Conflicting Feelings
Making decisions about wealth redistribution often brings up a confusing tangle of emotions. It’s difficult to know what to do when you feel equally pulled in multiple directions.
Here are some common emotional contradictions I see as a coach that traps clients in indecision:
I am too afraid to give away money / I feel too guilty and ashamed to not give away money
I did nothing to earn this money / But this money feels like it’s mine
Because of my privilege, I am solely responsible for all of the world’s injustices / The world is so broken, what’s the point of me trying to do anything?
I resent the legacy of wealth accumulation that my parents gave me / I’m afraid of being outcasted from my family if I redistribute wealth
I want nothing to do with capitalism / I like material comforts and don’t want to lose them
I want to be seen as more than just a rich person / I don’t know who I am, or if I can figure out my career, without access to wealth
I won’t give until I find the perfect, long-term financial plan / I have to make gifts impulsively otherwise I’ll second guess myself
Underneath each “side” of these contradictions often lies anxiety, longing, shame, insecurity, and/or confusion. When you can learn to hold those emotions with care and explore their root causes, your redistribution will feel less troubled, and your relationship to money will have more clarity and ease.
Do any of these contradictions resonate with you? Do you want help getting clear on your vision for what to do with your wealth? If so, we invite you to join us for our Fall Cohort:
Overcoming Conflicting Feelings About Wealth Redistribution
Sept 2023–Feb 2024
Early Bird Deadline: July 15
In this workshop series, led by Iris Brilliant and Wazi Maret, you will explore how to resolve internal conflicts about giving based on the tools of Internal Family Systems. In a compassionate environment, you will explore and express the parts of you that want to give away more money, and the parts that are concerned or fearful of giving, and learn how to make choices that address all of your different emotions.