It all makes sense

I swear I was going to stop talking about money today but something Amel said resonates with the "financial blueprint" theory which I must elaborate.

Have you noticed how some people have a lot of money and then lose it, or have excellent opportunities start well but then go sour on them? On the outside, it looks like bad luck, a downturn or lousy partners. The truth is, if you come into big money when you're not ready for it on the inside, chances are your wealth will be short-lived.

That's why most lottery winners, regardless of the size of their winnings, eventually return to their original financial state, the amount they can comfortably handle. On the other hand, when self-made millionaires lose their money, they usually have it back within a relatively short time.

That's because when millionaires lose their money, they don't lose their most important ingredient to their success - their millionaire mind!

You may not realise it but what you see, hear or experience when you were young affects your money blueprint.

Growing up, what did you hear about money? Money is the root of all evil, filty rich, money doesn't grow on trees, money doesn't buy happiness?

The reason why Amel thinks money can't buy happiness is revealed in her comments yesterday. Having seen how mercenary and manipulative some of the rich folks in her neighbourhood were when she was young makes her think money is evil.

Verbal conditioning is just as powerful. In my household, mum thinks that anyone who drives a nice big car is boastful or a showoff. Growing up, I used to tell myself, even if I can well afford it in future, I will never buy an expensive car.

My ex loves driving nice continental cars, doesn't matter if he can afford it or not. That always made me feel uneasy. Of course when we first met, he was riding a rickety motorbike and I was driving an old Toyota van. When we finally broke up, I sold off our BMW and got a Mazda. I felt it finally reflected my humble self. I'm now driving a Toyota but I've looked at him change from an Alfa Romeo to a Jaguar to a spanking new BMW with disdain.

That, compounded with my mom's conditioning only makes me more determined to NEVER buy a big car and be a big showoff!

Mum's brother is a classic example of a self-made millionaire who lost everything in the stock market but risen again fairly quickly. I see him as an inspiration but mom thinks he's a reckless gambler. While most people simply collapse when faced with bankruptcy, my uncle rolled up his sleeves, put his family up in a rental house and rebuilt his construction business from scratch. Today his company is back to making millions. Finally, he can retire in comfort.

I've always been contented with just having enough, as long as I am able to bring my kids up without hardship. But looking at the deteriorating health of my mother made me realise that if I were in that same state tomorrow, who can I rely on to care for me and my young ones?

I hailed a cab from the airport the other day. The old driver kept getting lost. Feeling a little embarrassed, he explained that he only started driving a cab 2 weeks ago. Speaking excellent English, he confided that he had no choice but after retiring for several years, he's running out of money.

I could end up in a similar situation if I don't start planning now. But first, I must dig out the toxic weeds from my inner financial garden, then I can be innundated with more fruits.

It may seem a little strange but when you really understand how the financial blueprint works, it makes perfect sense.

Your subsconscious conditioning determines your thinking. Your thinking determines your decisions, and your decisions determine your actions, which eventually determines your outcomes.