Money Metaphors

The "money metaphors" you use affect your thinking, and that, in turn, determines what happens with your financial situation. Once you see this, why not choose different metaphors to change your thinking and so get better results? Let's start with a look at the more common ones and the kind of perspective they provide.

Common Money Metaphors

Time is money...
Money is bread...
Business is a game...
Money is a way to keep score...
Wealth is a piece of the pie...
Income stream...
The borrower is slave to the lender...

The last one is very common in North America. Of course a "piece of the pie" is a terrible metaphor. It suggests that wealth is a fixed quantity. No wonder so many people feel guilty about making money. If it is seen from this perspective, it appears that everything you gain is a loss for someone else. This is almost entirely false, and one only has to tally up the wealth of the world today versus 200 years ago to see that it isn't true.

Money is created, and everyone can be wealthier without anyone losing out as a result. Actually, this is what is happening now. Worldwide poverty rates are declining to their lowest levels ever, even as the rich are getting richer. So maybe we need a better metaphor, like "growing a new money tree." Nobody thinks that a tree has to die for another to be planted.

The word "bread" is not used for money as often now, which is probably a good thing. It makes it seem as money is nothing more than a daily necessity. Seeing business as a game, and money as a way to keep score might provide a less fearful perspective from which to take action, so it could be useful. But it also suggests that there need to be winners and losers, which is not always true, and not necessarily the most healthy approach.

The Bible says, "The borrower is slave to the lender." It's a very strong metaphor, but is it the best one available? What about real life cases where lenders are "slave" to large borrowers, as when a bank cannot afford a default? Or the more common cases where borrowing simply allows a person to do things they couldn't otherwise do with easy payments, thus creating more freedom, not less? It's really about how and why one borrows, and in todays world, I would say that a more accurate metaphor is that "the borrower is (sometimes) slave to his desires."

Time as money is an interesting one, because it suggests truly different ideas depending on which way you use the metaphor. As it is normally used, it suggests that any time spent on anything other than making money is making one poorer - a very stressful perspective, to say the least. On the other hand, if we say "money is time," it reminds us that money can be used to buy time for almost any purpose. With enough of it, we can quit doing most of the things we don't want to do, to free up our hours and days for what we are passionate about.

Some Better Money Metaphors

I like the idea of an "income stream." It suggest that money can flow into your life, rather than you having to go get it a bucketful at a time. This is true of course, if you have have investments or businesses which provide residual income. I have a website that I've done almost nothing with since 2005 (I haven't even looked at it in months), from which a couple thousand dollars per year stream into my bank account.

"Multiple streams of income" sounds even better. It makes me think of a reservoir (my assets) being filled from numerous rivers and creeks. Not only is this a motivating perspective, but it immediately suggests the advantage of developing such "streams" versus working at a job.

A great simple metaphor: "money is a tool." A tool has no moral significance. It can be used for good or bad, according to the choices of the person who possesses it. This also reminds us that money cannot be an end in itself. A tool is only valuable because of the things we can use it for. In fact, when we're not using it, we set it aside, a perspective needed by those who obsess about wealth.

Money as a personal magic power suggests a great responsibility, while also reminding us of the incredible things which can be done with it. Learn to use it well and it can do everything from transforming our physical world to aiding us in spiritual enlightenment.

There are many other money metaphors we could use. "Lubricant" comes to mind, or "manifested thoughts." Some are better than others, but why use just one? Using various metaphors in different contexts may be the most productive way to go.