Introduction:
Hi, I’m Max – A High Performance Coach.
Today’s reflection takes a deep dive into your personal relationship with money. Here’s something crucial to understand: human beings don’t engage with reality directly, but through the lens of meaning we attach to it. If you truly grasp this, you can consciously redefine what money means to you. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about the psychology behind them. By becoming aware of your personal financial philosophy, you’ll find that your financial actions will change naturally.
In today’s reading we will go through the three questions that will guide you to a deeper understanding of your money beliefs. The insights may surprise you, but they’ll also be the key to transforming your relationship with money.
1) What Does Money Represent to Me?
Money can represent different things to different people, from freedom and security to status or survival. But here’s where you need to push yourself—go beyond the surface answers like “freedom” or “happiness.” Dig into why you hold these views. Who influenced them? Where did they come from? One of the core moments in my life was when I realized that money represented “me not being like my Dad” who always has struggled with money – that was a life changing insight in my relationship with money. Understanding these emotional ties is critical because they absolutely do dictate how we interact with money.
How This Insight Helps: Recognizing the deeper meanings you attach to money brings clarity to your financial beliefs. Once you identify these meanings, you can consciously decide whether they serve you or hold you back. If money represents fear or scarcity, your actions will reflect those beliefs, often leading to less effective decisions.
Action Item: Take out a journal and list five things money represents to you. Don’t rush it. Then, for each item, dig deeper—why does it mean that? Who shaped that belief? What emotions come up when you think of each? By uncovering these layers, you’ll start seeing your relationship with money more clearly.
2) What Does Having or Not Having Money Mean About Me?
This question cuts to the core of many people’s money struggles. Whether we are conscious of it or not, your sense of self-worth is often tied to how much money you have (or don’t have), particularly in modern western culture. Ask yourself: When I have money, do I feel more confident, successful, or worthy? When I’m low on money, do I feel like I’ve failed, or like I’m not good enough? Money, in this sense, becomes a reflection of personal value, which can be dangerous and limiting.
How This Insight Helps: By recognizing how your self-worth is entangled with your financial situation, you gain the power to separate the two. Untangling these connections will make you less reactive, more strategic, and ultimately more empowered in your financial life.
Action Item: Write down what you believe having money means about you and what not having it means. Look for patterns or emotions that surface. This exercise will reveal where your identity is wrapped up in financial success or failure.
3) What Role Does Money Play in My Life?
Is money the central force that dictates your decisions and behavior? Or is it just a tool, a byproduct of living in alignment with my contribution to the world? Reflecting on the role money plays in your life is critical to understanding whether it’s working for you—or whether you’re working for it. Often, we think we’re pursuing money for good reasons, but those reasons might be based on fear, insecurity, or societal pressure. If you find that money is a source of constant stress, it’s likely playing too large a role in your life. Of course, be nuanced here, this isn’t an invitation to be reckless or careless with your finances.
How This Insight Helps: Recognizing how much control money has over your life is a game-changer. If money is driving all your decisions, it’s time to reassess your values and the role money should really play. Money is a tool, not the driver. This realization can help you refocus on what truly matters and reduce stress around financial decisions.
Action Item: List out moments when money dictated your choices—both big and small. Reflect on whether those decisions aligned with your values and long-term goals. Then, write down how you want money to serve you instead, and where you want to reduce its control.
Conclusion:
The goal of today’s reading is to raise awareness. As human beings, we are often blind to the very belief systems that shape our actions and, ultimately, our outcomes. Your financial philosophy is at the root of your financial decisions, and whether you know it or not, it’s driving your relationship with money.
Remember: Your worldview leads to actions, which in turn lead to your financial outcomes. And here’s the truth—it always follows that order. You cannot consistently act outside of your belief system. The key is to identify and adjust your beliefs so your actions can align with a healthy, abundant relationship with money.
If today’s reading resonated with you, reach out to me. Let’s have a complimentary conversation here.
Max – High Performance Coach.
