Course:
Money
Ever feel like the game of life, especially when it comes to money, is rigged? Robert Scheinfeld’s Busting Loose from the Money Game isn’t just another self-help book—it’s a radical blueprint for breaking free from the traditional ideas of wealth, control, and reality itself. Scheinfeld challenges us to see money not as a resource to be hoarded but as an illusion, a construct of our consciousness. But what if the limits you feel around your finances aren’t real? What if you have the power to rewrite the rules entirely? As we dive into this lesson, we’ll explore Scheinfeld’s concepts and how they fit into the broader quest for financial freedom, especially in the evolving world of decentralized finance and the Crypto Is FIRE (CFIRE) training program.
Scheinfeld’s Busting Loose from the Money Game suggests that the struggle over money is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of reality. He introduces the concept of “The Human Game,” where we all operate under two phases. Phase 1 is where we play by society’s rules—believing in scarcity, competition, and external control. Phase 2, however, flips this script, revealing that all experiences, including financial ones, are creations of our consciousness.
Central to this shift is the idea that reality is a hologram—a detailed, convincing illusion designed by our “Expanded Self” to help us explore various feelings and experiences. By reclaiming our power through techniques like “The Process,” we can start to see through this illusion and open ourselves to infinite abundance. Money, according to Scheinfeld, is not a finite resource to be gathered but a reflection of our internal state. As part of the Crypto Is FIRE approach, this perspective encourages a mindset shift, seeing beyond traditional financial systems to embrace the creative, borderless potential of blockchain and cryptocurrency.
Strengths of the Argument
Empowerment through Perspective Shift
Scheinfeld’s emphasis on reclaiming power is one of his most compelling points. He urges readers to see themselves as the creators of their reality, rather than victims of external circumstances. This idea resonates deeply in the world of decentralized finance, where the very premise of blockchain is about taking control away from central authorities and placing it in the hands of individuals. It’s a shift from being at the mercy of market forces to actively shaping one’s financial destiny. Imagine a world where you’re no longer reacting to economic downturns but instead seeing them as opportunities to expand your awareness and creativity.
Practical Approach with “The Process”
The Process, a technique for facing and dissolving discomfort, offers a practical tool for navigating life’s challenges. It’s particularly relevant for crypto investors, who often face volatile markets and emotional highs and lows. By feeling discomfort without labeling it, investors can maintain a cool head, whether they’re dealing with market corrections or making bold moves into new asset classes. For example, when Bitcoin experiences a sudden dip, applying The Process could help investors maintain perspective, seeing beyond short-term losses to the broader potential for growth.
Aligning Financial Freedom with Self-Discovery
Scheinfeld’s approach blends financial concepts with a spiritual journey, offering a richer narrative than many traditional financial guides. This is a refreshing change from the “grind” mentality that dominates so much financial advice. Instead of hustling for the next dollar, Scheinfeld suggests exploring why you feel the need to chase it in the first place. This introspective approach can be transformative for those looking to break free from financial anxiety and discover a deeper sense of purpose, a perspective echoed in the CFIRE training’s emphasis on mindful wealth-building.
Areas of Critique
Over-Simplification of Complex Realities
While the idea of reality as a hologram is intriguing, it may feel overly abstract for those facing tangible financial challenges, like paying rent or building a retirement fund. The notion that “money is just an illusion” can seem dismissive of the very real struggles that many people face. Even in the world of crypto, where decentralization promises freedom, there are still risks, regulations, and technical hurdles that can’t be wished away. Balancing this spiritual perspective with practical financial strategies would make the concepts more accessible to a broader audience.
Potential for Misinterpretation
Scheinfeld’s teachings emphasize personal responsibility in creating one’s reality, but there’s a risk that this could be misinterpreted as a form of victim-blaming. For those struggling with systemic issues like economic inequality, the message might come across as saying it’s their fault for not thinking positively enough. In the context of CFIRE, it’s important to distinguish between taking responsibility for one’s mindset and ignoring the structural barriers that still exist in traditional finance and even emerging markets like crypto.
