What is your perception of money?

Here’s something that may affect your personal life. It’s a matter of perception.

In four fascinating interviews, this Esquire article showed how four different men in four different economic standings thought and acted about money, retirement and taxes. This article crystallizes the notion that no matter what our financial reality, it is our perception that impacts our happiness and peace of mind.

Reading the four interviews reaffirms the conclusion made by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton that after a certain amount income does not have a direct impact on a person’s happiness.

While all four people interviewed were at different levels of income, all of them answered that their happiness level in life was at a seven, eight or nine out of ten daily.

This circles back to the question I ask every group in my keynote talks. What’s more important: reality or perception?

Reading this fascinating article allows each of us to step into someone else’s shoes and see their lives from their point of view. Then each of us can compare their answers to our own. Empathy brings about awareness. Of others and our selves.

If reading this article shifts your perception of your own situation, it is imperative that you ask yourself this question: is it my financial reality that needs changing or is it my financial perception?