Like it or not, you have to deal with money in order to survive in this world. It's part of our culture, and a core part of society. And since the beginning of time everyone and his brother has had “the answer” as to how to make money, lots of money.
The reality? Money is not what people think it is. The majority of people think money is all that matters, even if they don’t admit it. This isn’t just about greed, although that comes up. People who obsess about coupons or endlessly worry about their retirement savings are trapped in the same viscous cycle as those who insist they have a better car than their neighbors do.
That’s why understanding these three basic tenets of money is so crucial to your success.If you're like most people, these three tenets run counter to what you were taught money is about and how to get it.
#1 Money is neutral, neither good nor bad
This literally changed my life when I first discovered this. It’s so tempting to think that those with money are blessed, and that those who are without are cursed.
The truth is money is 100% neutral. That’s why you can take $1 and spend it on charity, on a treat for yourself or to gamble on a football game. The dollar is the same, what you do with it isn’t. You can think of money as more of a tool, like a hammer. If you hit your thumb with a hammer is it the hammer’s fault? Likewise, if you build a house using a hammer does the hammer deserve all the credit? No, it’s just a tool and one that is neutral.
#2 Money is not the end goal, ever
You will never succeed if money is your only goal. If your goal is to make $100,000 a year or a $1 million a year, achieving that goal will be meaningless unless the other aspects of your life are in place. Therefore, while you may (and I do mean MAY) be financially secure, if you were depressed, anxious, angry or in any other state prior to achieving the goal you will still be that way. In other words, money isn’t going to solve your core issues.
A famous therapist talked about this in his bestselling book.His client thought that if he made $100,000 a year his life would be perfect (and this was back when that type of money WAS big money). Well, his client achieved the amount and . . . nothing changed. Everything had had felt previously, good and bad, was still with him. The only thing that really changed was he now had a new anxiety of maintaining this high income.
Put simply, the money didn't matter.
#3 Hard work = money? Not really.
Most people were raised with the belief that if you work hard you will be rewarded, especially with money. The reality is quite different. Think about it. You could “work hard” at Wal-Mart or McDonald’s for decades and still not make what an A-list celebrity (who is also “working hard”) makes in one month. Mix in things like winning a lottery or picking the right stock, and “working hard” for money makes little sense. Solution? Work smart, but make sure it is work you are passionate about. The money will flow afterwards.
The point is your success comes from everything BUT money — money will always follow if you do what you love to do naturally. Anything else will just create severe blockages in your life.
This isn't to say you need to become some impoverished monk. You only need to become YOU.
In 2003 David Leigh Weber decided to found what would ultimately become Learn About Flow, an organization dedicated to empowering people to find their true selves, what makes them their most successful on every level. Since that time Learn About Flow has helped hundreds find the contentment and life purpose they had always dreamed of.
Today David is an author (My Life Has No Purpose!), sought after speaker, and evangelist for true mind-body-spirit wellness. He has a B.A. in English & History from the University of Rochester and an M.A. in Communications from the Newhouse School (Syracuse University). Originally from New England, David now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For more information visit: http://www.learnaboutflow.com