6/08 Archives

the Money Minute

6/08 Archives

Money Minute June 30, 2008
How to See Your Money Differently In this Economy

"Healthy financial habits start with making smart, conscious, reasoned-out decisions instead of letting outside forces dictate how you're going to live."

Eric Tyson, Mind Over Money

Each day there is something else to capture our attention when it comes to our money. How can you possibly avoid it when all around us someone is talking about the escalating cost of things; gas prices, groceries, interest rates, and the ever frustrating lessening of our discretionary money. Add to that the state of foreclosure rates and declining house prices, and it is hard to imagine a way to see this in a positive light. Yet I encourage others, as well as myself, to see it in a different light. We need a more upbeat light, with good news as our path.

How Can We Make Such Discouraging News Upbeat?

I find myself speaking to this idea in client sessions often. It is one of the most compromising aspects of money, to allow ourselves to be sucked into a drama that is not our own experience. We can most certainly make it our own if we concentrate on it long enough with strong emotion. However, as you are hearing of some aspect of the economy, you must stop and ask yourself, "Does this truly affect me here and now, at this very moment?" If the answer is "no, it is not true for me," then let it go. See it as a story that has been told for entertainment value, and let it pass you by. If you say "yes, it does affect me here and now," then determine what action must take place to shift it, for shift it you must! It may seem valuable to be aware and informed, but not at the cost of your peace of mind and your truths.

How Can You Be so Harsh and See Tragedy as Entertainment?

Without exaggerating, I believe that all of us at some point in our lives have watched a movie or television show which caused us great pain, anguish, anxiety, or tears. We sit mesmerized by the story and although it can be horrifying, we continue to participate in some manner. There is something that draws us to it. We see this as entertainment. Why else would we participate? Yet, in the deepest part of ourselves, we do not know the difference between that fictional story and what is going on around us every day. We buy into it, in other words, unconsciously, and make decisions from that experience.

If It Is True, Then How Do I "Not Buy Into It?"

I believe not buying into it is the true work we have on this planet. The minute we do, it becomes our own experience. I know I have stated this in a very simplistic way. Yet on some level, it is that simple. It is WE who make it hard and complex. We allow facts about someone else, or the experiences of someone else, to become our own. We then make decisions and live our lives based on that acceptance. Begin by recognizing your own truth and to not accept someone else's truth as your own.

How Does This Effect My Money?

In a session with clients just recently, we spoke about how constant, negative news affects our money. In my opinion, it affects it on so many levels that if you truly understood this, you would stop watching the news, reading the newspaper, or having conversations about these negative subjects altogether. As I suggested above, when we "buy into" any of this, we accept it as our truth and live our money lives with that as our basis. We make decisions every day with our money based on a false storyline, a faulty perception. How can you possibly live your money truth with someone else's viewpoint as your guide?

What Steps Do You Suggest to Help Us?

I encourage you, as I do my clients, to stop watching the news, reading it, or having conversations on negative money subjects. Yet I know when I suggest this that many will watch the news anyway, feeling compelled to stay current and informed. In that case, at a minimum, stop watching, reading, or discussing these types of subjects several hours prior to going to bed at night. Putting those negative aspects into your mind as you go to sleep has the most impact of all. At least during your wakeful moments during the day you can dispel them, put them in their proper perspective.

Additionally, do not listen to, or participate in conversations that bemoan money problems. Doing so only keeps them exactly where they are. Once you recognize the issue, then sit quietly and ask for guidance for an answer. Be open to the answer. Once you are clear, step into that answer with faith and follow that guidance. It has been said, "the truth will set you free," and if it is truth, it does that very thing, it sets you free. If it does not, it is not truth.

Do You Want Help Holding That Light?
I find that it is truly helpful to have a companion to help hold that vision or light for ourselves. In fact, I personally work and collaborate with a transformational coach each month. She helps me see where I've fallen into accepting a falsehood that is not true for me and gently reminds me of my own truth while holding that vision firmly for me. I like to do this for my clients as well. I help them see another money path, illuminate it fully for them to see, and hold that light as they walk that new path. Let me know if you would like that help on your money path!

DON'T miss my new segment... WHAT FIDO KNOWS ABOUT MONEY MAY SURPRISE YOU!

