Affluence Intelligence
During the Silicon Valley boom working with these new wealth success stories found having lots of money didn't necessarily make people happy or satisfied, not a cure for all of their ills. In fact, an over focus on money created a tubload of problems that many had not anticipated. The phrase Sudden Wealth Syndrome describes issues and the psychological symptoms the result from the experience of new wealth, a counterintuitive idea for many of us who believe that money, in and of itself, will solve all our problems.
Now, our society is again overly focused on money but this time it is about not having enough of it. People are scared and anxious about paying their bills, affording their mortgage and their children's college education. The Great Recession and globalization have resulted in mass uncertainty about money and work, challenging many's very survival. People are finding that money strategies that may have worked well in the past no longer work today. We are witnessing a virtual financial anxiety epidemic, carried by waves of fear, people feeling off-center, losing a sense of control of their financial and personal direction.
This psychology of financial fear, aided by a loss of trust in large institutions, adds to our daily erosion of feeling in control of money matters at all levels, personal, national, and international. There is a money psychology sea change, a mood swing in our society, a shift from opportunity, a ‘we can do it' attitude, and a sense of possibility, to psychological and economic pessimism and contraction. This narrowing of socio-economic focus results in a parallel restriction of our mindset.
We need greater open mindedness, curiosity, resilience, and optimism in our thinking, to expand rather than restrict our focus. We need to rethink and re-envision what is possible, instead of feeling forced into a corner, locked in pessimism and fear.
When we feel up against the wall we automatically use psychological defenses to protect ourselves. When our defenses serve us, they provide safety which allows us to move on. But our defenses may not provide the right protection for the challenges we face in this current financial reality. Instead these defenses that may have worked so well in the past may keep us stuck, or going in circles, following old habitual patterns that no longer work. When this happens it is important to expand our perspective, to think outside of what one sees as normal, to challenge old defenses and behavioral patterns and begin to do something differently. If financial anxiety is giving you a headache, if you feel you may become another victim of the epidemic, then stop the action. Now is the time to approach your thinking and actions about money differently. Now is the time to re-invent your relationship to money, values, and life goals.
Psychology Today
No comments:
Post a Comment