Wealth… how does seeing and hearing that word make you feel?
Excited? Afraid? Disappointed? Nothing?
Those feelings can reveal deeper truths about your relationship with money. And that relationship can influence your financial future.
That’s because, despite what people say, money is often wrapped up in feelings about…
- Success
- Status
- Stability
- Self-worth
That’s why people’s behavior with money is often not well-reasoned. Instead of making measured decisions based on the numbers, people find themselves on autopilot. In other words, they react instead of respond.
Let’s look at some examples…
Let’s say your relationship with money is primarily fear based. Maybe you saw your parents struggle with their finances, and you constantly worry about reliving their experience.
The autopilot response? Frugality and risk-aversion, even if you earn a comfortable wage.
There’s nothing wrong with either of those qualities in moderation. But taken too far, they may seriously damage your personal relationships and prevent you from taking advantage of financial opportunities.
Plus, the constant stress and fear of losing everything might impact your mental and physical health if not properly managed.
There’s also the opposite extreme. What if you use wealth to establish your social status?
You’ll be far more likely to buy things you don’t need to show off to your peers. You may even begin compulsively shopping to cope with stress.
In other words, you may be using money in unhealthy and damaging ways. And the stress and guilt that come from such behavior can seriously harm relationships and your ability to accomplish your goals.
So what’s the solution? What should your feelings toward wealth be?
The starting point must be that money is primarily a tool. It doesn’t define you. It isn’t evil. It’s simply a tool that empowers you to pursue things that you love.
Simply put, money isn’t an end unto itself. It’s a means to an end.
The question is, then what do you love? What do you want to do and see and pursue? And what role will money play in achieving those goals?
Once you reorder your relationship with wealth along those lines, a whole world of possibility may open up like…
- Building wealth without guilt
- Freedom from compulsive and unwise spending habits
- Leaving your family a financial legacy
But it all starts with understanding your current feelings towards money, and then deciding on what you want your future to look like.
If you need someone to process those feelings with, contact me! I’m here to offer you guidance and support on your journey towards financial stability.