Limited Focus on External Factors
Scheinfeld’s approach largely discounts the influence of external factors, focusing almost exclusively on internal reality. While it’s true that mindset plays a significant role in achieving financial freedom, completely ignoring market dynamics, geopolitical events, or even technological changes in the blockchain space can be short-sighted. In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, where new regulations or innovations can shift the landscape overnight, a more nuanced view that considers both internal and external factors would provide a more balanced approach.
Shaping the Future of Finance Scheinfeld’s ideas challenge us to rethink not only how we view money but how we interact with the entire financial system. If we accept that money is a creation of consciousness, then the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) could be seen as a physical manifestation of this shift. DeFi platforms allow users to create value without the need for traditional banks or intermediaries, aligning with Scheinfeld’s message of reclaiming power. As more people begin to see themselves as creators rather than passive participants, the demand for decentralized financial systems is likely to grow.
Potential Societal Impacts This shift towards self-directed wealth-building could have profound societal impacts. Imagine a world where people are less stressed about money because they understand that wealth is not a scarce resource, but rather a reflection of their inner state. Such a perspective could reduce the societal obsession with consumption and competition, fostering more cooperative economic models. In the world of crypto, this could mean a shift towards projects that prioritize community and collective growth, rather than just individual gain.
Predictions for the Future As blockchain technology continues to evolve, we may see the emergence of platforms that blend financial empowerment with personal development, much like the CFIRE training program. These platforms could offer tools for both managing digital assets and mastering the mental game of wealth. Just as Scheinfeld describes the shift from Phase 1 to Phase 2, we may witness a societal shift from traditional banking models to more decentralized, user-driven ecosystems. However, this evolution will require not just technological innovation but a widespread shift in consciousness—one that sees beyond the illusion of scarcity.
As someone immersed in both the worlds of finance and technology, I find Scheinfeld’s ideas to be a fascinating departure from the norm. His teachings resonate with the disruptive ethos of the cryptocurrency movement. After all, the very essence of Bitcoin was to challenge the centralized control of money and offer individuals more autonomy. But while I appreciate the emphasis on personal power, I believe it’s important to strike a balance. Recognizing the illusion of scarcity can free us from unnecessary stress, but we must also remain grounded in the realities of market movements, technological changes, and regulatory shifts.
I’ve seen how a shift in mindset can change investment outcomes. Traders who panic-sell during a downturn often lose, while those who see it as a temporary dip—an illusion, if you will—are more likely to come out ahead. This is the essence of CFIRE: understanding the deeper game behind market movements and leveraging that knowledge for long-term success. But let’s not forget that the game is played on multiple levels, both internal and external. A holistic approach that integrates Scheinfeld’s inner work with a solid understanding of market dynamics is where true financial empowerment lies.
Busting Loose from the Money Game is more than a financial philosophy; it’s a challenge to rewire our understanding of reality itself. Scheinfeld’s ideas push us to see beyond the limits we’ve placed on ourselves and to reclaim the power we’ve always had. For those on the Crypto Is FIRE journey, this lesson offers a new lens through which to view both the market and the self. By combining the principles of decentralized finance with a mindset that embraces limitless potential, the path to wealth becomes not just a financial pursuit but a journey of personal transformation. As we continue in this program, let’s take these insights forward, remembering that the real game is played not just with dollars and tokens but with the power of our own minds.
As you reflect on the ideas discussed, I encourage you to apply these concepts in your journey through the Crypto Is FIRE training program. Challenge yourself to see beyond the illusions, tap into your creative power, and take the next step in mastering both the mind and the market. Ready for the next lesson? Let’s keep the momentum going!
Robert Scheinfeld’s Busting Loose from the Money Game is a thought-provoking guide that challenges conventional wisdom about money and personal power. It explores a paradigm shift where money is not just a material resource but a creation of consciousness itself. The book introduces readers to the idea of “The Human Game,” divided into two phases: a traditional way of viewing the world (Phase 1) and a deeper understanding that reality is self-created (Phase 2). Through this journey, readers learn to reclaim power and see beyond illusions, transforming their relationship with wealth and abundance.
The Human Game:
A metaphor for how individuals perceive and interact with life. In Phase 1, people believe in external control, limitations, and scarcity. Phase 2 reveals that reality is an illusion, with every aspect, including money, being a creation of consciousness.
