Money

Today, I am not writing anything analytical. Instead, I want to talk about something much more fundamental “money”.

Money is a commodity that everyone craves. We all aim for it, want more of it, and in many ways, the world revolves around it. We study, work long hours, and spend most of our lives in its pursuit. But how often do we pause and ask, what is money, really? And do we truly understand how to make more of it?

At its core, money is just a commodity. It is a means to an end, a store of value. You exchange money for something that holds equivalent value. Simple enough. But do we actually treat it like a commodity?

Think about how you treat other commodities. You buy them, store them, use them, sell them often without much emotional involvement. But when it comes to money, that logic seems to disappear. We become deeply emotional. When we receive salary we get a dopamine rush, while a financial loss can ruin our mood. That is not how we treat commodities, is it? So why does money carry such an emotional charge? Have you ever questioned that?

Most of us spend years structuring our lives around money. “If I study this, I’ll get that job, which will pay me more”, this is the conditioning we grow up with. I have been there too. But over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to work on myself, especially my relationship with money. And what I discovered was eye-opening.

Growing up, I was conditioned to believe that money only comes through extreme hard work. Naturally, I started seeking the hardest possible paths to earn it. I believed I had to work long hours, take on multiple roles, and constantly push myself just to earn “enough”.

Ironically, I now work in a role that offers a healthy work-life balance. Instead of enjoying that space, I found myself spiralling, thinking I needed more work, more hustle, more side income. It reached a point where the overthinking became unsustainable and began affecting other areas of my life.

Around the same time, I was taking mentorship, and in one session, we discussed money. That is when I noticed something unusual. Every time money or spending came up, my body would react with anxiety. My chest tightened, my shoulders stiffened. That moment made me pause. Why was I so uncomfortable talking about money, especially when I work in finance?

Over the next few months, I consciously worked on this. I started observing how I felt whenever I spent money, even something as routine as grocery shopping, and also how I felt when I received money, whether it was salary or even gifts from family.

What I discovered was uncomfortable but important: I struggled to receive money because I didn’t feel I had “earned” it, and therefore didn’t feel worthy of it. On the spending side, I constantly second-guessed myself thinking I should have saved or invested instead and would carry guilt for the rest of the day.

For a month, I simply observed these patterns. At the same time, I began questioning my self-concept. Why did I feel like I wasn’t enough? Why did I believe I had to work harder than everyone else? Why was I constantly putting pressure on myself?

Over about three months, I noticed that just by observing and questioning my thoughts, I began to change, not just my spending habits, but also my confidence. I realised that many of my financial decisions were emotionally triggered.

For example, I would go on shopping sprees when I felt unseen, or eat out when I felt unattractive. Logically, it made no sense, but emotionally, that is how my body reacted. The solution was not complicated. I just needed to pause, observe the feeling, and ask myself what was actually needed.

Today, things feel very different. I track my money, invest a reasonable portion, and spend the rest without guilt. That, to me, feels like freedom. I am building an emergency fund while still enjoying life.

Now, whenever I spend, I do it with intention, either I am getting value, or I am gaining an experience. I no longer feel the need to overwork just to earn more. I focus on discipline and continuous learning, trusting that money will follow. And honestly, is this not the point of life, to live freely?

From my experience, and also from insights in books like The Psychology of Money, it is clear that money truly is just a commodity, and it should be treated like one. When you remove the emotional charge, money management becomes natural instead of compulsive.

This idea shows up everywhere, psychology, spirituality, even religion. You have probably heard phrases like “money flows” or “money is like water.” They all point to the same truth: a commodity grows when it circulates, not when it is held too tightly. Even our savings are part of circulation: banks lend that money, earn from it, and share a portion with us as interest. That is how the system works.

On the flip side, holding onto money too tightly often comes at a cost. Either you miss out on living your life, or you build so much pressure that it eventually affects your health, and then the money goes toward fixing that anyway.

So, this is what I wanted to share today: money is just a commodity. And the more you work on your relationship with money, and your self-concept, the more naturally you’ll start noticing opportunities to earn, grow, and invest wisely.

At least, that has been my lived experience.

I hope this helps you in your journey and relationship with money. If you do apply this in your life, please share it with us!