What if Cher asked you whether you believed that money and you could be soulmates? What would you have replied to that melodic, full-of-faith contralto? Would you pull out a squeaky tone and whisper about your negative, fear-loaded opinions about money? Or would you admit in your natural voice — even if on the squeakier side — that, yes, you have some fears about money that you’d like to resolve?
If you are willing to hop on this wagon, hop right on it! Today, we’ll explore the most common negative money beliefs and hopefully help you see their other, healthier side. So, let’s start from the beginning — what are these beliefs that we’re talking about?
What Are Money Beliefs?
These are ideas, opinions, or thoughts that you have about cash. And since what you think can define how you roll in life, these beliefs can either help you have a good relationship with bucks or make you see stacks as life’s villains. The first beliefs are positive, while the second ones are negative.
Now, opinions like these can color your financial landscape. And the ones on the negative end of the spectrum can cast a shade on your monetary success, which is sad. Thoughts of the second kind can creep up on you whenever there’s a real opportunity to turn your life around financially, making you feel incapable of dreaming bigger.
However, changing your mindset is always an option. Whether you got these ideas from everyday experiences, at school, at home, or while blabbering with peers, you can reframe them for the better. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if you have such opinions deeply seeded in your mind. And it all starts by putting them under the spotlight and seeing that they’re false and misleading.
Common Beliefs That Twist the Truth About Finances
A while back, we covered eight of the most unsettling financial beliefs. Here they are:
- “I must choose between a career I love and simply making money.”
- “Money is evil and the reason for everything bad in the world.”
- “Only rich people can invest.”
- “Spending all the money I have is fine – that’s what it’s for.”
- “I will be happy only when I have money.”
- “It’s more important to make cash than have time for other things.”
- “I don’t deserve to be wealthy.”
- “I don’t come from a rich family.”
Why is it so hard to break ties with these restrictive thoughts? Well, one of the reasons is that they’re usually “coined around” some accurate or semi-accurate info. And it’s this information that blurs the rest of the truth, which is that a bit of mold doesn’t make the whole lemon bad. It can only contaminate the rest of the fruit if you let it linger on it for too long.
So, now that we’re done with that sour fact, we’re going to dig into the second reason for these false conclusions, which is that life isn’t black and white. That said, you must open up to its wisdom and layers and focus on your strengths instead of the things you perceive as obstacles. Because there aren’t only strengths or obstacles in a given hypothetical situation — it’s usually both, and it takes a deeper understanding of these — and patience — to navigate through it.
Today, we give you the “antidotes” to the restricting beliefs we talked about last time, defying them with healthier money beliefs to keep that lemon well sour. 🙂 Here’s hoping you’ll give them a chance!
“I can make money doing what I love.”
But of course you can! The world is options, options, and more options, so there IS a way for your skills to bring the ka-ching! While some professions are pretty straightforward, and it’s obvious where to look for a job, some might not be. But, with some creativity and research, you’ll find your earning place under the sun, be it online, offline, or something in between.
You don’t have to do something that makes your lips curve downwards. 🙁 And if you are in a field that doesn’t make you happy, you can make a smooth and slow transition into another one that makes you happier. It will take lots of courage, planning, and determination, yes, but it is possible. It might not happen overnight, but neither did Rome. Still, be careful — you want to PLAN it well to avoid or make the bumps on the ride milder.
“Money isn’t inherently bad, and I can use it for good.”
Are you afraid that growing your wealth will turn you into an evil person? Do you think you’ll want more of it and the opportunities it brings, minding your happiness more than that of other people? Or do you not want to contribute to the mystery you think money brings to the world? Okay, that is a layered issue to think about, and we applaud you for wanting to be a decent human being.
Sure, big scams are possible if you have big money. And there’s also the fear of the unknown, of what it’s like to be rich, that leaves room for doubt and concern. However, we believe that there is a financial gain that feels like a cozy leap from your current financial situation to a more comfortable one, where you’d feel like you could still keep your feet on the ground and test the territory.
All in all, if you’re feeling content with your current financial situation and don’t want to push for more, that’s totally okay. But if you want a little bit more, planning a cozy leap and making a few donations can grow your income comfortably.
“Everyone who knows something about investing can invest.”
Absolutely! Investing is a skill — if you have the knowledge, you can ride your wild horses across the stock market. Of course, you’ll need to have more than lint and holes in your pocket to work your magic, but Elon Musk doesn’t have to adopt you in order for that to happen. Remember, you can always start small and grow your fortune bit by bit.
Yes, flipping a coin on Wall Street is practically unimaginable without knowing how to do it. So, if you’re just a newbie in this sport, you’ll need to find an experienced sport — or sport-esse 🙂 — to show you how things work. The rest will be about taking notes, more notes, and some luck. So, yes, you can do it, but be smart about it.
“Spending some of the money I have is okay, but I also need to save some.”
Overspending is a bit extreme, don’t you think? When battling with negative money beliefs, some people choose to lock their wallets and throw away the key, while others jump on the other margin and dedicate themselves to splurging. To some, this brings the comfort of not having to worry about budgeting — if you feel like you can’t do something, you can just hand the controls over to the cashier, right? Wrong.
