[When the brain becomes quiet, life begins to move] Part 2: What is the essence of money, investment, and debt?

This series is a 'record of exploration' that mixes scientific findings with hypothetical considerations. Please note in advance that these are not definitive claims.

Have you ever heard the saying, 'The more you strongly desire money,
the more it runs away from you'?

It may sound like a spiritual theory, but

from the perspective of behavioral economics and neuroscience,
it can be explained quite rationally.

Following the previous installment,
I would like to delve into

the essence of money, investment, and debt
through the lens of brain waves.

If you would like to know more about brain waves,
please take a look at this post👇

The mechanism by which obsession pushes money away

A strong obsession with money
keeps the brain in a state dominated by beta waves.

As mentioned in the previous article,
beta waves are associated with
states of tension, anxiety, and impatience.

When this state continues,
specific changes occur in the brain.

The function of the prefrontal cortex (the part responsible for logical judgment)
declines,

and instead, the amygdala (the part that reacts to fear and desire)
begins to dominate decision-making.

This is a phenomenon known as
'amygdala hijack,'
and it has been confirmed neuroscientifically.

It is a well-documented phenomenon in neuroscience.

This can be understood not as a spiritual theory,
but as a problem of the brain's cognitive function.

The relationship between poverty and cognitive ability

There is an even more interesting study.

According to data presented by behavioral economists
Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir

in their book
'Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much,'
cognitive ability drops significantly

when one is worried about money.

This is not because the person has low ability,
but because the beta-wave-like noise of

'worrying about money'
is constantly occupying

the brain's processing capacity.

This concept is called
'scarcity,' and it provides

an important perspective for understanding
the vicious cycle of poverty and debt.

Why top investors can remain calm

Common traits of investors who achieve long-term results are
being "composed"

and "not rushing."

Looking at this from the perspective of brain waves,

The quote known as Warren Buffett's,
"Be greedy when others are fearful,

and be fearful when others are greedy"

perfectly illustrates this structure.

When those around you are dominated by
beta wave emotions,

can you maintain
alpha wave calmness yourself?

That is what creates the long-term difference.

However, this is not a simple matter of
"if you regulate your brain waves, you will win at investing."

Knowledge, experience, and proper risk management are
naturally necessary, and

it is appropriate to understand that
your psychological state is
one of the foundational factors.

The vicious cycle of debt and beta waves

The problem with debt lies more in
the impact debt has on the brain
than in the amount itself.

When combined with the concept of
scarcity mentioned earlier,

the psychological burden of debt
robs you of judgment,

which creates a further vicious cycle

—this structure becomes visible.

There is a paradox here.

If you try to pay back debt
"desperately and in a rush,"
your beta waves become even more disrupted, distorting your judgment.

On the other hand,
if you accept the reality of the debt and

create a repayment plan "calmly and steadily,"
you can maintain an alpha wave state,

allowing for better decision-making.

Of course, depending on the nature and amount of the debt,
there are cases where consulting a professional is necessary.

What I want to say here is
"impatience itself worsens the problem"
regarding the psychological mechanism.

Connecting with Seikan Kobayashi's "view on money"

Seikan Kobayashi states that
"money is something to be used to bring joy to others."

When interpreting this statement in the context of brain waves,
an interesting structure emerges.

When you try to use money
"for yourself or to possess it,"
attachment is born and beta waves are disrupted.

On the other hand, when you use it
"for the joy of others,"

attachment fades and it is easier to maintain a state
close to alpha waves.

Rather than talking about this as a matter of spiritual theory,

I think it is more practical to understand it as a psychological fact that
"the quality of judgment changes between a state of attachment and a state without it."

I believe it is more practical to understand this
as a psychological fact.

If thequality of circulationof money is the essence of abundance,

attachment may be the very factor
that stops that circulation.

Summary

When organizing the problems of money, investment, and debt
from the perspective of neuroscience,
there are commonalities that emerge.

The saying "the more you are attached to money, the more it runs away"

is not just a spiritual theory,
but also has a certain rationality

from the perspective of brain cognitive function.

However, to repeat,
this does not mean that a psychological state is a panacea.

Appropriate knowledge, action, and environment are also naturally necessary.

I think it is honest to understand the state of the brain
as one of the foundations that support those things.

🔔Next time, we will deliver
"Part 3: Deciphering work, human relationships, and parenting through brain waves."

Link here👇️

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Well then,
see you next time.