Transforming Your Relationship with Money

You are about to begin the process of transitioning your relationship with money. Success with this process depends on how much time and energy you devote to it, the type of support you have, and how committed you are to making this change. The process involves:

- Identifying your current relationship with money

- Clarifying what it is that you really want money to provide you

- Brainstorming a variety of ways to build wealth

- Discovering and generating potential solutions to, obstacles, or challenges that you may have to overcome to get there

What is Money?

Money is a conduit – what is carries represents who we are – our energy – our integrity. Take out a dollar bill and hold it. Imagine everywhere this dollar has been and everywhere it will go. Think about the others who have held it and what they used it for. Think about those who will hold it and what it will be used for.

Real wealth comes from having a sense of having MORE THAN ENOUGH of whatever it is you want. Some look to external sources to say they have enough, but when they get to the point of what they thought was enough, they raise the bar believing they want more. Without clarity (who we are) and context (what we want), we may always feel that we are lacking and living a life of scarcity instead of abundance.

The five steps that follow should be completed in order as each step builds on the previous one. Take some time to answer each set of questions and complete each set of actions IN WRITING. Thinking about answers is a great first step, writing them down leads to greater awareness and commitment to change. Are you ready to begin?

Where are you NOW?

Each of us has a different relationship with money… we view it differently, use it differently, and think about it differently. How we experience money affects our relationships with out partners, families, and friends; it drives our choices for our careers, environments, and activities. Take a few moments to reflect on your own relationship with money.

Action Step:

What is your current relationship with money?

How do you feel about your financial future?

What does financial success mean to you?

Who are you really?

It is not about having money or not having it that affects our lives, it is about how the money or lack of it makes you FEEL, what you BELIEVE about it, and how you ACT with it.

Action Step:

How would you define wealth? How do you define comfortable or poor?

WHO does money allow you to be in life- with yourself, other people?

What are your beliefs about spending / saving money? Keeping track of your money? Living below/above your means?
Who do you want to be?

You have the power to change your current relationship with money, to adopt new beliefs and a new set of habits that bring you closer to your goals and dreams. You first must decide what kind of relationship you want to have with money.

Action Step:

Who would you like to be as you move forward with your attitude about money?

What is the biggest change you want to make in your life regarding money?

Where do you want to be?

It is now time to think about your financial future. Begin to create a vision for your ideal life, including career, relationships, family, recreation, etc. How does money fit in?

Action Step:

What role do you want money to play in achieving your life goals?

If you were to simplify your life what would you do with your money? How much would you need?

How will having more money change your life?

How do you get there?

To increase your wealth, you must clear up debt, spend less, invest and earn more!

Action Step:

What are you willing to do to change your beliefs and habits about money?

Who will support you in this effort?

What time and space do you have in your life to add these new strategies?

What will you still allow to stop you, even after the discoveries you have made?