Earliest Memory of Money
Think back to when you were a kid: what is your first memory of money? The first thing that comes to mind for me is receiving a folded-up dollar bill to place in the offering plate at church.
Your memory may be less pleasant, but maybe you recall your parents arguing over money – further giving you the impression that money causes conflict. Maybe your memory involves abundance, and if you have a positive memory – good for you! Your early life impressions can strongly influence your view of money and can carry a lot of weight for the rest of your life.
How do we ensure that our view of money is a healthy one? You’ve likely witnessed the emotion money gives people, have seen someone driven by greed, or have experienced how some judge others based on how much or how little money they have.
We need to own our individual beliefs about money. Baggage from family money issues is a real thing. It’s not uncommon to take the beliefs instilled in us by our parents and carry them with us for a long time.
We all have experiences that shape our life choices. Spend some time to look closely at those thoughts and feelings. How has that early view on money impacted your life? Is that belief working for you now?
Our early experiences often shape our thinking more than we realize.