The purpose of this Money series is to put you in the driver's seat when it comes to your money. My aim is to support you to transform your relationship with money from one of scarcity and pain to one of sufficiency, abundance, and inspiration. Think of these six articles as an action seminar in which you're participating because you are committed to better financial results in your own life ... and beyond.
The series includes information, exercises, homework and templates. For best results I recommend that you choose a partner to whom you'll be accountable during this seminar. Someone to keep you true to your commitment to transform your relationship with money.
From my experience I don't believe you can ever feel truly successful or fulfilled until you handle your relationship with money. Notice I didn't say you couldn't feel happy or satisfied until you get rich. I said I don't believe you'll feel satisfied and fulfilled until you've handled your relationship with money. Wayne Dyer gives us food for thought on this point: "When I chased after money, I never had enough. When I got my life on purpose and focused on giving of myself ... then I was prosperous.
Power of your attitude
When you hold onto an attitude long enough, it becomes your reality. Once that happens, proof of its accuracy begins to accumulate in your life, and the actions you take and the results you have are a perfect match for this attitude.
Don't take my word for it; check it out for yourself. About money, what are you afraid of? Complete the sentence: I'm afraid that ___. Now, what if your fear were completely valid? Where does that fear lead you? What results does that fear point to? Given that life is a self-fulfilling prophecy, what results are in store for you?
Nowhere is this power more evident than in your relationship with money. In order to achieve a transformation, your thoughts and your attitudes about money must point to the results you want. As you look at your answers to the homework question, "What are my limiting beliefs about being prosperous," where do these attitudes point? Perhaps you found some of these old standards on your list:
- Money is the root of all evil.
- I'm not the kind of person to make a lot of money.
- Money is scarce -- there's only so much to go around.
- If I made a lot of money, I'd be horrible and greedy.
- I don't have as much talent as people who make a lot of money.
Who said? Where do these attitudes point? Following their lead, what results do you have? Can you see the power of your attitude? Simply put the results you get are caused by your attitude. However, the good news is that it works both ways.
Shifting to an attitude that points to the results you want is the No. 1 step you must take to transform your relationship with money. Your new Money Paradigm has the power to generate sufficiency, abundance and inspiration in your life.
Shifting my attitude about money
More than 30 years ago, when I first did this seminar for myself, I discovered that my strongest limiting belief and paradigm was:
It's not fair for me to make a lot of money when
there are so many people in the world who are poor and struggling.
But as I followed the thought, I realized that this paradigm of scarcity kept me poor. What could my poverty contribute to others? What could I do for them when I couldn't even pay my own bills? Did these people know or care that I wasn't getting rich because I felt guilty when I thought about them. Talk about crazy!
I imagined that if I could get to the bottom of this belief and start earning the kind of money I really wanted and secretly thought I deserved, I'd be in a stronger position -- both within myself and within my wallet -- to give to others. I wrote a new paradigm for money, one that transformed my attitude and my relationship with money since that time:
Money is abundant and flows spontaneously in life. Money allows me to express myself fully and contribute generously.
Shifting your attitude
Remembering the financial results you want in your life, create your new Money Paradigm. Based on the reality you want to create, devise a positive statement about money, making sure that it's personal, present tense, and describes exactly the new reality you want to create. Look again at my Money Paradigm above. It's written in the present tense (now!). It clearly describes what's happening in my life. And it's not limited in any way. It's made with my Magic Wand firmly in place.
Make your new Money Paradigm really outrageous. Write a statement that really bonks the whole issue on the head! "Money is flying in the windows!" "I have more money than I know what to do with!" "I make loads of money doing what I love to do!" Then whenever you find yourself drifting toward your self-defeating thoughts and fears about money, immediately replace them with your new Money Paradigm. Do whatever you can think of to imagine this reality being the truth now! As our dear recently departed Stephen Covey wisely said, "It's not that people who make money become successful, but that successful people attract money."
Homework
In the next week, complete the following:
- Ensure that the list of the results you want is written clearly and precisely, describing your goals regarding money.
- Create a new Money Paradigm that wows you.
- Invest in your new Money Paradigm by repeating it to yourself 10 times a day.
What's Next?
Thank you for your response and your sharing to the first article in this series. Here are some honest answers to the question, "What are my fears and limiting beliefs about money":
"I'm nearly 54 years old, and it's too late to be prosperous."
"I'm afraid that I'll never succeed. And that I'll become an arrogant average
wealthy bitch that only cares about matter."
"I'm afraid my love of money will become obsessive and destroy my peace and well-being."
Next week's article will be the third in the series: "Money: Accepting and Taking Responsibility." Here are the articles in this series in case you want to catch up or review:
- Money ~ Moving from Pain to Prosperity
- Power of Your Attitude (this article)
- Accepting and Taking Responsibility
- Secrets for Maintaining Awareness
- Learning Lasting Lessons
- Your Money Tool Kit
To make this journey toward sufficiency and abundance more meaningful for us all, please share your answer to this question:
In what aspect of my relationship with money do I experience
the most pain and suffering?
Write your answers as well as your comments or questions either below on The Huffington Post or to jinny@bestyearyet.com.
For more by Jinny Ditzler, click here.
For more on mindful living, click here.
For more about Best Year Yet, click here.