How come it is still so weird to discuss money? Granted, it is less weird for me than it was when I started this journey into crypto and open wallets, but it is still pretty weird. We are so conditioned not to talk about personal finances, except at a very high level where there is little value in the discussion. Yet, it would be extremely helpful if rather than keeping the topic taboo, we could discuss it openly, and ask questions from those who know more than us, and be asked. The problem is, that ultimately, the "finance game" is one of competition and being a first mover has an advantage, which incentivizes people to keep secrets, to not share.
And then, those who do share tend to be punished fordoing so, because that conditioning that makes it a taboo topic, also sets the social conventions on emotional response, so people who talk about money are base or bragging. So, discussions are behind closed doors and hidden away, especially since they can evoke quite strong reactions in people, especially those who feel they are victims of the economy.
We are all victims of it.
Because it is fundamentally broken.
But, being a victim doesn't help us improve our position and if we wallow in victimhood, we are unlikely to get out of the conditions we suffer. If we want to have a better financial profile, expecting it to just happen or be enabled by others is folly - we have to take an active role in our transformation. And, there is transformation involved for most of us, as quite often, we have to unlearn what we have been taught is normal and reposition our belief system and practices, transplanting new ideas and new methodologies.
Over the last years, I have had to unlearn a lot and I have a lot more to unlearn to be where I want to be mentally in regard to my finances. I grew up under the proviso that "money isn't everything" which is true, but what is important to note, money affects nearly everything in our lives in some way. Denying this fact disempowers us and reduces our ability to act.
Money is a tool only, but it gives us tradeable access to goods and services that we need and want. Sure, we don't want to have to spend every waking moment compelled to earn more of it. But as someone who has struggled at times, spending every moment worrying about not having enough of it is emotionally draining and humiliating, even if kept secret from others. It is always present, weighing in, judging every expenditure, reminding that needed or wanted, it can't be afforded.
There is little beauty in living in poverty and while there are important lessons to be learned through it, I don't believe that it is a place that has value in staying. And, I don't believe that poverty can be overcome through handouts, because unless it leads to empowering people to provide for themselves, it turns being poor into being a slave instead - reliant on the masters of distribution.
I have read a few articles lately that have called for more handouts, as if that is the solution to closing the wealth gap, when in actual fact, it is one of the drivers of it. Government handouts are like a money laundering scheme, because the hands it goes into, only have the possibility to spend it to survive, but no more. That money is going to get pushed from taxpayers (directly or through debt increases) through those hands and then into the pockets of the corporations, but at no point does it help the people it goes to to empower themselves, to improve themselves, to take control of their own lives and destiny.
So what to do?
At scale, I don't know, but at an individual level, I feel that the answer has to come through taking responsibility and taking action - learning, building and working toward some level of agency. For each person, what needs to be learned (and unlearned) will differ, as will the actions and the type of work to do, but at least for me, it has been an empowering process, one where I have been able to at least feel like I have some control over my own future.
No longer a victim.
This comes with its own drawback.
No one left to blame.
When people talk about making money, the focus gets put on the money part, not on the making part. What people tend to forget is there is process involved, facilitated by knowledge and skills applied to meet conditions. It is a type of targeted wisdom, which doesn't mare those who are able to make money well smart, but it does make them good players - like a star sportsperson. Depending, it might be a narrow skill or have broad application. It might add value to others, or extract it from them. But, there are actions involved.
The making is an "act of creation" and I think that this is one of the things that engages people to keep on making it, especially if they are good. And, as a tool of access, making money satisfies our desire to advance, to progress, because it gives us the possibility to do more with our lives, see more, consume more and even be more. Having money doesn't make a person better, unless it is used in ways that make a person better.
Money makes us better.
Not the having, but the usage to do things that improve our capabilities and that of others. To build value, rather than extract it. It helps us get the experiences required to unlearn, and those that help us learn better, so that we can apply what we know to be our best.
We can all be better.
Money isn't required to be better, but being better inherently means we need to change what we are right now to something that is more valuable in the future. Improvement is a process of investment into the future and if we do not move actively in a direction we choose, we are going to be moved in a direction chosen for us by others. A rudderless ship at sea, floating on the tide of other people's choices.
You see?
Reading this, you likely felt a few different emotions come up. Perhaps you agree with some of the things I have said, perhaps you disagree with others - but why? Why does any talk about money elicit such emotional responses? If you believe money is not important, why are you feeling something at all? If I was talking about hammers or drills, would you get emotional and have fears arise, feel the need to express an opinion? Would you feel attacked, get defensive? Are you a victim of circumstances, or an agent of change in your own life?
Money.
How you use it matters.
How you feel about it matters.
If you need it, you'll feel it.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
