It’s a New Month, and yes, welcome back to my newsletter, where we simplify the complex world of money for professionals, teachers, artists, small business owners, and anyone who’s ever stared at their bank account wondering, “How do I turn this into something more?”
Today, I’m going to share a timeless tale inspired by principles I’ve distilled from years of coaching and study. It’s about the 6 Money Commandments, a set of unbreakable rules that, if followed, can lead you from financial stress to true independence. These are not get-rich-quick schemes; they’re the solid foundation upon which real wealth is built.
Long ago, in a bustling village nestled between rolling hills, there lived a young artisan named John. John crafted beautiful pottery, but no matter how hard he worked, his coins always slipped away like sand through his fingers. Bills piled up, debts loomed like shadows, and dreams of a secure future felt like distant stars. One fateful day, John stumbled upon an ancient scroll hidden in the village elder’s hut. Etched in faded ink were the 6 Money Commandments, passed down from wise sages who understood that money isn’t just paper or digits, it’s an idea, a means of exchange, and a product of value created through effort and wisdom.
As John unrolled the scroll, he realized these commandments weren’t prohibitions but pathways. They addressed the root of his struggles: not a lack of money, but ignorance about how to handle it. The scroll echoed a profound truth: “As a man thinketh, so is he.” John’s mindset, shaped by his environment, education, and experiences, had been holding him back. The scroll revealed the first and most crucial commandment: Know Thyself.
John sat under a flickering lamp, reading those words, and felt a spark. He realized his struggles weren’t just about earning more; they stemmed from ignorance, the root cause of financial woes. As the scroll put it, “Money is NOT the problem. Lack of money is only a symptom, telling you that you have some fundamental problems in the area of finance. The root cause and problem is IGNORANCE!!! Yes, Ignorance!” In every area of struggle, we’ve been “untaught,” leaving room for ignorance to thrive. John’s mindset, shaped by his surroundings, had been his invisible barrier.
The scroll explained that life is governed by principles, and your ability to excel in any sphere (especially money) is directly proportional to your knowledge, understanding, and application of those principles. But to apply them, you must first know yourself. John began to examine his own money personality: Was he a carefree spender, chasing joys that vanished like smoke? Or a fearful hoarder, clutching every coin out of scarcity? He dug into his money quotient, that inner measure of how he valued and handled wealth. Were his beliefs helpful, like “Money is a tool for good,” or limiting, like “Rich people are selfish,” echoes from his childhood tales?
Then came his affordability matrix, an honest map of what he could truly afford without pretence. No more buying trinkets on credit to impress neighbours; it was time to align with reality. The scroll urged, “To Thyself Be True”. John’s environment had played a role, the village culture of living hand-to-mouth and the people around him who boasted of borrowings. His education, sparse and practical, hadn’t taught financial wisdom. And his experiences from birth? A family that celebrated feasts but ignored savings, building blocks of a perspective that saw money as fleeting.
As John reflected, he saw how beliefs birthed thoughts, thoughts drove decisions, decisions sparked actions (or inactions), actions formed habits, and habits created results. “Our life is but a mass of habits”, the scroll noted. “We don’t decide our future; we decide our habits, and our habits decide our future”. By knowing himself, John started rewriting those habits. He journaled his money story: The joy of his first sale, the sting of a bad bargain. Slowly, ignorance gave way to insight. No longer did he act on autopilot; every choice became intentional.
In our modern world, John’s story rings true for so many: teachers juggling bills, artists gigging for gigs, entrepreneurs bootstrapping dreams. For almost everyone, this commandment is your starting line. Money mindset isn’t woo-woo; it’s the lens through which you see opportunities. Ignorance breeds chaos, but self-knowledge builds clarity. As the ancient proverb reminds us: “The rich and the poor have this in common: God made them BOTH.” Wealth isn’t reserved for the “lucky”; it’s for those who know themselves enough to apply the principles.
Takeaways from CoachMO
- Reflect on Your Roots: Spend 10 minutes daily journaling your money beliefs. Where did they come from: family, friends, or past setbacks? Challenge the limiting ones.
- Assess Your Personality: Are you a spender, saver, avoider, or money monk? Free online quizzes can help, but honesty is key.
- Map Your Affordability: List your income vs. essentials. What can you truly afford? This matrix prevents overreach.
- Build Better Habits: Start small, track one spending decision this week with “Know Thyself” in mind.
- Action Step: Reply to this newsletter with one money belief you’re rethinking. Let’s discuss!
Stay tuned for next week’s dive into Commandment #2. Until then, know thyself: it’s the key to unlocking your wealth potential.
Until next time,
CoachMO
Your Financial Literacy Plug
