I believe understanding what drives your earnings, spending and saving decisions is critical to achieving financial prosperity. This means identifying your “Money Personality.” This information will help you to understand and resolve any money beliefs or behaviors that you could sabotage your efforts to create a financial freedom plan.
Here’s my assessment of the seven most common money personalities— and how they impact your finances:
The Ostrich: The Ostrich lives in financial denial. Ostriches tend to stick their heads in the sand when it comes to their finances. She’s easily overwhelmed by financial information and relies heavily on other people for guidance. Ostriches tend to place more trust in other people’s financial judgments than in their own. Since an Ostrich avoids the realities of her finances, she tends to make money decisions based on what she’d like to believe is true rather than on the facts.
The Victim
The Victim tends to live in the past and blames her financial problems on outside forces (parents, ex-, employer, economy). She’s often passive-aggressive— acting out her feelings covertly rather than directly. She may appear powerless as a way to get others to take care of her needs. Generally, Victims have been betrayed, abused or have suffered some significant financial loss. Until The Victim releases the pain, hurt and humiliation of her past, she’ll most likely replicate old experiences of financial betrayal and loss.
The Warrior
The Warrior sets out to gain financial prosperity and is generally viewed as a successful person. She enjoys the buying power, influence and status that money affords her. Warriors are savvy investors, who make informed, strategic decisions. Although Warriors will listen to advisers, she trusts her own instincts and research to guide her. Warriors are great caretakers who are frequently attracted to less financially secure money personalities such as the Ostrich or The Seeker/Artist who prefer not to manage their finances.
The Martyr
The Martyr, to her detriment, usually places everyone else’s financial needs above her own. Martyrs are constantly rescuing their adult children, relatives, spouse/partner and/or friends from financial disasters. In many instances, martyrs have long-established patterns of a self-sacrifice and suffering. Martyrs are perfectionists who find it difficult to accept help from others. In order to achieve their own financial goals, Martyrs have learn how to ask for assistance and give up their need to solve their loves ones financial problems.
The Seeker/Artist
The Seeker/Artist usually is on a creative or spiritual life path and has a love/hate relationship with money. They negatively value money and is conflicted about how it relates her soul-focused life. Consequently, The Seeker/Artist though talented and driven may be constantly struggling financially. The Seeker/Artists can gain financial prosperity when she learns to see money as a tool of exchange that she can use to express her own values and beliefs.
The Dictator
The Dictator hoards money and uses it to control others. Although Dictators appear to lead comfortable, happy lives, in reality they are frequently restless, unfulfilled and anxious. The Dictator fears that unless she holds the reigns tightly she’ll lose everything. Dictators believe that earlier in their lives they suffered because they couldn’t/didn’t exercise control. As a result she’s now driven by her internal need for safety and control. By hoarding money The Dictator is ignoring opportunities to grow her finances for her long-term needs.
The Manifester
The Manifester is the ideal money personality. Manifesters are fully self-aware about their personal and financial lives. Manifesters confront their past and make peace with their personal histories. With this knowledge she understands that she has the power within herself to create an authentic life that incorporates her finances.
Once you know your money personality, you will then be able to develop a strategy to counter the aspects that are hindering your prosperity.
I’ll be talking about topics like this in my FREE teleclass, “5 Secrets To How Women Can Take Charge of Their Money, Create Wealth & Gain Peace of Mind” on April 28, 2010. REGISTER TODAY!
I’ll be teaching women some simple, easy steps that they can use to take control of their money. Every woman deserves to live a prosperous life. So regardless of the current state of your finances, you can begin to build financial security…which will help you to sleep better at night.
Photo Credit: Lip Kee
