Money is “the kinkiest thing on the planet” — people are more likely to share their sexual preferences than their credit card debt or salary. Whether someone feels shame about having too much or too little, the result is the same: disconnection. Pride about money and shame about money are two sides of the same coin.
Joe points out that it’s not rich people or poor people who have trouble finding joy — it’s people who are focused on money as a driver, whether through wanting more, resenting not having enough, or believing money is bad. Whenever money becomes the conscious or unconscious driver, “it’s very hard to find joy.”
The empowered stance toward money is: “I will be me no matter what the money situation is. I will have my freedom because I do, no matter what the money situation is.” This isn’t faked but actually owned. From this stance, pride and shame around money naturally dissolve because your identity isn’t organized around your financial position.
Related Concepts
- Shame drives compulsive avoidance
- Connection dissolves shame
- Money is a screen for projection
- Money resistance often mirrors childhood wounds around love and worth
- Your beliefs about money create your financial reality