Money, Ego, and the Illusion of Security

The purpose of ego is security.
The nature of ego is insecurity.
The destiny of ego is surrender.

(Credit: @findingawareness on Instagram)

It’s an interesting paradox, isn’t it? The very thing we rely on to create a sense of safety, our ego, is inherently restless, always scanning for threats, always seeking more.

Perhaps this tension is most evident in how we interact with money.

Why we seek financial security
At its core, financial planning is about security. We save for a rainy day, invest for the future, and insure against the unknown, all in pursuit of a feeling that we are safe. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

In fact, it’s wise to build financial buffers, plan for uncertainty, and take action to protect our future.

But the paradox of the ego is that no amount of money will ever truly feel like enough. Because the ego’s nature is insecurity. It will always ask: What if something goes wrong? What if I lose it? What if I could have more?

The emotional side of money
This is why some of us struggle to spend money, even when we have more than enough. It’s why others keep chasing higher earnings, bigger portfolios, and endless upgrades, believing that the next milestone will bring peace. It’s why financial success doesn’t always translate to happiness because the ego, left unchecked, will always move the goalposts.

Behavioural finance teaches us that money isn’t just about logic; it’s about psychology. It’s about understanding why we make the choices we do, even when they don’t always make rational sense.

Why do some people hoard wealth and others spend recklessly? Why do we let past financial mistakes define our sense of worth? Why do we compare our financial progress to others, even when we know it doesn’t lead to fulfillment?

Because the ego craves control. And money is the ultimate symbol of control.

Surrendering the illusion of control
But here’s the truth: security isn’t found in a bank balance; it’s found in our relationship with money.

Financial planning isn’t about feeding the ego’s hunger for certainty. It’s about learning to manage resources wisely while recognising that real peace comes from acceptance, not accumulation.

This doesn’t mean we stop saving, investing, or planning. It means we do so with awareness. With clarity. With the understanding that money is a tool, not an identity.

At some point, the ego has to surrender. Not in defeat, but in understanding. That true security isn’t about controlling every outcome. It’s about building a financial life that aligns with what truly matters—freedom, choice, generosity, and balance.

So maybe the question isn’t about how much is enough, but rather how we can redefine security in a way that serves us, rather than controls us.

When we shift from fear-based financial planning to value-based financial planning, we stop making decisions out of insecurity. Instead, we build a financial future that feels both responsible and free.