Your money code is what you believe about your financial life. It’s your guide, your foundation and the meaning behind your money, which after all is simply a tool to get what you most value.
Even if you’ve never bothered to formally write it down, you DO have a money code. And it’s guiding every money decision you make.
It shows up when you decide to save 80% of your salary boost. Or teach your kids how to save their allowance.
And it also appears when you get caught in the frenzy of trying to “keep up” and you soothe your frustrated and over-stressed self with a little retail therapy. You point, you click, you get your package, go on your vacation, etc. And you’re quite happy until the bill arrives. Which sets off yet another round of “therapy” and bills you simply can’t afford.
When you arrive at the place where you can’t tolerate this insanity—this money misery—for one more second, you’re ready to reconstruct your code.
It would be simple if we were computers and all we needed was to install new software to change the program, but alas, we are human and altering our beliefs, behaviors and habits takes a bit more work.
Let’s start with the right word: shift. You want to make small shifts to live a life centered on what’s most important to you. This includes shifting your money mindset from its current ill-functioning array of beliefs to something that really works to support a rich, full life.
Shifting beliefs, behaviors and habits requires deep thought and a rock-hard commitment that the results will be well worth your efforts (and yes, this is exactly why I wrote my newest book “The Feel Rich Project”.
Imagine a life where “stuff” is not the centerpiece of your thinking. Where worry, blame, shame and misery are erased from your experience. Where money is a tool for security and peace of mind. Sounds good, right? Well it IS good and guess what? You deserve to let your past money beliefs swirl down the drain.
But to truly eject those beliefs, you need to replace them with something else that supports your new and improved money life: we’re talking a money code. After all, there are codes of ethics, codes of the west, codes of chivalry—even Hammurabi had a code. You can and should create your own to live by.
Think of it as a series of statements on how you’ll devote your energies.
For example:
I will strive to live, act, spend and save consistently with my values, which includes paying myself first.
I will measure my progress based only on my own values.
I will continue to learn more about financial matters that impact my family and me.
I will honor the agreements I make with myself and others.
You’ll want to get clear on your values—what matters most to you—so that your money code can incorporate them specifically and support the shifts you are making to improve your life.
Rewiring your brain is a process because those earlier money lessons that you learned remain in place. Since you can’t unremember them, you’ll need to build your new code by acquiring the skills and creating the beliefs that will support you as you evolve.
Your money code becomes your guide to the way you want to live your financial life. If you’re tired and worn out from your old code, maybe this is the right time to start reconstructing it.