money problems are more than the dollar bill
Money problems are more complex than people think and that reality is typically neglected. If I gave you the cash required to improve your current financial situation, do you believe that will fix the issue?
As we learned in the blog about the nature of reality we know there are 4 quadrants and cash would only fix one of them. Neglecting the other quadrants is a recipe for the issue to resurface again.
they are also our emotional relationship with $$$
In this article, we discuss a key element of the"I" quadrant, understanding who you are in reference to your relationship with money. The"I" quadrant is the one that has the most impact on your understanding of the other quadrants.
This will be key through the remainder of your education and address any issues that arise when you grapple with financial concepts. Many of the books about "Money Mindset" have been the stepping stone for me to obtain a deeper understanding of this concept.
reading corny money mindset books can be helpful
I do get that these books have a negative connotation because they are marketed to make you believe that all you have to do is change your thinking and magically the money finds its way to you. Naturally, that whole concept feels like a bunch of BS and I do not blame anyone for thinking that.
remember, there is a bit of truth in everything.
I invite you to immerse yourself in the world and feel what offers you insight into the nature of who you are, and how your beliefs have been shaped.
Outside of money, a collection of beliefs determines how your personality manifests in the physical realm. It is largely responsible for the actions you take in your day-to-day.
The same holds true about money.
Based on the collection of monetary beliefs you have and what information you have access to, shapes your behavior with money. Have you ever wondered why investing is natural to some people, but extremely difficult to others?
there are 3 main money types
In the same way, we have simplified humans into introverts/extroverts, we can divide humans into categories based on their "Money Persona." Just like personality types, they serve as a map to explain your tendencies (they are not law).
Based on my readings there are probably 16 unique personas that people can have (similar to Meyers Briggs), but they are largely all part of one of 3 major groups (using Ken Honda's breakdown):
controlling type
By controlling their environment they hope to get control over their feelings. Usually using some aspect of the financial world to bring them a sense of security. They obsess over saving a lot of money, spending a lot of money, or making a lot of money.
The thought most often had here is "I will be happy when my bank account has X dollars", "I will be happy after I buy this for myself and my friends" or "I need to make more money to be happy."I tend to lean within this category myself so if you fall into this larger category I understand. I will give you some examples of sub-types within the controlling persona.
For a Rainy Day: Loves to save money, having money in the bank makes them feel safe and secure. If given a surprise check, they will likely save it without hesitation.
Shop-a-holic: They enjoy giving gifts for no reason, when they spend they naturally feel more in control of their finances, they will most likely use "YOLO" to justify buying decisions.
Serial Entrepreneur: Earning money is where they feel great, most of their energy is spent in an attempt to make more money, will most likely make large sacrifices to earn more.
indifferent type
The indifferent type is rarely thinking about money. They are completely okay with leaving money stuff in the hands of other people and prefer it that way. These are the type of people who lose their wallets and do not even notice until 3-5 days later.
More often than not indifferent types may have been raised in an environment where they did not have to think about money as a child. These types typically go on to become professions that are considered to be service-oriented. They genuinely have no emotional charge when it comes to money.
Indifferent may seem like the desired type, but they come with their own set of flaws as well. They can struggle to discuss finances and can end up having a hard time handling that stuff on their own.
fear type
This type typically feels guilt, shame, or resentment when they think about money. This causes them to avoid holding on to it at all costs based on their understanding of the concept of money.
This group may place their disappointment in the behaviors of corrupt rich people on money itself and not the person. These are the people that are most likely to believe "money is the root of all evil"
The behaviors of the fear type are very similar to the behaviors of the controller type except the internal desire is a little bit different.
The Money Hater: These people believe money is bad, and that it is terrible. They want nothing to do with it. If they got the money they would give it to charity. They do not accumulate for retirement, they do not save, they truly try to avoid it.
The Gambler: They desire thrills in their lives. They pursue high-risk bets for the chance of a potential reward. They fear being able to hold on to money and have the secret desire to self-sabotage.
The worrier: These people are always worried that they do not have enough money to make a payment and live in constant fear that there is not enough.
being aware of your persona is only a starting point
Being aware of your persona allows you to understand how a lot of your behaviors are unconscious and where they tend to lead. The goal is to rest within your natural persona, but be aware of the strengths and weaknesses you have.
knowing your weakness allows you to design your life around it
Being aware of your weaknesses allows you to better construct systems (we love that word) that enhance these qualities in yourself. This system can be software, an accountability partner, a notebook, or an excel.
We will explore the system that I personally use, but first, it is important for us to identify what your money type is. That is the exact topic we will explore in our growth work. You will also have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of money types.