My brother-in-law, a fellow coach, and I often have discussions, debates, and differing of opinion on the value of money. Not the monetary value of money, but money as a core value. One thing that he often says that is really starting to resonate with me these days is, “Money may not be a core value for you…but just try changing the world without it.” He’s absolutely right about that.
Money may be one of the biggest stumbling blocks you have between you and an authentic life. I recently held my “Motivation for Healthy Living” workshop for a corporate group of about 50 people. When I asked them how many of them were out of bed by 7am during the week, every one of them raised their hands. When I asked for a show of hands of how many of them are up and around on the weekend by 7am, only about a quarter of the audience raised their hands. For those who had differing waking times I asked why they were up so early during the week. The bottom line – my job requires I be in at a certain time and I need my job to support my family in the lifestyle we want to have. When I ask if they would get up prior than 7am to come in and do the job they do if they were not getting paid it was a unanimous – no way. The core value there was not the money – but the value of family and making their life look a certain way. Again, to my brother-in-law’s point, try creating that without money.
The sad part is those people were getting up earlier than they would like five days a week to go do something they didn’t necessarily love to do. Why? That’s right – money. So – let’s make sure we’re honest with ourselves when it comes to the subject of money.
Here are some questions to ask yourself around the subject of money:
1. What role does money play in my life right now? Does it provide me security? Does it provide me pleasure?
2. What choices do I make concerning my job or vocation based on money? Does it have too much importance? Does it have enough?
3. How much of my time do I spend on money – making it and managing it? Do I need to spend more? Do I need to spend less?
4. If money were no object – what would my life look like? What’s between me and that life? Would it take more money to create it? How much effort would it take for me to earn more money toward that life? Am I willing to make that effort? Would that effort conflict with another value (family, friends, etc.)?
5. Am I putting the money that I have now toward the things I say I value? If not, what’s getting in my way? Do I have conflicting values, or have I not been honest about my values?
I’ve had some real revelations about the power and value of money in my life the past few months. Why – because I finally got honest with myself. I also got rid of the gremlins that were telling me that the desire for a certain standard of living for me, my husband, and my daughters was shallow. Adopting our children from China – that took money. The dreams my husband and I have about helping other children in China – that takes money.
As the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. I don’t necessarily love money – but I sure would love to change the world.
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