“Where love reigns, there is no will to power: and where power predominates, there love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other.” C. G. Jung, CW 7
I interpret Jung as saying, love is the opposite of power, and visa versa. Love has its roots in trust, and the interest in and care of others. Power has its roots in egocentricity, fear and control of others. Love is about abundance. Power is about scarcity. Power struggles in family relationships evidence breakdowns in trust, and therefore love.
Family life can be both challenging and fulfilling. Wealthy families have the added challenge of shared financial assets. In some families, money is power, and in others it is an agreement.
How do families of wealth create and preserve harmony around money?
Taking an inventory of what money “means,” to the family and its individual members is a good beginning. Initiating a family dialogue coupled with storytelling about where and how the family wealth originated is revealing. What is revealed are values associated to money. What family members “say,” about money, and what they “do,” with money are not always congruent.
It is not surprising many families avoid these conversations for they are often loaded with emotions, and potential conflicts. It takes courage to broach the topic of “our wealth.” However, when this risk is taken true values rise to the surface. The “truth,” of what one feels about money and wealth can be conflictual or liberating.
