spike, the Lira stabilized for nearly two decades. Families were able to save, businesses planned long-term and confidence slowly returned. This demonstrates that rebuilding trust is achievable  and when achieved, it transforms people’s ability to plan and move forward.

Rebuilding Trust for the Future

The key insight from Maya’s story is that currency value is not just an economic number; it reflects public confidence. When the line rises sharply, trust collapses. When it stabilizes, trust returns. Rebuilding confidence means reducing sudden shocks, increasing transparency, and helping people make long-term plans. Strengthening trust empowers people like Maya to regain control not only over their money, but over their futures.