As we move into fall and closer to Christmas, Erin and I have been scratching our heads as to how to help our clients move stress free and even joyously into what can potentially be a very overwhelming time of year. No matter how much we tell ourselves this year will be different, the fact is that the pressure creeps up on us and deteriorates the lovely image we had of the holiday season. Am I right?
Clients are always looking for ways to feel better about their budget, get organized and relieve financial pressures. Over the past 5 years I have been searching for a way to change my own finances, to relieve the build up of guilt and worry. In my opinion, financial stress can bleed into many other areas - relationships, families, health issues and an overall feeling of despair and unhappiness.
As I have always said, I am by far the hardest client I have ever had to deal with! I know what needs to be done, yet I rebel against my own knowledge. I have tried SO MANY different ideas and tactics to on myself to see what works. SO, a little over a month ago I started doing some daily exercises in the morning and at night that have drastically changed not only my outlook on my finances, but also the bottom line of my budget.
The foundation of these exercises is gratitude, and helps you work towards shifting your perspective. Once there is a shift in perspective, the feelings surrounding money will change and eventually the flow of income and expenses will also change. I have truly seen and felt the benefits of this work AND on top of it all it really flows into the rest of your life - causing everyday thoughts to shift from complaints to gratefulness.
I know that there isn't one day that goes by when you don't think about money. You swipe your card for gas, pay your mortgage/rent, pick up coffee or ponder a big purchase. This task is to help people in all walks of life no matter what your income may be, we all could use a fresher look on those bucks in and bucks out.
I want to help you get off the hamster wheel. Free yourself from the daily stress, guilt and frustration. This isn't an overnight trick or wave of a magic wand. I wish it was, but I know myself my journey has been a long treacherous windy one. I have tried everything from sea to sky, and I have been deeply depressed and unhappy. I can honestly and openly say I know now what helps to break up those deep dart roots of habitual destruction.
No matter how great of a plan I put into place for someone, if the beliefs and perspectives don't change than we will be forever revisiting the same underlying issues in slightly different ways. I want to help you change from the ground up and inside out in an everlasting satisfaction kind-of-way.
I am in the process of working towards adding Financial Coaching (officially) to my business which will allow me to work with clients all over the place over the phone on how to revamp their finances.
For now, we will put this challenge out there for anyone willing to give it a shot! I highly recommend and encourage you to take part. No one will know, or see it - it's for you to do privately but please feel free to share your experience.
So here are the requirements to participate:
Starting November 1st we will ask that you:
1. Find 5-10 things in the morning and 5-10 things at night that you are grateful for, in regards to your finances
- this can be anything from things you own, food you eat, income you bring in, money you received that you weren't planning on, bills that come from services provided for you. Look for any way possible to find gratitude in your day to day banking
- the focus is to make a conscious decision before you swipe your card or hand over cash that you are thankful for whatever it is you are receiving. When you pay a bill, think about how nice it was to have the services that were provided to you.
Ex: When you pay your phone bill, instead of thinking "wow that's so high or so expensive, I hate this bill!" Try "I am grateful to have had the ability to talk to my friends, send messages and check my emails at leisure all through the month, this bill was worth it."
If that's difficult, perhaps you don't really want or need the service? If it seems to high, think about phoning to make adjustments to your billing. What can you remove or change to make the cost match up with your expectation of that service?
2 - When you feel negatively about your bank statement, income, purchase or expenses - you will write down something you can find to be grateful about. Working from the negative feeling just up one or two steps towards optimism.
3 - Once a week write about why you are grateful for your source of income and try to have it be something new. Ex: I love my job because I really enjoy the people I work with or I love pay day because I get to take my kids out for dinner OR I love my student loan because it enables me to get the education I want so that I can start making a difference in my field.
The goal: Reach for the positive thought, wherever it may be.
The Reward: On December 15th (so a month and a half) Erin and I will ask for a summary of your experience over the 60 days. You can email or write to us as short or as long as you need it to be. Highlight what you discovered, what was helpful and how you felt changed by this experience. Share with us if you found your budgeting got easier or if you spent less money because you noticed you were buying things to fill a void that was no longer there (which is what I found). We want to hear from you! Although, I believe, everyone who participates will feel rewarded by the experience - we will select from the submitted letters a winner to receive a $150 prepaid Visa card!
*Recommended book: The Magic by Rhonda Byrnes
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