28 | I Have a Dream

I have a dream that our collective relationships with money will radically transform as a result of having transparent conversations about our finances.

It won't start on the upper end of the wealth spectrum. The stakes will feel too high for it to start there.

It will begin somewhere down the wealth spectrum as people realize that the tips, tricks, and investment products don't actually move the needle like they have been led to believe.

One person will share their finances with another person and realize that their shoulders sit a little lower, their mind races a little slower, and their anxiety about the future dissipates ever so slightly.

Some things will feel vulnerable to share and it will be best to acknowledge that reality before they are shared.

Some things will be backed by deep conviction and appropriate pride and it will be a good thing to acknowledge this before they are shared too.

Everyone has a belief about money that could use some tweaking and a belief about money that could inspire others.

It will feel a lot like playing a card game and getting to see the hand of the player sitting beside you - much easier to play the game, appreciate different strategies, take on the right amount of risk, and have a better understanding of what needs to happen to succeed.

Financial services commercials promising peace of mind, security, and contentment will feel a bit emptier than before because it will be obvious that the promises on the TV pale in comparison to what has been experienced firsthand.

These conversations will inevitably provide gentle accountability for the most financially wealthy to keep from hoarding and inspiration for the less wealthy to slowly build to a sustainable level of financial wealth - both sides actively creeping closer to a clearer understanding of "enough".

Slowly it will creep up the wealth spectrum because the life-changing impact will be palpable and everyone will begin to realize that the same emotions and mental gymnastics happen regardless of a person's actual level of financial wealth.

Collectively, we'll begin to realize that it was never about the actual numbers, but only our underlying relationships with money.