Tuesday, August 18. 2009
David Krueger MD
- An internationally known self
help guru said, “You know, Dave, I don’t know how to tell my
money story to myself in order to know what to change.”
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- We struggle to embrace change.
Many of the methods to facilitate change are contrary to how the
mind and brain work. Neuroscience and quantum physics—and
strategic coaching—have a lot to teach us about change. And
resistance to change.
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- Our money stories tell us less
about money and more about the human mind and its operations. At
times our both our minds and our brains can work against us. When
you think with one part of the brain and feel with another, you need
a map. So we have to outsmart our brains.
- The prefrontal cortex says:
“Let’s think about retirement savings.”
- The limbic system says: “Ah,
let’s have that second cognac and order the 24” iMac.” (My
amygdala even specifies the brand
of cognac).
- Each part struggles over the
same dollar, hopefully without tearing it.
- The moment we begin to make
money more than the simple, tangible thing it is, we stop understanding
it. The more we
give money meaning, the more we lose what it really means.
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- Then, we do strange things with
money. Intelligent people spend money they don’t have.
Sophisticated people scheme and get scammed. Rational people trade
in leisure time for money to buy back some of what they just
forfeited. Gifted people can’t figure out how to exchange their
talent for proportionate income. Otherwise balanced individuals
spend extravagantly or hoard compulsively. Reliable people ignore
financial matters until they snowball. People with integrity write
their own exceptions to rules about money.
- The good news is that we can
learn about our money stories and change all of that.
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