UNCONSCIOUS VIEWS OF MONEY, part I
Many articles talk about the “4 unconscious views of money.” I read a few and came away dissatisfied. It only took a few minutes to figure out what was causing that lack of ease. They missed two more underlying views. Why? I have some guesses … the first missed view is represented by a group of people who they consider too broken (they “can’t be saved”). The authors think of them as “beneath their consideration” since they imagine them to be “Trailer Trash.” Unfortunately, the “experts” misunderstand who these people are. They are the “Money Burns Holes In My Pocket” gang, and I believe they CAN be helped.
The second view the experts have missed is a group of people who have an incredibly healthy view of money. They ignore them because “you can’t fix what ain’t broken.” Again, I think these experts have missed the boat. Instead of ignoring this view, they should be giving them praise AND finding ways to make them even healthier.
These 6 unconscious views are NOT personalities, they say, but underlie your money concepts and can skew how you deal with money. If you discover you have an unhealthy view of money you can work to change it. Some professionals (like Dr. Bradley Klontz, for instance) call these “money scripts.”
Each view may have its benefits and weaknesses, some more than others. Both benefits and weaknesses can have huge impacts on you and your financial well-being.
Dr. Margie Warrell, in an article called “Does Money Cause You Stress? The Unconscious Money Beliefs Keeping You From A Richer Life” tells a story: “My dad, who spent nearly 50 years milking cows, often says he feels like the richest man in the whole world. He never talks about what he doesn’t own or can’t afford. Nor does he compare his net worth to anyone else’s. Rather, he continually celebrates all that he does have.”
She concludes the article with these wise words, “If the quality of our emotions determines the quality of our lives, then one could argue my dad is a far wealthier man than many whose net-worth eclipses his own.”
Cameron Huddleston in an article called “How to Teach Your Kids Good Money Habits” says, “If you’ve ever had angst around money – earning it, giving it, spending it, saving it, losing it, loaning it, wasting it – take a hard look at the unexamined beliefs you have about money.”
What are the 6 unconscious views?
1. MONEY IS MY GOD.
Your underlying belief is that money is the answer to all your problems. You can never have enough.
The problem with this belief is that the focus is on the almighty dollar, not the benefits it can give you. I’ve known people whose existence was all about SPENDING. As soon as the dollar was spent, the product they took home was meaningless to them. They had to find another product to make them happy … and another … and another. One “money is my god” person ended up with 17 pair of white deck shoes (all matching) in her closet. Obviously, each purchase was meaningless. The solution is to realize that money is not ever going to bring you joy or satisfaction. Focus on your actual needs instead. How can your life be improved by how you spend your money? It is a tool, not a god. So, how can you change this unhealthy view into one that is better for you? I think the issue here is fear. Find a reason to not fear what is ahead or around you. Seek peace and satisfaction instead of operating out of a sense of lack.
2. I AM GOD (IF I HAVE A LOT OF MONEY).
Your underlying belief is that money equals personal WORTH, rather than understanding that worth and money have absolutely no connection in the real world. Everyone needs money, but having status (like a car that is considered pricey) is being prideful. Some people display this pride by buying only NEW items (and never shopping the discount stores like Kmart or Walmart). Believe me, people do notice your crisp collars and spotless BMW … but they neither care nor remember, unless they also equate their self worth with money. This is a horrible treadmill that never propels you to “enough self-worth” since there is always someone with MORE. The solution is to realize that money and self-worth are two different things entirely. If you cannot separate them you should seek out a good therapist who does not care about what type of car he drives and does not need a Rolex to prove he is smart enough to help you.
Next time the conclusion … will Bat Man avoid the buzz saw or will there be two Bat Men?
Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere. ~ Sherry]
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