Why it Matters: Understanding this concept is crucial for shifting your mindset from limitation to empowerment, laying the foundation for abundant thinking.
Consciousness as the Creator:
According to Scheinfeld, our consciousness—or the “Expanded Self”—creates every detail of our experiences, down to the minutiae of life, including our financial reality.
Why it Matters: Recognizing your role as the creator allows you to take responsibility for your experiences and reshape your relationship with money.
The Holographic Illusion:
Scheinfeld describes reality as a holographic projection crafted by consciousness, where what seems real is simply a convincing illusion.
Why it Matters: This concept helps in detaching from the stressors of financial struggles by recognizing them as part of a game rather than immutable truths.
The Field:
The Field is the source of all creation, including money and abundance. It’s a limitless space where everything exists, waiting to be tapped into.
Why it Matters: For those pursuing the Crypto Is FIRE training, the Field represents the potential of decentralized finance and the limitless possibilities within the crypto space.
The Process:
A technique for dissolving discomfort and reclaiming power from illusions. It involves feeling discomfort without labeling it and using this experience to reclaim lost power.
Why it Matters: This technique is key for managing the emotional ups and downs of both the financial markets and life itself, making it a vital tool for emotional resilience.
The Busting Loose Point:
A pivotal moment when one fully transitions from Phase 1 to Phase 2, recognizing that all external realities are self-created.
Why it Matters: This transition is akin to seeing beyond the “veil” in traditional financial markets—it’s where true financial freedom begins, untethered from the usual fears and constraints.
This lesson ties directly into the Crypto Is FIRE training by showing how a shift in mindset can lead to more strategic, empowered approaches to wealth-building in the crypto space. It’s not just about the money you see but understanding the power you hold in creating your financial reality.
Following are all the Key Points listed in the book for your reference and convenience.
To make Phase 1 of the Human Game work, all Truth must be distorted or skewed to keep you away from it—and your power.
Part of the Phase 1 strategy involves teasing yourself into believing you can fix things, improve things, get things running smoothly, get everything you want, become wealthy and happy. By design, however, that can never happen while you’re playing Phase 1 of the Human Game—despite what all the self-help, success, personal growth, and spiritual gurus claim. This is a subtle but very important distinction to “get.”
At their core, movies, The Human Game, and The Money Game are all about feelings, not thinking, logic, or intellect.
Dive into anything in the physical world and if you go deep enough, you end up at the Field.
Consciousness creates everything you experience, down to the smallest detail (including money and every aspect of The Money Game).
You and your Expanded Self are Consciousness, so you are creating everything you experience, down to the smallest detail (including money and every aspect of The Money Game).
The Human Game is a game being played entirely in Consciousness, and every detail is custom-designed by your Expanded Self to support you in playing The Human Game the precise way you want to play it.
You aren’t “watching” your Human Game hologram like you’d watch a movie, play, or sporting event. Your Expanded Self is simultaneously creating the hologram and popping you right smack into the middle of it as the player of The Human Game.
If any detail in the holographic illusion misses the mark or appears fake, the illusion instantly collapses and The Human Game ends. That can’t be allowed to happen, so tremendous effort is invested to make everything appear absolutely real and convincing.
Actually pulling off the illusion of the playing field, the amusement park for The Human Game, and making everyone and everything appear absolutely real, is an amazing accomplishment and one of the most amazing aspects of who we really are and how much power we really have.
You + Your Expanded Self = Consciousness
As hard as it may be to believe, when other players appear in your hologram, they’re 100 percent your creation. No one has any power or independent decision-making authority in your hologram beyond what your Expanded Self gives them through their “scripts” to support you on your Human Game journey.
There’s no power outside of you in your hologram—not in anyone, not in anything. YOU have all the power in your hologram.
Everything in Phase 2 is the exact opposite of the way it is in Phase 1.
Money doesn’t come from the hologram. It comes from you and the Field.
Abundance Just Is!
It takes the same amount of power and effort to create any illusion in the hologram—no matter how you’d choose to judge, label, or describe it.
You don’t have to “create” financial abundance. It’s already there. It always was. You just hid it from yourself. In Phase 2, you simply rediscover and open into it.
