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 today's 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.
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