Nadine says that she always felt the need to get rid of money as quickly as she got it, because she associated money with power. Her history of knowing people who misuse power (money) made her want to avoid having any.
I seem to be running into lessons everywhere lately about money and power. Awhile back I was in bed with the flu and looking for an HGTV fix. I literally tripped on an episode of Suze Orman (who I should watch more).
On this particular show, Suze was counseling a woman about loaning money to her sister. The hard-working woman on the show was constantly loaning money (which was never repaid) to her sister.
The working woman claimed that she felt like she should share, since she earned more than her job-less sister. It was what a "good girl" was supposed to do; it was what you are supposed to do if you value family.
Suze's advice has stuck with me.
"You aren't sharing the money. You are sharing the powerless-ness."
Wow. So when I'm sharing, or loaning money, I'm creating TWO people who are without. I'm subconsciously putting myself in a position just like the borrower - a position of powerless-ness.
Because I'm afraid of power? Or because I've been taught that this is the right thing to do? The nice thing to do??
And the same thing goes for over-spending. Nothing feels worse than lacking financial security (I've lived that). So why do we try to justify it with "retail therapy" and "rewarding myself" excuses?
I'm going to try to hold on tighter to my power. It can't be all bad.
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