Money and Mental Health

Money is neutral but it's a proven drug that can destroy lives.

This therapy insight has not come easily for me. I too am exposed to a pervading culture where we are all in. A culture that puts so much stock on the temporary. To find security in money. To fall in love with possessions, the latest fads.

I must admit that I’m alarmed at the trend of how money can destroy people's minds, lives, and relationships. People have dollar or peso signs in their eyes and faces. Taken to the extreme or “addicted” level, many around us have actually thrown away their bodies, souls, marriages, children, families, dignity, mental health, integrity or honor etc. – for money.

Now don’t get me wrong. Of course, we all must make a living, including my self. We all need to support wise handling of finances. There is a time for business, jobs, money, insurance or savings plan. We can appreciate anything that can make life easier or comfortable for us and our families. But none of these can guarantee or secure our mental and emotional health as well as future.

We may be slow. Maybe, broken. Even stubborn. But we can always choose to wake up and embrace the reality of our transient lives. As Rich Mullins put it, “The stuff of earth competes for allegiance I owe only to the Giver of all good things.”