Money is the root of all evil.
You have to step on the person below you to get ahead in life.
You have to have money to make money.
Rich people are mean-spirited and only think about keeping their money.
There’s a limited about of money and I had better get my share of the pie before someone else.
Having money means that I can’t have a happy home life.
Money doesn’t grow on trees.
I don’t know where my money goes.
I was born poor and I guess I will die poor, too.
How many of these statements do you know are just true, that they’re a fact of life for you? Can you pick out one or more of the beliefs that have governed your relationship with money from the list?
Have you ever thought that maybe there’s a reason why you’re struggling with money? Maybe you have limiting beliefs, like in the list above, that you need to examine closely and bring them into the light.
Consciously or unconsciously, we all have beliefs about money. It’s those beliefs that determine our mindset when it comes to motivating ourselves to have financial success, to do the things we must do in order to have more money in our lives.
Why do you think you’ve never started your own business? Or created your first info product, even though you know you could do much better than some of them that are out there. Why do you think you keep reading about successful people, hoping that the secret to their success would be revealed to you somehow? Why do you think you are struggling with making money?
The truth is that there is no secret and there certainly is no magic money tree that buried in some people’s backyards. In fact, we all have that magic money tree kept inside us. We all can be wildly successful with money. If we choose to be, that is.
You have to determine what your beliefs about money are holding you back and are limiting your potential. Maybe you have had these limiting beliefs from your upbringing or from what you are exposed to daily.
Your relationship with money is only your perception of it and what meaning you give to it.
The first step in changing your relationship with money is to examine your limiting beliefs and challenge them. Write down every belief you have about money and what it means to you. Examine each belief and see if you can come up with new ways of looking at that belief. Challenge your old beliefs with new ways of looking at your perception of what money means to you.
Is it really true that all rich people are mean-spirited and only think about money? Do you know anyone who is wealthy, but is also a nice person? If you can’t think of anyone from your own life, then how about from your larger community or people you’ve heard about. Is every rich person mean-spirited and out for themselves?
Is money really the root of all evil? Or is it maybe you don’t agree with some people do with some of their money? How can pieces of paper be evil or good, anyways? It’s just paper and some bits of metal.
Just because you grew up poor doesn’t mean that you have to stay in that little box. Do you know anyone who has burst out of the same poor circumstances as you and has been successful? I’m sure that you can name at least one person that you know that hasn’t let their childhood or upbringing to define their financial success in life. If they can do it, then what’s stopping you? Oh, right. It’s your mindset and your limiting beliefs that are stopping you.
I grew up the youngest of six children, with a stay at home Mom and a Dad who worked in a paper-mill. I was the only person on both sides of the family ever to attend university. It was a big deal in our family because no one – not one of my sisters or brother or any cousin had ever gone on to university. But, I knew from an early age that I didn’t want to worry about money and that I knew having an education would give me options. I didn’t let my circumstances hold me back and I decided at an early age that I would do what was necessary and make the sacrifices in order to not be poor. I’m certainly not wealthy or rich, but I don’t really worry about money, either. I know that I can always figure out a way to earn more.
In order to be financially success, you have to be conscious of your limiting beliefs concerning money and adopt the mindset of a wealthy person.
Make the choice to not let any belief you have about money limit you and your potential.
Financial success is a choice in life. Make it your choice.
Karen writes at A Meaningful Existence, a blog devoted to helping others put meaning into their existence through practical personal development strategies. You can subscribe to her RSS Feed and also find her on Twitter at @kruby.
photo credit: opensourceway
Great post Karen.
By many standards I’m wealthy and I can tell you I don’t think about money much at all. That’s the advantage of having enough. I never have to worry or obsess over it.
Mean-spirited? Yeah, I get grumpy. That’s another advantage of having enough – I can be myself and not live in constant fear that people won’t like me. I feel the security of knowing I can make it on my own.
Now my kids, that’s a different story!
