Truth or Myth? Common Beliefs About Money and Wealth – Part 2


Did you resonate with any of those beliefs about money and wealth in my last post on the subject? Did any of them stir any thoughts or feelings for you? Perhaps you can relate to these?

  1. Money is the root of all evil. A difficult one this, as it has all the authority of two thousand years of Christianity behind it. However, it seems to be taken somewhat out of context. The first Epistle to Timothy in the New Testament says “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Which seems to suggest that it is not the money itself that is at issue, but the meaning and value we place on it. Alternative belief: Money is a tool that can be used in many ways. I choose to use it for the good of all.

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  2. If I have more than I need someone else suffers. The problem with this is in measuring need. Who decides what I need? And again, it assumes a perspective of lack, that there is not enough to go around. Alternative belief: There is plenty to go around, let’s keep it moving.
  3. Poverty and self-sacrifice are pleasing to God. I suspect this probably has its roots in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor,” and in the statement “As long as you did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me,” not to mention the camel and the eye of a needle. I’m not a scholar in theology, and I do not wish or intend to offend people’s values and beliefs. However, I know for myself that I interpreted those extracts to mean that the poor will go to heaven, while the rich will burn in hell. In later life, I have come to believe that the extracts are extolling the virtues of generosity towards those who have less, and keeping wealth in circulation, rather than suggesting that it is inherently wrong to be financially secure. Alternative belief: God (or source) is made manifest in abundance. This belief is also closely related to the next one…
  4. Other people are more important than me. Sick people, poor people, those in difficult circumstances or in distress are more important than I am. My lack of importance arises from being not good enough in some way. Perhaps because I’m not poor enough, not broken enough, not perfect enough etc I wonder though, if there is perhaps some inverted arrogance in this, which paradoxically allows me to take my importance from my lack of importance? It is the basis of the need to be needed, or the need to be seen as the helper or giver in all situations.  The difficulty with this one is not that others may have greater needs than us, but that we don’t see ourselves as having a choice when it comes to helping others. Alternative belief: Other people are important, and so am I.photo  (11)
  5. Wealth comes to those who are in the right family, in the right occupation or the right location. And by extension, if you’re not in the right family, the right job, or living on the right side of the street, you haven’t a hope. This is related to the earlier conspiracy theory (the rich are out to keep the poor where they are), and my response to it is the same. I don’t know whether it’s true or not, but the belief that it is true is likely to keep us standing in a place of powerlessness, where we are unlikely to see or take advantage of opportunities that might help us. Alternative belief: Wealth comes to those who allow it in.

You may find yourself relating to, or perhaps arguing against any or all of these, or you may have more of your own. If they have triggered some feelings or questions for you, leave a comment or question below, or you may like to attend one of my workshops “Money and You – Clearing our Confusion Around Money Issues” where we explore the values and beliefs we may hold, consciously or unconsciously about money and wealth.

Or contact me for your free 20 minute consultation where we can explore how you can start to untangle values and beliefs that no longer serve you.


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