There isn’t “real” and “unreal” in your hologram. Everything in your hologram is unreal.
Everything is just a belief.
There’s no power in the hologram. All the power comes from you and is stored in a pattern in the Field, the true source of everything in your hologram—including you as the
Persona or star of your total immersion movie.
It takes much less time to reclaim power in Phase 2 than it took to hide it in Phase 1.
Whenever you create and experience the illusion of receiving a good or service in your hologram, there are three aspects of the creation to appreciate:
1. 2. Yourself for how amazing you had to be to make the illusion appear so real.
Your creation—be it person, place, or thing—for how amazingly real it seems, how perfectly he, she, or it is supporting you in playing the Human Game, and the specific benefit you received from it (the enjoyment of the meal, clothing, race, mountain climb, glass of champagne, and so on).
3. The Creative Process that made 1 and 2 possible.
The real purpose of money is to express appreciation for the magnificence of yourself as the Creator of everything you experience and the magnificence of all your creations as you create and experience them.
Your supply of money does not decrease as you spend. It actually loops back and then increases.
The words you say to yourself to express appreciation don’t matter. It’s the feelings the words help you create within yourself that count.
It’s possible and very easy to fully appreciate what you already have, even if you may choose to create something else at another time.
If you feel any form of discomfort at all, you apply The Process.
Just feel the energy of the discomfort as much as you’ll allow yourself to. No thinking, no logic, no intellect, no judgment, no labeling. Just feel it.
In the beginning, everything may sound like empty words. That’s okay. Say them anyway and feel them as much as you can. Over time, they become more and more and more real to you—naturally.
You must always really feel The Truth behind the words you use!
You don’t always have to apply The Process “in the heat of the moment.”
Until you reclaim power from an egg/pattern, it will continue to appear real, act real, and have power over you.
In Phase 1, you want to make bad feelings go away. In Phase 2, you say “bring them on” so you can reclaim your power from the limiting eggs you installed in the Field.
In Phase 1, you told yourself over and over, ad infinitum, “money is real, the checking account is real, the numbers are real, The Money Game is real.” In Phase 2, you reverse the process and repeat to yourself over and over, “It’s an illusion, it’s an illusion, I’m creating it, I’m creating it,” as you reclaim your power from it.
In Phase 2, nothing has any significance, importance, meaning, stability, or solidity except to the extent to which it supports you in using the four treasure hunting tools.
Your Expanded Self is driving the bus in Phase 2. You can’t make a mistake, mess anything up, or blow it. You just trust your Expanded Self and flow with what you feel inspired or motivated to do, moment to moment.
As you do the Phase 2 work, you must always remember the treasure that awaits you at the end of the journey. It’s worth it!
In Phase 1, you’re taught “fast is better.” In Phase 2, speed is irrelevant. It’s the ultimate goal of playing The Human Game without limits or restrictions you’re after. The
timetable has no importance and will be absolutely perfect for you, no matter how long it takes.
Once you reclaim power, it’s yours again. You can’t lose it. Once you expand, you stay expanded. You don’t ever shrink or slide backward.
You can’t judge a creation, reclaim power from it and collapse its pattern simultaneously.
It’s simply not possible.
When you get to the point in Phase 2 where you can truly say “I want to create X” from the place of simply wanting to experience the pure joy of playing with that creation, you
can create it. However, if you’re not fully appreciating what you’ve already created, or there’s the slightest bit of judgment or Phase 1 energy in the “wish” to create something,
it will not pop into your hologram.
If you want to bust loose from The Money Game, you don’t care what the illusions look like in your hologram along the way. You just go with the flow and apply your four treasure hunting tools as the opportunities arise.
You can’t simultaneously continue believing what you convinced yourself was true in Phase 1 and bust loose from The Money Game. It’s not possible. They’re mutually exclusive activities.
Your Expanded Self knows you better than you could ever possibly know yourself. He or She never gives you more than He or She knows you can handle. Even if you think you’re overwhelmed or past your limit, you’re not and you can handle it. Just apply The Process with the absolute certainty that you’re going to be just fine.