Toronto Dentist´s last [type] ..Dental Sins and Dentists to Avoid – Pain Exploiters II
Hi TD,
Having enough is a wonderful feeling that I hope many people get to experience.
That’s a great point about not worrying about what other people think about you since you are not doing it for the money. Having security is important, but so is being your authentic self.
Thanks,
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..How To Easily Increase Your Negotiation Skills: Getting To Yes
Hey Karen,
I just wanted to let you know…your post is absolutely the bomb. You really did a great job on it and I thank you for putting some great thoughts out there for all of us to focus on.
B
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement, Brandon.
I wasn’t sure if the topic was covered before, but I gave it my own spin. No use creating Info products if you are scared to be successful, right?
Karen´s last [type] ..How To Easily Increase Your Negotiation Skills: Getting To Yes
Hi Karen
Great post.
‘Money is the root of all evil’ comes from the more correct ‘The love of money is the root of all evil’.
Cheers
Phil
Thanks, Phil. I’ve seen it a couple of ways, but that one works, too.
Karen´s last [type] ..How To Easily Increase Your Negotiation Skills: Getting To Yes
Interesting stuff Karen. Was it Steve Pavlina that said you should carry lots of cash around in your wallet to feel like a rich person?
Jorgen @ Personal Branding´s last [type] ..Why You Should Rearrange Your LinkedIn Profile Sections
Hi Jorgen,
He wasn’t the first person to say that, but he seems to be the most memorable by some people.
Yes, you should have an open palm, rather than be tight-fisted so that you can attract money into your life.
“If you act poor, you will be poor” – there’s also that saying.
It all goes back to your mindset.
Thanks,
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..How To Easily Increase Your Negotiation Skills: Getting To Yes
Perception is very vital if you want to be successful but success also has to be defined in your own mind.
Your success could be a lot of money but it could also mean living your life the way you want it. Regardless, money helps with many of these aspects and if you’re always very negative on earning and spending money, you’re going to have trouble starting your own business or breaking free from the daily job.
Stay positive, do great things and the money will come to you.
Murray Lunn´s last [type] ..Becoming The Linchpin (And A Badass Too)
Hi Murray,
To be successful in life can mean something different to each person. To be financially successful is the same way. The point is to not let any limiting beliefs about financial success or about money that you may have adopted without a basis in reality, which is now limiting your life in some way. Bring those beliefs out in the open and challenge them to see if that’s something that could account for your financial struggle.
You made some great points, too.
Thanks,
Karen
Karen´s last [type] ..How To Easily Increase Your Negotiation Skills: Getting To Yes
Hi Karen,
Yes, you’re so right. Everything comes down to our mindset and our beliefs. We have to be willing to grow and change the limiting beliefs that are not working for us.
Our thoughts and beliefs determine the actions we take on a daily basis. If we really want to be successful and have money, we have to get our thoughts right first. We can choose to be successful.
Jazz Salinger´s last [type] ..Learn and Earn – It’s a Marathon Not a Sprint
You’re so right, Jazz. It’s a choice. So we should choose wisely
Karen´s last [type] ..How To Easily Increase Your Negotiation Skills: Getting To Yes
“Your relationship with money is only your perception of it and what meaning you give to it.”
Where do you come up with this stuff!?!
It reminds me of something my Mum used to say to me gwoing up (and Oh how I hated it because it was true) she said “You’ve always got a choice Alex. And that’s your attitude”
It is the same with Money, it is all in the perception based on a combination of attitude and how you were raised, (demographic, class etc) but again it goes back to your ‘attitude’ toward it.
Murphy’s law and money are good friends, when you need it most it’s gone, but when you are OK the money is rolling in.
Thanks for another inspirational post Karen
I believe that if you believe in good things about money and then take action and keep going that you will have better results when it comes to money.
I’m not sure why so many people think of money as such a bad thing with all the good it does in the world.
Eric´s last [type] ..Three Reasons To Absolutely Start Blogging