Let’s face it: the topic of money brings up FEAR for many people! And the risks are often real.
"Will I have enough money?" "Could I run out someday?" And underneath the money worries lies the fear, "Am I enough!?"
This Halloween, I realized that the same fears stoked by scary movies are at play with our finances, too!
Here are the 5 reasons money can be SCARY… and how to soothe the fear.
#1: We relate money to SAFETY and SECURITY.
In a scary movie, the characters fear for their safety and even their lives! When it comes to money, the same safety and security buttons are pushed, just without the scary music and blood.
Money can trigger deep fears because we use it to pay for food, shelter, and heat. So when we fear we don’t have enough money, it literally triggers a fear of survival... even if the fear may be irrational.
And you don’t have to be in dire straights to feel afraid. One survey showed that it is not uncommon for 6-figure-earning professional women have fears of becoming homeless “bag ladies.”
Sometimes it helps to just take a deep breath and realize that right here, right now, you are SAFE. And realize that money impacts every single level of Maslow's hierarchy, from our survival needs to self-actualization.
#2: The RISKS are REAL!
Have you ever found yourself yelling, "DON'T GO IN THE CELLAR!!!" as a movie character opens the basem*nt door? That's because you know what's coming!
Sometimes I want to yell warnings at investors, too. If you haven’t lost money yourself in an investment, you know someone who has. Market cycles can be brutal—especially if you aren’t diversified.
Typical investor behavior makes these losses worse. Without discipline and guidance, people tend to buy high and sell low!
Money is far less scary when we are educated to understand and manage risks as well as our emotions.
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#3: Too often, we face money in the DARK…
Scary movie scenes are always set in the dark! And even when we hear a noise or get an uneasy feeling at home, simply turning on a light can make a huge difference.
When we commit to LEARNING about money, we turn on a light!! Money doesn’t look so mysterious and intimidating.
The less we know about how money works, the more "in the dark" we feel. The more we understand, the more at ease we can feel, even in turbulent times.
#4: We often are advised by people we may not KNOW or TRUST…
Another common theme of scary movies is wondering who you can trust. Is the new character a help or a danger?
With money, this is a too-common experience: you want financial advice or have money to invest, then you find yourself in front of somebody who is “pushing products.” (It’s a bit like asking a pharmaceutical company if you need their pill!)
They may be likable, but can you trust them? It’s hard to know if you are consulting with someone who has your best interest at heart unless you are informed and know what questions to ask!
#5: Money is scariest when we face it ALONE!
When we are alone, all other fears are amplified: the insecurity, the risk, feeling “in the dark” and wondering who to trust.
“Don’t do money ALONE!” says my friend Lisa Brumm, and she’s RIGHT!
This is a sure-fire formula for fright: Face real or imagined threats and risks alone, in the dark, not knowing who to trust.
That’s why I created Wealth School! It's designed to make money not just "less scary," but downright FUN!
If you ever feel like money is a foreign language... if you aren't where you "should" be and know you are capable of more... if you believe in Prosperity but you aren't sure how to bridge the gap from where you are... I invite you to take a look at Wealth School.
We'll take a deep breath, shine a light, learn the risks (this alone can save you tens, even hundreds of thousands) and we'll do it together.
Details at www.TotalWealthSchool.com. (Class begins Nov 9!)
