How do you think, feel, & talk about money
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...
You cannot do this by thinking about it as though
it were impossible or even unlikely, or regretting that you do not now
have it. Instead, train yourself to think about it with a feeling that
it is only reasonable and natural for it to be yours -- yes, that it
already is yours!
If you are to be rich in concrete ways, you must first be rich in consciousness...
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
Dick Sanders was the publisher of Dow Double
Diamond from November 2004 through January 2006. He wrote this article during
that time. Mr. Sanders is no longer affiliated with Dow Double Diamond, Tame
Trading, or affiliate companies.
|