Brian Tracy argues that the major mental obstacle to financial success is the belief that one does not deserve to be rich, often rooted in negative childhood criticism that produces guilt when one succeeds. He lists common self-sabotaging behaviors (foolish spending, lending/loss, substance abuse, infidelity, personality change) and prescribes changing one’s attitude toward money: treat money as neutral, learn money-handling as a skill, "court" and respect money, and believe in your unlimited capacity to acquire what you need. The talk closes with audience prompts to reflect, comment, and take action.
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Money, like all things, is neither good nor bad. It is only the way we think about money and use it that makes it one way or the other. Hello, I'm Brian Tracy and today I want to talk to you about a major mental obstacle to financial success. And that is that some people believe that for whatever reason, they don't really deserve to be rich. Now, I know that some of you may be asking, why is that? Well, some people have been raised with a steady drumbeat of destructive criticism, as I was, that has led them to conclude at an unconscious level that they don't really deserve to be successful and happy. The worst effect of negative experiences in childhood, which are all too common, is that when people actually do succeed as a result of hard work, they feel guilty. These guilt feelings then cause them to do things, to get rid of the money, to throw it away. They spend it or invest it foolishly, they lend it, lose it or give it away. They engage in self sabotage in the form of overeating, excessive drinking, drug usage, marital infidelity, and often dramatic personality changes. To change your results with money, you have to change your attitude toward it. And the fact is that money is very much like a lover. It must be courted and coaxed and flattered and treated with care and attention. It gravitates toward people who respect it and value it and are capable of doing worthwhile things with flows through the fingers and flees from people who do not understand it or who do not take proper care of it. Sometimes people say that they are not very good with money. But being good with money is a skill that anyone can learn through practice. Usually, saying that one is not very good with money is merely an excuse or a rationalization for the fact that the person is not very successful or disciplined with money. The person has not learned how to acquire it or to hold on to it. So the starting point of accumulating money is for you to believe that you have an unlimited capacity to obtain all the money that you will ever need. Look upon yourself as a financial success just waiting for a place to happen, and see yourself as deserving all that you can honestly acquire. Remember, money is good. Money gives you choices and enables you to live your life the way you want to live it. Money opens doors for you that would have been closed in its absence. But just like anything, an obsession can be hurtful. If a person becomes so preoccupied with money that he loses sight of the fact that money is merely a tool that is to be used to attract acquire happiness, then money becomes a harmful thing. Money is essential to our lives in society. It's also neutral. It is neither good nor bad. It's only the way that it is acquired and the use to which it is put that determines whether or not it is helpful or hurtful. Now, if you enjoyed this video and feel it was valuable in helping you achieve financial success, share it with your friends or anyone else who might benefit from this information. Before we wrap up, I'd like to leave you with a thought to share with your friends and followers. Money, like all things, is neither good nor bad. It is only the way we think about money and use it that makes it one way or the other. Now, I'd love to hear from you. So my question today is have you found yourself practicing any of these destructive financial habits? If so, how do you plan on stopping? Leave a comment below and I'll be sure to follow up with you. Thanks for watching. And remember, if you want to change your future, take action and take action now. If you enjoyed this video and feel it was valuable in helping you achieve your personal or professional goals, subscribe to my channel like this video and share this video with your friends or anyone else who might benefit from this information.
