let's [not] talk about money - books that made me [part II]

Books that made me [Part II]

Is money a force for good or the root of all evil? 

Does money make the world go 'round?

Can money buy happiness?

Does it grow on trees?

Do you need to work hard to make money?

Do you need money to make money?

Do you need to be rich to have a happy life?

We have been told so many lies about money and sadly, many of those lies or misconceptions became our beliefs.

 What is your attitude towards money?

 What do you believe about it?

I guarantee that if you sit down and think about your money beliefs you will see two things:

- most of your money beliefs simply aren’t true (they are beliefs rather than facts),

- some of the beliefs you hold dear and consider true will contradict other beliefs.

Most of our beliefs about money and everything else come from what we’ve repeatedly been told from parents, family, other people, and our culture. These powerful influences condition us to think in certain ways.

Because thinking and beliefs determine actions, they are crucial to happiness.

Money will elude you if you fear it or consider it a bad thing. And even if you make a lot of money, it won’t make you happy if you are filled with worry and the feeling of insufficiency.

So, what is the right way to think about money in order to attract it, and create greater ease?

I have studied the topic for years and certain books helped me understand the energy around money. I want to share a few of my favorites with you.

T. Harv Eker is one of my teachers on the subject. In 2017 he was reported to be worth over $3 million. He also wrote an important book on money mindset.

Secrets of The Millionaire Mind, 2005

A lack of money is never, ever, ever a problem. A lack of money is merely a symptom of what is going on in your consciousness. This is probably the most important takeaway from that book.

If you are not doing as well as you would like financially, there is a very good chance that you have internalized some unhealthy or at least unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs about money.

All the statements you have heard about money when you were young remain in your subconscious mind as part of the blueprint that is running your financial life.

If you want to improve your financial life (or any other part of life for that matter!), you have to be willing to let go of some of your old ways of thinking and being and create a more empowered you!

Most importantly - if you are not fully, totally, and truly committed to creating your ideal financial life, chances are you won’t.

In 1994, Jacob Needleman, a professor of philosophy at San Francisco State University published profoundly wise and insightful book that you probably should read if you want to improve your relationship with money.

Money and The Meaning of Life, 1994

Being rich does not automatically lead to a rich life.

Money truly can’t buy happiness, especially if you’re unhappy to begin with.

Money may be the root of all evil, but only if you’re not honest about what it means to you.

That’s just a few things you will learn to understand from this book.

“Money is about love and relationships,” says Needleman.

“It has a wonderful power to bring people together as well as tear them apart. You can’t escape money. If you run from it, it will chase you and catch you. If we don’t understand your relationship to money in our culture, then I think you’re doomed. If you don’t know how you are toward money and really understand that relationship, you simply don’t know yourself. Period.”

If you’ve ever had angst around money - earning it, spending it, giving it, dividing it, wasting it, losing it, loaning it – you probably need an introduction to Lynn Twist.

The Soul Of Money, 2003

Too many of us are living in mindset of scarcity far too often.

When we live with the feeling of scarcity, we are living from a space where we believe more is better.

That just leaves us on “a chase with no end and a race without a winner. In the mindset of scarcity, even too much is not enough."

What’s the solution?

Living from a consciousness of sufficiency.

Living from sufficiency is not about how much money you have, but about how you feel about what you already have.

When you measure your self-worth by your net worth – or for that matter, by your job title, the car you drive, labels you wear, or your follower count – then more and bigger will always be better. Yet this just leaves you stuck on a treadmill of striving but never arriving.

Do you appreciate what you already have and who you are?

Because what we appreciate, appreciates.

If you want a different, better life, better relationships with your kids, better career, better money – something has to change. Start with changing your thinking.

Examine your beliefs and see if they are working for you or against you.

Inspect what you’ve been told and determine whether or not it serves you.

Seek new, different ideas. Ask questions. Read books and let them impact how you think, what you believe and how you fee.

I value your growth.

I want good things for you.

Dig in.

It’s worth the time and energy!

p.s. this is part II of the series Books that made me. You can see part I, about the books on time and how to make most of it here.

p.p.s. I happened to design a very simple yet powerful tool to help people change a scarcity mindset into an abundance mindset. You can try it for yourself here. Sign up, follow simple daily instructions and watch the magic happen.