Money gets a bad rap for nothing. It is simply a store of wealth. It is our attitude towards money that determines whether we allow it to harm or help us.

Here are 2 principles that can guide our relationship with money :

1) Money is an extremely powerful means. It is an enabler to fulfil our many needs and wants. But, it is only a means, and not an end in itself. Money for its own sake is a meaningless pursuit. One should ideally be able to fill in the blank in the statement “I need money for _________” with something meaningful.

And if you are passionate and hardworking, money will be an excellent side effect. Let it keep coming. It will follow you, instead of you following it.

2) A crystal clear understanding of what money CAN buy, and what it CANNOT buy. Both are important. It’s helpful to make life decisions guided by this truth. It needs nuanced and deep thinking, which maybe difficult, but will reduce the chances that you end up regretting your decisions.

What’s your relationship with money?