You can and are capable of always planning your next expenses. And if you don’t know how, you can always learn. The situation isn’t hopeless — you just have to grow your hope by setting goals, planning, and understanding what you want. Especially if you are a student, saving up is very important and a student bank account with a reliable bank can help you plan your finances better leading to better money habits. Don’t get us wrong — it’s okay to loosen up and exchange a buck for a treat sometimes. But you can’t go to that concert or buy a house someday with no savings, right?
“I am happy because I live a life that I love.”
Chasing the big penny and nothing else is not the ideal thing to do. We might all do it sometimes, especially when we’re juggling a few expenses at once. But you also deserve to be happy, and you don’t need all the cash in the world for that. Sure, you’ll probably need enough to keep your butt out of the cold and dark, but it’s more about where you’re at after your basic survival needs are met.
What brings you peace and makes you smile? How can you grow? What are your goals in life? Are you healthy, and do you like the life trajectory that’s unfolding in front of you? You’ll probably need some cash to answer those questions, but these are questions related to your core self. And that is where your happiness lies, no matter what you have to figure out with or without money as a tool.
“Cash is important, but so are other things.”
The hustle to make a life and succeed is very distracting. Still, let us ask you something. Do you have an exciting book to flip through when it’s time for mental stimulation? Do you have a plant to water and squeak when it starts to bloom? What about a favorite song for the happy times? Most of these are free or pretty inexpensive. And they’re tiny things, but they are essential.
So, don’t forget about everything in life while trying to grow your wealth. You need to make time for all the things that make life life for you! Don’t deprive yourself of what you enjoy — if there’s anything to spend some of your cash on, it’s the things you love. So, again, let go of the extremes — you can save, pile treasures, and experience the joys of being human!
“I can always try to make more money — that’s my right.”
You deserve each penny that you make. You’ve put in the effort to earn it, so it is well deserved. Still, if you’re tying your values and contribution to humanity to cash, you are onto something. It’s perfectly okay to want to give back and do something meaningful that also pays off. Likewise, it’s completely relevant to give a job opportunity some thought before you decide to accept it.
You might also think you’re unworthy of increasing your fortune because of your upbringing, your family’s income, or an insecurity. We can sometimes hit the breaks harder when we feel like we’re sticking out or going for something that is out of our league. But, if it helps you in any way, we believe that having your own take on life, trying for the good things, and striving for something is one of the things that make a person a person. 🙂
“My family’s financial status doesn’t define me.”
It can be challenging to give your ambitions a go when the life you’ve known so far hasn’t been built around the desire for more. And simplicity can be beautiful, especially when you have your close ones to share it with. But it does get hard when you start to feel like the money beliefs you’d like to explore are creating a gap between you and your family.
It is essential to realize that you’re not betraying anyone by wanting more out of life, though. You’re simply giving yourself a chance to follow your interests. And if what worries you has anything to do with the skills you need to succeed in that, remember that we learn new things our entire lives! As for your favorite folks, they should be able to understand where you’re coming from. Families are multicolored, with people with different goals being there for one another.
How to Overcome Negative Money Beliefs: The Ultimate Five-Step Plan
Now that you’ve been introduced to a new, eight-sections-long financial belief system, you need a quick step-by-step guide to realizing its greatness. And guess what? We have it for you! Here it is:
#1. Evaluate your financial past (age 0 to present) in detail
Think about all your experiences related to money, and try to understand what they’ve taught you. You might even identify a pattern that keeps you from stuffing your wallet green!
#2. Value your emotions, but learn to see beyond them
Is anger, fear, anxiety, or other feelings stopping your financial growth? If so, you must find their root cause and deal with them gently. Remember, no emotion is bad — they’re all painting a picture of your internal life worth looking at.
#3. Identify all your limiting money beliefs
You could be a victim of some of the eight ideas we discussed earlier or other limiting thoughts. In each case, you must be open to this possibility to actually explore the logical fallacies that are stunting your growth.
#4. Choose your future
You can change things even if you don’t have that much cash. But to do that, you must set your financial goals and develop a strategy to achieve them.
#5. Explore realistic solutions
You cannot earn trillions overnight unless you’re extremely lucky. Therefore, stick to what you can do to conquer one financial milestone after another!
It’s Possible to Have Enough and More — Just Put in the Work!
Do you feel like your money beliefs are getting “pinker” after reading the blog? We’re glad if that’s the case. But the likelier scenario is that you’ll need more time to process what’s going on, and that’s perfectly fine. The important thing is to allow yourself to see things from a different, brighter perspective.
Of course, it’s equally important to take things at your own pace. Most of these beliefs are related to the deepest you and what you hold important in life. Therefore, they might be challenging to shake off because, naturally, you’ll want to protect your relationship with the things that mean to you. However, over time, you should understand that investing in your financial journey will positively reflect on the rest of the things you love.
In the meantime, you can always count on Pawns.app to earn a little extra. From 100% passive income with internet sharing, to rewarding surveys, fun quests, and beyond, there’s something for everyone. Mhm, it can also help you understand that money has no issue finding shelter in the creases of your wallet! 🙂 Until next time!
