Why do we make money decisions the way we do?

Exploring the influence of our money blueprint and embracing radical generosity

Have you ever wondered what drives your decisions? Specifically relating to money, why do you make the decisions you make?

Understanding money is a challenge. We are not taught money management skills in school and have little incentive or ability to learn more as adults—even finance professionals often confess to being poor money managers. As a result, whether or not we realise it, almost all of us have an unhealthy relationship with money that affects all areas of our lives.

This is evidence of a money blueprint—which few of us are aware we even have. Also called a money mindset, your blueprint consists of a combination of your thoughts, feelings, and actions in the arena of money. Your money blueprint consists primarily of the information or “programming” you received in the past, especially as a child. While it is possible, it is very difficult to change your money blueprint, mindset, or relationship with money as an adult.

If you search for money blueprint, you’ll get truck loads of advice on how to get rich. A millionaires mindset etc, etc. While I talk about money and scarcity mindset, there is nothing here on how to get rich—sorry.

Instead, I advocate focusing on a generosity mindset.

TED talk: It’s Time for Infectious Generosity. Here’s How

"Be brave. Give what you can, and then be absolutely amazed at what happens next," Chris Anderson

We only tell ourselves that we need to get somewhere else first before we can do any “real” good—but more and more people are realising that we can’t afford to defer helping others until some point in the future that may or may not come, especially as we look toward a future that may or may not come. We’re realising that there is joy in generosity and reciprocity as we move away from trying to monetise everything—from small acts like giving away things we don’t need on free-sharing platforms like Olio (versus selling them on eBay or Craigslist) to larger givebacks like Derek Sivers has done.

I truly believe in radical generosity, be it with time, money or ideas. It’s liberating and fulfilling and changes the way we interact with each other.

With gratitude,
Arunjay.

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