June 17th MONEY MINUTE -
"Do you Give up too Soon?"

Today is a great day to be indoors writing my e-newsletter as the wind outside is whipping Today, as I sat and watched the U.S. Open golf match playoff round between Tiger & Rocco, it made me think how often we give up in life just before we accomplish the very thing we are going after. If Tiger had done that during the golf match, even when it was looking a bit bleak, he would not be playing today! How often do you give up? Did you ever wonder if you gave up just short of getting the very thing you wanted?
I personally have experienced that sense of hopelessness and thought to myself "oh well, it's not happening, so I'll just give up!" Yet while I watched Tiger press ahead I wondered, Did I give up too soon?

Where Have You Given Up?

I almost gave up on being a grandmother. My daughter and her husband, for all I knew, decided not to have children. As they were getting further and further into their 30s I figured it probably would not happen. I was settling in with the idea that a grand puppy would be as close to a grandchild I would get! Many of my friends assured me that couples were having babies later in life, and there was still hope... Somewhere inside I held on to that hope and this year on May 2nd I was honored with a grandson. My daughter had no idea that I secretly wanted to be a grandmother! Only upon her getting pregnant did it come forth that I had NOT given up.

Yet Some Things Seem So Hopeless, How Do I Hang On?

The answer for me is HOPE. To not give up HOPE. I know that sounds silly when you ask about feeling hopeless, and yet focusing upon hope is the key. If you focus upon that which seems unattainable or inaccessible, then the thing that you want stays just out of reach.

How Do I Hang Onto Hope?

There are many ways to hang onto hope, yet let me just say that there is no one way or one right way. Each of us must find what works for ourselves. For me, it is shifting my attention away from what is NOT working. Each time I find my mind wandering to a thing that causes me concern or fretfulness I consciously change the thought. I focus upon a thing that feels better. I move my energy into something else. I give the negative idea or thought no more attention or energy. I remind myself of what is real NOW and stop making up stories about what could be or should be.

Isn't That Just Positive Thinking?

I have had clients say this to me "that's just positive thinking, Joan, that doesn't work for me!" I agree. If you are just SAYING something positive versus FEELING it, then most certainly it does not work. It is important that the feelings within shift as well. Whatever that takes you to do so, is the key for you. Maybe it is doing something creative. I many times suggest clients do a Dream Board, a collage of pictures and words that speak to one's dreams or desires. For others it might be spending time with God or time in quiet meditation. It could be getting out in nature noticing the perfection of the plants, flowers, trees, birds, and wildlife. How that internal shift comes about is self-determined. Whatever helps you relax, and be open to enriching possibilities in your life, and with your money, is the right focal point for you. Whatever you choose, it must be done fully present to NOW, fully engaging your entire being.

What Does This Have to do With Money?

Everything!! Money is energy and it reacts, and interacts, with your own energy. If you are fretting over it or focusing upon NOT having enough of it, then that is the very energy you continue to attract to yourself. How can you possibly attract abundance when a swirl of negativity surrounds you? In the cartoon PEANUTS, there is a character called Pigpen. A swirl of dust and debris surrounds him. No one can get near him. This is true for money and abundance as well. As we have seen with my example of Tiger - he has revitalized the game of golf, just about single-handedly. He did this by keeping a vision in his mind of where he wanted to be, what he wanted to accomplish and what steps he had to take to get there. Throughout life changes, marriage, the loss of his beloved father, and becoming a father himself, he has undoubtedly made adjustments and revisions to his dreams. Yet watching him golf today it could be seen with stunning clarity that he understands the process of dreaming, of envisioning, and of making the things he is focused on become reality. You can do that too, with your financial picture. Be aware. Be focused. Be positive. Look to your vision!

How do you plan to clear the swirl of dust around you? Are you a "Pigpen" or a "Tiger?"

Do You Need Help?

I would love to be on your team, to hold the dream for you and continue to bring you back to hope. Afterall, even an amazing athlete such as Tiger has help and support in his caddy! I believe it helps to have someone rooting for you, to keep the vision clear, to hold it ever present. It is easy to give up. So often, things appear hopeless YET I have seen clients come forth into the light of hope and from there to significant change.