There is a theory that that the way you think about money could actually affect your financial life?
In his book, “Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money,” author Ken Honda talks about how having “happy” money can change everything.
Sounds crazy?
But is it crazier than writing your goals on a postcard or pinning pictures from magazines and car catalogs onto a dream board? Most rational people agree that your thoughts and attitudes can shape your life.
Well, why not your money too?
It’s very probable that how you think about money can impact your financial situation.
Ken Honda suggests that if we want to have a better relationship with money, we need to start with a positive mindset.
We all have stories about money, mainly from Mum and Dad.
And as Dan Pena says, most families have ‘horror stories’ about an ‘Uncle Harry’ who squandered the family fortune with foolish business moves and mistakes.
These stories stick with us as we’re growing up and can lead to feelings of fear, worry, and anxiety when it comes to making any financial decision that might be seen as ‘risky,’ such as investing or starting a business.
Ironically, these are the things that make people rich.
In his book, Ken Honda says:
In Japan, it’s not quite as weird as in the West for a stranger to ask to look through your wallet, but it’s still a bit weird.
He attended a party and shared the following story about how his book came about.
A woman he’d only just met politely asked him for his wallet. So he handed it over. She went straight for the bills.
My Prompt Microsoft designer : Please create an image of a lady at a party handing a Japanese man his wallet back, she congratulates him. His money was all smiling.
“This is a good one,” she said after examining the first bill. The second was good, too – and the third. As she handed him his wallet back, she congratulated him. His money was all good.
She’d been checking to see if it was smiling or not.
The author has written many books on money – he knows a thing or two about it. But this? This was new to him. Money can smile? And so, equally, money can frown?
The mysterious woman explained to him that it depended on how the money was given and received. Handing over a bill in anger or out of guilt is unhappy money. Joyously presenting it to a loved one is happy money.
In other words, money has energy. Money is energy.
A bit airy-fairy? (I probably can’t say that these days)
However, the point is that these values align with goal setting, positive thinking, motivation, and other self-help and success mindsets.
So if you want to attract ‘happy’ money into your life, cut out the negativity surrounding it (and these are usually beliefs that are deeply ingrained from our childhood and parents)
Do the following:
Shift your mindset: Start by adopting a positive attitude towards money.
Choose to focus on abundance and gratitude, appreciating the money you have, no matter how much.
Release negative money stories.
Identify and let go of any negative beliefs or emotions about money.
Rewrite your money story with positive affirmations and empowering thoughts.
Practice joyful giving.
Find ways to share your money with others and give back to your community.
Giving with joy and kindness benefits others, enhances your financial well-being, and keeps the dosh in your wallet very happy.
Align spending with values.
Reflect on your core values and prioritize spending in alignment with those values.
By consciously directing your money towards what truly matters to you, you’ll experience greater satisfaction and happiness in your financial choices.
The concept of happy and unhappy money is fascinating, and adopting the principles above can surely only bring benefits and no negativity.
But mainly, as I said earlier, how could anyone with a rational mind laugh at this idea and then seriously stare into a mirror chanting ‘Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better”?
In fact, I’d probably focus on ‘money-thinking’ rather than look at my ugly reflection while doing that.
I may scare my goals away.
Do Not click Happy Money … unless you want to read the book Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money.
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