Today the Rules of Thumb blog from MoneyThumb is going to be brutally honest. When we talk about money, many of us cringe at the thought. Not because we don't have any, or that we have a lot, but because money and our relationship and that of our families with money is for the majority of people a private, personal matter, and nobody else's business. That is one freedom we have that belongs strictly to us. How we choose to spend and save, or not save, our money.
However, one of the joys of reading blogs and articles online is that it is also very personal and can be anonymous, and therefore we can be assured that the following information is yours to read, use, save, or even disregard., with no one the wiser.
So let's get to it. What is your true relationship with money? And if you find the relationship is unhealthy, how can you go about changing it? Hopefully the research we have put into this article and the advice we offer here will help you decide if your relationship with money is good or bad for your particular situation and you will come away with a new found respect for money and your power over it.
What is Your True Relationship With Money?
One thing we know for sure; what you put out into the universe is what you get back. There is no other way it can work, the universe is neutral, so if you decide you are poor and concentrate on lack, the universe, designed to give you what you desire with your thoughts, will deliver in kind.
Not to get all metaphysical, just stating fact. Whatever we think about money is what our reality will be. Many gurus have said it, and it is so true, "Change your perception and you change your reality." Your thoughts are your perception, and therefore your reality.
Let's also face another truth; We live in a world where presentation is everything. Nice car, nice home, nice clothes, money to burn, isn't that the totally American dream? How about starting with changing THAT mindset? We are never what we have, and if we think that is the answer we will always be sorely disappointed. Money DOES NOT buy happiness. Cliche? Maybe, but many cliches are true. There are many wealthy people who are miserable and very poor people who are filled with joy. You are probably thinking, whatever! So I will stop the philosophy lecture and go straight to the heart of the matter.
When I decided to write this blog post I did some Googling. First I typed in "why poor people stay poor," and then, "why rich people stay rich." Simple enough. The results of my research are as follows:
This article from Linda Tirado at Slate.com is right on target with what I have stated above. The article is an excerpt from Ms. Tirado's book, Hand to Mouth: Living in Bootstrap America. "It’s amazing what things that are absolute crises for me are simple annoyances for people with money." This one sentence really struck home with me. Growing up, we were poor, and I can remember my daddy saying,"Chicken today, feather tomorrow." What that meant for our family was, since there was never enough anyway, why not enjoy yourself a bit? Makes me think of poor people spending money they don't have on tons of lottery tickets. Sadly hoping they might for once get lucky. But they might as well wish to be struck by lighting. This mindset is self-defeating, of course, but I am sure there are many people living in a state of lack who feels this way.
If you find yourself living in a mindset of lack, please take a few minutes to read the above article in full. It really can change your life.
As far as the answer to my second inquiry on Google, "Why do rich people stay rich?" Kind of self-evident, isn't it? It has been said millions of times that it takes money to make money, and that is the formula used by the wealthy. I did find this particular article that I really like from WomenCEOProject.com. The author has worked extensively with self-made millionaires, so her advice is wealthy in experience. The article is titled, "23 Ways Rich People Stay Rich."
At the conclusion of the article, the author states, "Soooo after reading what the rich folks do, I’m sure you’re wondering about the rest of us blokes…what should we be working on to get to that level. Well, since I’m in the growing phase, I can tell you, that I have not gotten to that level, but I am definitely headed there, first, by claiming it, second by knowing that I deserve it, next, by learning where I make mistakes ( shopping ) and instead, making better decisions that will ultimately lead to my goals.
The fact is, we CAN change our mindset and relationship with money. Hopefully this article will help you reach beyond your comfort zone and attempt to change the reality of your situation, by changing your perception.
Have a great weekend!
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