The Longest Relationship You Will Ever Have

Your relationship with money will be the longest relationship that you will ever have. One of the nuances of money and wealth planning is determining what it can do for you.  Most people see money as a way to buy things or to provide for their family. However, I see money, especially wealth planning, as a way to tell your unique story. 

While money does allow you to buy material things, the most important aspect that money buys is freedom and options. 

Do you know that your relationship with money is the longest relationship you will ever have with something? 

Your relationship with money is interlaced with every aspect of your life and largely determines where you live, how well educated you are, who you marry, and where you work. 

Constantly Changing 

Your relationship with money can change over time, from being positive to creating a debilitating disorder.  A disorder that can tax your "cognitive bandwidth" can result in strained relationships, high levels of emotional stress, health complications, and profound alterations in self-identity. 

Under such duress, your ability to think clearly and make rational decisions regarding any aspect of life renders a person less capable than they would otherwise be under more sustained sufficiency. 

Can you see how your thoughts and relationship about money can affect your life? 

The most important lessons we have learned about money were absorbed rather than taught.  You likely saw first-hand how your parents handled money growing up.  In most families, money was never talked about.  Even when couples decide to get married, money is still treated as a taboo topic. 

Just as not talking about money can hurt you and your relationships, being open to talking about how money makes you feel with a trusted partner, or spouse can release a flood of positive energy. 

Questions To Consider 

If you are struggling with how to think about your relationship with money, here are a few questions that may help get you started; 

• What aspects of your financial life are you pleased with? 

• What do you do well in terms of earning, saving, investing, and giving? 

• Is there anything that you would like to improve? 

• How comfortable are you talking about money with the people closest to you? 

• What values and beliefs do you have about money that are important to you? 

• If you could change one thing about how you deal with money, what would it be? 

• And if you could change anything about your financial circumstances, what would it be? 

I strongly encourage people to think about their relationship with money.  Do not be afraid to talk with yourself or someone close to you about what it means.