If Money Were an Emotion What Would It Be, Negative or Positive? Would it give you tears of gratitude, joy and peace or tears of guilt, fear, and loss?
We know money is not an emotion, but it carries a huge emotional reaction in each of us.
Love it or hate it, we all need it.
With such an emotional impact money has on our lives we can lose sight of the purpose of money and begin to focus on the negative effects the lack of it has on our lives.
So, first, I want to examine the purpose of money in our daily lives.
Money is an economic unit that functions as a generally recognized medium of exchange for transactional purposes in an economy. (Definition from investopedia.com) Notice no emotions?
By this definition money is used to exchange for what you need or want.
So, what you need and want is where the emotion lies, no in the inanimate object of money.
How do we overcome these negative emotions toward money?
- Stop focusing on the negatives surrounding money. What we think about most is what we attract into our lives. If we think lack, that’s what you’ll attract. Look around and you’ll see evidence of this, rich people associate with rich people, poor to the poor. You’ll unlikely find a motorcycle gang member at a scrapbooking crop party! Like attracts like.
- Be grateful. Yes, yes, yes, we’ve heard it all before. But it’s true! Gratitude for who you are, what you have right now and who and what you want in the future is proven, to lower blood pressure, relieve anxiously and usher in an overall feeling of joy, peace, and wellbeing. Start a gratitude journal, it’s a great way to overcome negative money feeling.
- What do you believe about money? Is it the root of evil? So ONLY the rich get richer and the Poor stay poorer? Examine these beliefs. Although we can say these are old wife’s tales, you’ll be surprised at how deep down their roots have spread. Here are questions to ask yourself. Is this valid reasoning? Is it always true? How has this belief served me so far?
- Do some research. Find out how others from inside your circle and outside think and feel about money. How do they react to a loss, or a windfall? This is a book I found insightful and helped me understand how the wealthy think, use, and acquire money. “How the Rich Think” by Steve Siebold.
- Does your money have a purpose or is money your purpose? Money needs a purpose, a place to go and things to accomplish, but if making it and saving it and watching it grow is its only purpose, you’ll miss out on the best parts of having it. Sit down and devise a purpose and a plan for the money and stop waiting for that someday to use it. Put your money to work and start living!
It’s amazing, when you switch from money as an emotion to money as a tool you will make it your goal to live life fully with gratitude and purpose, the good life begins to flow. Fear, guilt and loss cease, and joy, peace and love abound!
