How do you think, feel, and talk about money? by Dick Sanders

August 2006

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Dear DDD Wealth Builder:

Over the past few months we've been reviewing some great books on how to achieve wealth and success, and one of the things we've learned is that there is a psychology to wealth building. So this month, I thought we'd delve a little deeper into that, starting with some of the ways we talk about money.

Have you heard the expression, "They're filthy rich" or "He's filthy rich?" Most likely you have, and many times.

You've probably also heard it posed as a question: "How would you like to be filthy rich?" Or maybe you've seen it in financial promotions: "Act on these investments now and you'll soon be filthy rich."

What do you think about that expression? Do you think it's a good way to talk about money? Is it an appropriate description of those who are wealthy? Think about that carefully before you answer.

To use the term "filthy rich" is actually a put-down on people who have money, as well as a put-down on money itself. It suggests that people who have a lot of money got it in an underhanded way. And that possessing a lot of money is somehow unclean and not as admirable as, say, being poor or having a modest sum of money. Finally, it intimates that money is filthy but you won't mind getting your hands dirty to possess it.

All that's nonsense. And if you think and talk about money that way, you'll make it near impossible to get the wealth you want.

The reason is that such thinking masks a kind of resentment toward others who have been successful in accumulating wealth, and perhaps also an unwillingness to accept responsibility for your own wealth-building efforts. It suggests that some are fortunate and lucky and others are not. Or that some have easy, corrupt, and dirty ways of getting money and you'll have to learn their unsavory methods or you'll never be wealthy. Again, nonsense!

None of this is true, unless you believe it is true. It's all in the way you think and talk about money. And these ways, at least, are detrimental. Let's look at another common expression that does more harm than good, then we'll look at some more productive ways to think, feel, and talk about money.

Have you heard, seen, or used the expression, "It's only money." Sure, we all have.

Twenty years ago (before I smartened up) I had those words printed on my checks. I thought I was being clever. I enjoyed the reaction I got from people who noticed it. But eventually I realized that this, too, was a put-down on money. To say, "It's only money" is really to say that money doesn't have much value. Easy come, easy go. I can take it or leave it. Is that the way I felt about money? No. And when I realized it, I destroyed those checks and had new ones printed.

Maybe you're thinking, "Oh, come on, Dick, lighten up. That's just a figure of speech." Yes, it is, but as we've been learning in recent months from the wise men and women who accumulated great fortunes, our thoughts are creative. And our thoughts manifest themselves in our physical world.

Your words are, of course, the vocal expression of your thoughts. And therefore what you think and talk about will ultimately show up in your life -- especially if you believe your words. Ask yourself...What do you believe about money? What do you believe about your relationship to money? How do you talk about it? How do you feel about it?

If you're being flip and not really serious with these comments then perhaps no harm will be done. Certainly no lasting harm. But if you consistently think and talk about money in negative ways, even when those ways are subtle, your subconscious mind will think you really don't like money. That you really don't want it. Then, it will have no choice but to make sure you don't get it. You can get yourself into a lot of trouble underestimating the power of your subconscious mind. After all, it's going to do its job and bring about what it thinks you want. No joke.

A very wise man once told me, "Don't talk about what you don't want." Those words hit me like a hammer over my head. And when I examined my thoughts and words, I found that, too often, I was talking about what I didn't want...and without really being aware of it.

We tend to do that when we worry about something that hasn't happened yet. There's an easy fix to that. Think and talk about what you do want, and do so positively and enthusiastically. Make your words true to your intentions and believe them! Then, those things will manifest in your life.

Do you want wealth? Then think and talk about money in positive terms. Praise and bless it. I don't mean to bow down to it, but give it respect. Money is a tool. A convenience. Something that is useful and valuable to you. And of course, you can do a lot of good with it. There's no reason to put down on money, or those who have it.

I'd like to quote the philosopher, Ernest Holmes, from his excellent book "The Basic Ideas of Science of Mind" (Devorss Publications, 1990). Holmes has a wonderful chapter in this book, titled "Your Thinking and Finances." Here's an excerpt...

"If you need more money, it merely means that you need to place your order in the Cosmic Storehouse to have a greater supply become tangible in your experience. It is important to identify yourself with that greater financial supply...

To make your financial welfare concrete -- that is, to bring it out of the invisible realm of Cause...into the visible, tangible realm of your experience -- you must consistently believe in it. When you actually expect it, you are well on the way to meeting it halfway."

The great Cosmic Storehouse of money. I like that. And isn't it true? There is no shortage of wealth in the world. New wealth is being created all the time. And you can create wealth yourself. Why? Because your thoughts are creative.

Money actually wants to meet you half way. You just have to do your part. And that's to impress upon your subconscious mind that this is something you really do want...that you passionately believe that it is not only possible to have it, but that you do have it!

Again, Holmes says that to be rich in concrete ways — that is, to actually have an abundance of money manifest in your experience -- you'll need to first be rich in consciousness. So, how can you be rich in consciousness?

First, by removing any fear or negativity regarding money. By accepting as your natural right to have all the money you want. By understanding that there is no limit on the availability of money. By thinking and talking about money in enthusiastic and positive ways. And by visualizing yourself possessing the wealth you want.

Hey, that's not so hard.

But...can you see why it is important to set a specific wealth goal? And why you need a good plan to attain that goal? Why you want to monitor your progress and make adjustments, if necessary, to stay on track for success? Sure. By doing so, you're meeting your future money half way.

The reason we have provided 4-years of DDD performance (hypothetical back-tested returns and live trading results) is to show you what we believe is possible with the DDD plan over time. We can't guarantee that you'll achieve the 4-year results, and you should know that there is risk of loss in all trading, but if you agree that 4 years of performance can be a guide, then you can mentally see having the money represented by your wealth goal (Note: if you're new with us this month and haven't set your DDD wealth goal yet, you can see how it is done at this link.

So, what's on your mind? What's on the tip of your tongue? How are you thinking, feeling, and talking about money? Do you need to make some changes?

You probably don't want to say such things as, "I'll never have enough money." Or "With gasoline at $3.49 a gallon, I'll never be able to retire." Too negative. Instead, you'll probably want to say something like, "I have the money to pay for this and I'm glad to pay for it, since I'll always have all the money I need and then some." That's the rich consciousness.

In closing, I'd like to repeat what may be the most important words in this month's article — Don't talk about what you don't want. But please, by all means, do talk about what you do want!

Sincerely,

Dick Sanders

Publisher