… but life always comes first
What is money? The straight answer to this question is that money is a mechanism of exchange; used to buy goods and services. Thank you dictionary dotcom.
But that’s not the full story, not by a long shot. Money is a vastly powerful force in our lives. It is simultaneously seductive, enabling, liberating, addictive, corrupting …
Money is oil in the system of life and, as such, it illuminates the very best and worst in humanity. In a crisis people always dig deep to support fellows in need … yet money is often the cause of much of that same suffering.
For our survival humans need water more than we need money, yet few of us get as anxious and charged up about one the way we do the other.
What I’m saying is that money is a force. Complicated, abstract and massively emotive.
Life comes first
Everyone’s relationship with money is slightly different. It’s so individual because it’s shaped by every unique person’s every unique mix of nature, nurture, emotions, experiences, susceptibility to influence, and formative environments.
That said, re money there’s a prevalent sense that more is better. More equals stuff and status and power and comfort and security.
Many people measure life success in pounds and pence but that’s not the essence of money. It’s not. Or at least it doesn’t have to be. Seeing money as the end goal is a recipe to get trapped in a cycle of discontentedness and disconnection.
The true power of money is, or should be, that it funds our lives and purpose. It supports those we care about. Money pays our bills. It helps us take care of people. It funds projects, plans and progress; experiences and memories too.
I said earlier that people often measure life success via pounds and pence, but that paradigm is back-to-front … maybe pounds and pence success is measured in life.
Money’s binding thread
As a chartered financial planner, I’ve worked with people in a real mix of situations.
During the 2008 financial crash I remember helping clients with mortgage crises, negative equity, soaring interest rates, job losses, recession …
And from that day to this, through good times and bad, I still help people. I help them to invest money and plan retirement. To cope with loss and care for ageing loved ones. To go through divorce, to buy homes, to second homes, to start businesses, to fund IVF …
I’ve dealt with hundreds of people from every corner of life and although everyone’s money background, reality, values and attitudes are different, there’s one binding thread …
Life comes first
People’s money decisions are almost always driven by life … it’s not the other way around. People think life first and look to money to facilitate. We rarely think money first and arrange life to suit.
My biggest observation from several years in the game is that helping clients connect their money to what’s important to them makes a huge difference. It makes all the difference.
Connecting money to what matters is the starting point of money consciousness – no matter who you are or what it is that matters.
Money consciousness is the beginning of money clarity and seeing money for what it is – a tool, an enabler, a facilitator. Money consciousness equals vision. It enables better decisions and actions. When necessary, better compromises too.
People worry less when they’re responsible and accountable to life. This is a consciousness that’s so sorely lacking; despite humankind wrestling with money, in some form or other, for over 5,000 years.
Plans and recipes
Take control of your money and the relief is definite. It’s visible. I see it every day and the research backs me up. It’s not just about setting goals; it can be as simple as feeling safer and more secure in where you are and where you’re going.
Yes, life will throws lemons, but that’s not as scary when you’re money conscious … and your Plan B includes a recipe for lemonade.
Money consciousness is like having a map in an unknown city. It is clarity. Direction. Options. Once you start to move forward and everything is progress, even a wrong turn is an opportunity for something new.
Where do you want to go?
All of us can become money conscious. It starts with a roadmap personal to you. It’s a roadmap driven by life and underpinned by your money values and attitudes.
Define where you are now, what’s important, where you want to be and you can map out the route to get there. No, the adventures won’t follow a straight line — because life doesn’t work like that — but money consciousness isn’t about perfection. It’s about vision. Purpose. Perspective.
Everyone’s money journey is unique just like everyone’s life is unique. Yes, life needs money … but it’s not about money. One day you’ll breathe a last breath so between now and then ask yourself: where do you want to go?