We’ve said it before: Money. It plays a major role in our everyday lives. Whether we’re spending it, making it, talking about it or even trying to conquer it; money is as important to human survival as oxygen and water. Turn on your television, open a newspaper or surf the internet, money is everywhere; it changes everything and affects everybody.
It’s a major player in everything we do. Yet in spite of the major role it plays in our everyday lives, is it more important than everything else? Of course not—but our world wants us to think it is and most of the time we act like it. Our major and minor decisions are controlled by money and the consequences of those decisions are blamed on money. The world rises and falls with it, our moods rise and fall with it and who we are depends on it.
When we make money more—if not most—important, we ignore money’s human side and attempt to make it more tangible than it really is. Taking the human factor out of money makes us think it’s easy to control and manage. Things are black and white, right and wrong—easy—just do it! But believing this makes you feel less in control, less responsible and just plain bad. If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a million times—“I’m bad with money.” What’s that all about?
“I’m bad with money” means you’re a bad person, you don’t get it and it’s hopeless. “I’m bad with money” means you can’t be helped, you’re an idiot and it’s hopeless. “I’m bad with money” means it’s out of your hands, it’s out of your control and it’s hopeless. “I’m bad with money” tells you “give it up—you don’t matter—money is more important!”
But here’s the truth:
- Money is what you make of it. You get to choose how money shows up in your life—not your parents, advertisers, government or financial experts. Only you can decide it’s place in your life.
- There are two sides to money, the tangible and intangible. Dollars and cents, the numbers side is the tangible side—the one we all focus on. There’s another side—the intangible side—that’s all about your senses—how you think and feel about money.
- Focusing on the intangible side of money is where you find your own solutions to whatever money problems you’re facing. The intangible side is where you let go of black and white, right and wrong and “being bad” about money. It’s where you’ll find real control and your power.
- Finding your power is about having a balanced money dynamic; one that uses all four money elements. That’s how you make solid money decisions. Using the ideal money dynamic combines both the tangible and intangible side of money and makes you feel “good with money”.
- Feeling good about money is appreciating what you do well. It’s not trying to force yourself into behaviors that just don’t work for you. It’s about finding your strengths (we all have them) and using them to move you forward.
- You are the piece that’s missing in most money solutions. Without knowing who you really are with money, you’re playing in the wrong game with the wrong rules with an ump that just wants you out of the game. You’re out before you even get to swing the bat. Putting you back in the game makes you a winner.
Money is not more important than you or any other relationship in your life. Your relationship to yourself and the world around you is what’s important. Money is just there to support those relationships. Understanding that gives you back the responsibility, accountability—and most importantly—the authority to make decisions that you want and need. You are most important!