Making Friends with Money

Have you made friends with money or do you stress about it?

Here are two exercises you can do that I have heard in just about every workshop about money consciousness. I'd love to hear what insights they bring you.

What are some of your beliefs about money? 

Do any of these sound familiar?

1. Money doesn't grow on trees.
2. You have to work hard to make money.
3. There is never enough money.
4. A penny saved is a penny earned.
5. Save for a rainy day.
6. I will never be wealthy.

And on and on. What are some of your beliefs about money? Is money your friend or an elusive dream?

What is your earliest memory about money?

Relax and think back. Can you remember an early memory about money?
Remember your thoughts and feelings that happened then, and what you decided was true about money. Is that still true in your mind or in your life? How does that affect the way you use money now?

If you need more education on using money wisely, there are plenty of programs out there to help you with budgeting, spending, saving.

If you want to change your feelings and beliefs about money, start to imagine yourself with more money. Imagine that money loves you. Imagine that money is attracted to you and likes being near you. Start making friends with money, and it just might make a difference in how much you have.

How About You?

Are you friends with money?
Do you have a story about increasing your income or getting out of debt or a dream that money helped you realize?

Lessons From the Garden Part 2

In Lessons fro the Garden part 1 I talked about how deep the Bermuda grass roots were in the community garden I helped weed.

That's what struck me most about those roots. I dug down about 18 inches, and saw most of the root. And they went deeper than that. As I dug down, following the root to their source, I couldn't help but think about how deep my habits run.

Mental Weeds

 Of course some habits are very useful. Can you imagine if you had to learn all over again every day how to brush your teeth, take a shower, get dressed, or walk?

So habits can make life easier. It's how you can be driving along and suddenly be surprised to find yourself at the store, your office, or a few miles down the road. It's a route you drive often, and so go on automatic pilot for parts of it.

Bad Habits Run Deep

But some of those habits are harmful. And we know that if and when we indulge in them. For me, it's sugar. Which apparently lights up the same parts of the brain as cocaine. Great. What do I do with THAT information?

And those habits run so deep, deeper than that Bermuda grass,  that it seems impossible to change them.

If I follow the roots down deep enough I might find a source. Or like the Bermuda grass, I might find that several appearances on the surface are actually coming from the same tap root. Without getting stuck in analyzing it, I can just notice that they are connected. That in itself can be enough to start changing a habit.

New Thoughts About Bad Habits

So this year I am working on this in a new way. Instead of a war between the part of my brain that wants that cookie and the part that knows it is harmful to my teeth, my blood sugar level, and my waistline, I can take a different attitude. I can remember that taking care of myself is a basic part of my foundation from which I can give my gifts to the world.

If I stay stuck in that inner battle, I am simply being distracted by it. When the real work is much bigger: to express all that I came here to be. So I can build my couch potato resume and eat sweets, or I can use this gift of life that I have been given to create something useful or beautiful.

How About You?

How do you deal with your less desirable habits?