Phase 2 is not about figuring things out, logic, or intellect. It’s about feelings and direct experiences. Understanding is the booby prize in Phase 2.
Never underestimate what it took to convince yourself the illusion was real and you were the exact opposite of who you really are.
You don’t proactively make things happen or “manifest results” in Phase 2. You simply do the Phase 2 work and as you do it, as more and more clouds get dissolved and more and more of the sun of who you really are starts shining in. When that happens, your hologram changes on its own—naturally—in amazing ways.
Everything you’ve discovered so far will get more and more real and your understanding of its Truth will deepen as you continue to reclaim power and expand your Consciousness.
There’s absolutely no relationship between what happens for you in Phase 2 and what happens for someone else.
Busting loose from The Money Game isn’t about creating the illusion of more money appearing to flow to you through traditional channels like a business, job, investments, or inheritance, although you can certainly create and play with such illusions if you choose to. It’s about opening to infinite abundance and creative opportunity. Infinite is infinite.
It’s not something you measure, track or count.
Nothing in the hologram is real, including government institutions like the Social Security Administration. It’s all a creation of consciousness and can therefore be molded according to the intentions of your Expanded Self.
When a creation gets popped into your hologram to support you in doing the Phase 2 work, it only stays long enough to support you in doing the work. Once you do the work and the job has been done, the creation will disappear since there’s no longer a reason for it to be there.
Everyone in your hologram is an actor saying and doing what you ask them to say and do. There’s no such thing as in character or out of character. There’s just what you ask them to say and do.
Once you cross the Busting Loose Point, absolutely everything in your hologram has a question mark after it and absolutely nothing is etched in stone.
Every Infinite Being creates His or Her own unique Busting Loose Point and what comes before and after crossing it.
After crossing the Busting Loose Point, you just express appreciation for all the creations you choose to experience (in the illusory form of cash, checks, credit cards, or other transfers) with absolute certainty that your Infinite Abundance is real and the money will take care of itself—however it takes care of itself.
After you cross the Busting Loose Point, money can still appear to come from the hologram (although it doesn’t need to) but you’ll know it doesn’t. You’ll know it comes from you, your Consciousness, a pattern in the Field, and your power. The story line of how it appears to show up is just how you chose to express your infinite abundance for maximum enjoyment and fun.
You qualify for Cosmic Overdraft Protection the minute you cross the Busting Loose Point.
Infinite is infinite. There are no limits of any kind once you cross the Busting Loose Point. It’s just a question of how you want to play The Human Game and what would be fun and joyful for you.
Each time you apply The Process, you expand, change, and actually become a different person who desires different things. That’s another reason for taking life one moment at a time in Phase 2. Why plan for the future, even just a few days forward, when you don’t know who you’ll be or what you’ll want when you get there (i.e., create it)?
The what you do in Phase 2 doesn’t matter. How and why you do it and the overall level of joyfulness and fun you receive from the experience is what matters.
In Phase 2, you can play any game you want, even it still appears to be a Phase 1 game.
You just play differently. You can also create entirely new games no one has ever thought of before.
In Phase 2, nothing is about other people anymore. It’s all about you, your fun, your joy, your expansion, and everyone else comes along for the ride to support you in playing your games.
Opening to your Infinite Abundance means letting go of thoughts and concerns about how you will receive it or how you must act to receive it.
Limited is limited (no matter how big the numbers appear to get), infinite is infinite, who you really are is infinite and infinite is where you want be after crossing the Busting Loose Point.
As you move more deeply into Phase 2, you continue taking life one moment at a time, living in reactive mode, following the lead of your Expanded Self, using the treasure hunting tools and following what brings you joyfulness.
It’s not possible for anyone to treat you badly, or reject you or anything you say or do in your hologram. All you can do is create the illusion of it and convince yourself it’s real.
Once those patterns collapse, nothing but the appreciation that’s your natural state can be expressed by or to you.
Whether you launch yourself immediately into Phase 2, you launch yourself soon, or you remain in Phase 1 a while longer, the answer to the question “Now what?” is the same.
You do what you feel motivated or inspired to do, before or after applying The Process to any discomfort you feel.
Expansion in all aspects of your hologram is the name of the game in Phase 2.