Abstract:

My work can be a little hard to explain in our productivity-oriented world, but the hardest bit is describing my approach to money. Abundance, mindset, money management, frugality – all those are familiar concepts. But joy and wildness? In the same sentence as money??

In my experience, the fact that these concepts are so alien to us, are at the root of most people’s issues with money. Your mission today is to learn why money and joy aren’t mutually exclusive.

Task 1: Don’t dismiss the obvious

You’ve probably heard the saying that money doesn’t make you happy. However, you may have also heard that rich and miserable is preferable to poor and miserable.

Money alone certain doesn’t make anyone happy, but with the right attitude, it can give you things conducive to happiness:

• peace of mind and security

• unforgettable experiences

• opportunity and time to focus on your passion(s)

Verdict: Money can certainly be conducive to joy. However, it’s not a guarantee.

Task 2: Why money and joy go together

Now for the less obvious reasons why money and joy go together – or at least, aren’t mutually exclusive. Let me count the ways…

1. Getting a grasp on your finances feels amazing. I can testify from my own experience and that of my clients, who, without exception, find this incredibly empowering. It’s great to know what you’re doing financially!

2. Being money savvy allows you to blow money without consequences. My clients create a budget to be spent on pure fun. There’s often some initial resistance, but once they get into it, it gives them a lot of joy.

3. You can do good things with money. People argue that donations are ultimately selfish, to make the giver feel good about themselves. To which I say, so what? It’s a classic win-win!

I’m really only scratching the surface here. If you’d like to experience it for yourself, check out Wild Money. I promise you’ll love dealing with money by the end of the three months.