10 Poor Money Beliefs You Have Conquer - Part 2

Welcome back to the second part of this discussion on poor money beliefs we have to overcome in our journey to financial wholeness.  If you missed the first part, you may read it here.  

I have recently realized money, in itself, to be neutral thing. However, we attach much of our personal ideas, beliefs, emotions, attitudes and ideologies onto money. This made me think of a common opinion in linguistics which states that meaning resides in people, not in the objects of the outside world (real philosophical quicksand, I know) 

I am simply suggesting that as people, we attach our unique meanings to the objects of the external world. We don't see the world as it is, "we see the world as we are".  Same goes for money.  We will never see money as an objective thing, we'll always see it through our personal 'money lenses'.  

If your lenses are broken, you won't be able to see the correct picture (and you may visit the optometrist to get new ones, making him very happy)  To see an accurate picture we have to fix our lenses. Same applies to our money lenses.  

Wrong beliefs produce, wrong behaviors and consequently wrong results. Let's assume there are different perspectives and beliefs about money. Let's also assume that some of the beliefs are more beneficial to our financial wholeness than others. 

That implies that we have the power to choose one belief over another.  And we have to do that constantly on the journey to personal success and meaning.  

Let's move onto the next five wrong beliefs about money we have to change.  Credit goes to Brad Klontz and Ted Klontz who did much work on this topic, this discussion mainly follows their ideas.  

WRONG BELIEFS ABOUT MONEY I HAVE TO CHANGE (the next five)

6. Thinking that there will always be enough money 

This money belief becomes problematic when it is irrational; leading us to deny, distort or avoid the reality of our current financial situation, or perhaps, when causing irresponsible money behaviors 

There is a reason why those of us seeking to get out of debt have to "own the debt" and acknowledge that it was us who made the debt.  Doing that confronts us with the reality and responsibility of our financial situation. Only by acknowledgement of our responsibility do we gain the capacity to change. We have to deal with reality to grow.  

7. Believing that money is not important

Klontz and Klontz argue that this belief becomes dangerous when it allows us to rationalize poor financial planning and causes irresponsible and negligent financial behaviors.  In reality, money is an  important and valuable resource. 

Money is a store of value; symbolic of the time, resources, effort, and expertise you or someone else had spent to get it. Certainly not worthless or unimportant  Money may be regarded as a wayward child, we have to keep an eye on it; and control it wisely, as something very valuable.   

8. Money will help me to gain meaning

Money isn't able to manufacture meaning where meaning does not exist.  If your life is empty, I am certain that money will only amplify the emptiness.  Meaning is a function of the human spirit and relies on a reality higher than money. 

If you have meaning, money can help you to amplify it; but it can not create meaning.  Klontz and Klontz are correct to say that money is a tool that can build a meaningful structure, but it remains only a valuable tool in our hands

9. It is rude to talk about money

Talking about our money secrets is very often a big taboo in our western culture. However, this belief keeps our deep money issues in the dark.  

Many of us suffer in silence because of our money issues.  Growing toward financial wholeness requires me to talk and work through my money issues and problems.  If I don't do that, I am only going to repeat the cycle of poor money behaviors, I have been programmed to follow. 

10. I only have to be good and the universe will supply what I need.  

Ted Klontz calls this a 'twisted belief in Karma'.  Realistically, our money needs will not take care of themselves, regardless of how good we are (as Klontz and Klontz tell us).  I agree with Klontz and Klontz, that the universe supplies opportunities, we have to make the most of the opportunities crossing our path.  

For more info on this topic, check out the book: The Financial Wisdom of Ebenezer Scrooge: 5 Principles to Transform Your Relationship with Money by Brad Klontz and Ted Klontz. 

Thank you for reading, I hope you found the topic insightful. I appreciate your feedback and insight, and would like to know how you are experiencing your relationship with money. Please feel free to add to the discussion in the comment fields below.