Kiss and Make Up with Your Money
It’s Time for You to Kiss and Make Up with Your Money
Think about the person you interact with every single day. You check in on them, you worry about them, and your future is inextricably tied to theirs.
Now, ask yourself: Is that relationship healthy?
For most of us, that "person" is money. Whether you realized it or not, you’ve formed a deep rapport with your finances. For some, it’s a relationship built on avoidance and fear. For others, it’s a chaotic cycle of "make up and break up."
But here is the good news: Money has no feelings. It isn't holding a grudge about your past mistakes, and it isn't waiting for an apology. You have total agency to change the dynamic starting today.
Shift Your Perspective: Money as the "Ultimate Ally"
Money is not your enemy. It is a tool that, when treated with respect, becomes your best friend. Because money is indifferent to your past, you get to dictate the terms of this new alliance. If you don’t like how things have gone for the last ten years, you have the power to rewrite the contract today.
5 Ways to Revamp the Relationship
If you were trying to fix a relationship with a friend, you’d spend more time with them and take better care of the things you share. Money is no different. Here is where you start:
Practice Financial Gratitude: Stop focusing on what’s missing. Be grateful for the way money enhances your basic life—the roof over your head, the coffee in your cup, the ability to move through the world. Gratitude shifts you from a "scarcity" mindset to an "abundance" mindset.
Respect Your Assets: How you treat what you already have dictates how you’ll treat what’s coming. Keep your car, your home, and your physical tools in good repair. Maintenance is a form of self-respect.
Know Your "Stats": You wouldn't ignore a partner’s needs, so don't ignore your net worth. Face the numbers. Intend to keep that number growing, not just for "someday," but for your peace of mind today.
Build a Safety Net: Never be caught without emergency money again. Having a savings plan is like having a "security guard" for your life. It allows you to sleep better at night knowing you are protected.
Commit to Forever Learning: There is a lifetime of wisdom to uncover in the financial realm. Approach money with curiosity rather than dread. The more you know, the less power it has to scare you.
Better Than Therapy
When you stop fighting with your money and start leading it, the shift in your mental health is profound. You’ll find that "kissing and making up" with your bank account provides a level of clarity and confidence that no amount of talk therapy can replicate.
It’s your move. The relationship is waiting.
