BLOG_2019_09_05_Are Your Attitudes about Money Sabotaging You
Are Your Attitudes about Money Sabotaging You?
5 SEPTEMBER 2019
Are Your Attitudes about Money Sabotaging You?
Money—the lack of it, the fear of losing it, the dread of not having enough—tops the list of concerns of many people these days. That’s because the global economy is uncertain, even in the best of times. But didn’t those fears predate any bad news today? And even when the economy is flourishing, we still live in a debt-ridden world, where student loans, and credit card debt can ruin best-laid plans.
So what’s going on?
Our ability to create sufficient money in our lives is anchored by our financial attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors—what you believe to be true for your life. When these beliefs and values remain unexamined, they can get in the way of a sense of well-being and security.
Here are a few of the more common attitudes that get in people’s way:
I Don’t Like Money; I Don’t Care about Money
- This attitude is held by people at all income levels. It can have its origin in religious beliefs, political beliefs or guilt at inherited privilege. Pam is a child of the 60’s who says she doesn’t really like money. She never allows herself to have what she truly wants and always buys the cheapest version. She’s a landscape designer, but regularly under-bills her clients. A classic under-earner, she sometimes relies on credit cards for basic expenses such as rent.
I’m Clueless about Money
- Doug rarely balances his bank statements, doesn’t know how much money he has or spends and, as a result, finds himself saddled with late fees and bounced check charges. People like Doug may believe that they’re not skilled enough to handle their money or may think that money is uncouth. Doug makes a good income, but his unwillingness to pay attention to it also makes him vulnerable to theft, fraud, debt he can’t afford and bankruptcy.
I Don’t Have Enough Money
- Sarah worries often about money. Although her income is twice that of her friends, she talks to them often about how hard it is to pay the bills. At the root of Sarah’s fear may be a belief that she can’t take care of herself or that the world is a harsh place with scarce resources. People like Sarah sometimes fear that they will lose everything and end up homeless.
I’ll Never Have Enough
- Mike also feels he doesn’t have enough money, but rather than feeling that the world is a harsh place for everyone, he believes it is especially hard for him. Other people will do just fine, but he’ll always be poor. If you try to encourage him, he’ll list the many strikes against him. People like Mike are often under-earners, blind to the opportunities that are available.
People Who Love Money Are Greedy
- Debra grew up with a mother who thought being rich was a sin because so many others were in need. If you had a lot of money you were greedy and not a good person. As a result, Debra sabotages herself just as she is about to have a breakthrough in her career that would mean a substantial pay raise. Sub-consciously, she does not want to look paid in her mother’s eyes. Debra is an under-earner as a result. People coming from a religious background can often have this mindset.
If any of these attitudes resonate, you may want to explore them with compassion for yourself and get support. Keep in mind attitudes towards money can be passed on generation after generation through sub-conscious thoughts. (Does your ancestry stem from immigrants from countries facing famine, depression or civil unrest?)
As you bring awareness to self-limiting beliefs and adopt a more empowering stance, you expand into a larger sense of personal freedom.
Also, healing our personal relationship with money helps build a solid foundation for weathering economic storms and allowing us the freedom to go after our dreams.
