In this issue:

Two Thoughts for Readers
Feature Article: All the World’s a Village

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Two Thoughts for Readers

“You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions.” – Adin Sinclair

“We live in illusion and the appearance of things. There is a reality. We are that reality. When you understand this, you see that you are nothing, and being nothing, you are everything. That is all.” – Kalu Rinpoche

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Feature Article: All the World’s a Village
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As some of you know, I’m in Greece this week. This is my kind of trip!! Stay with friends, be able to do laundry, have someone to share every day with, aside from your own family, and most importantly, avoid hotels. Now, don’t get me wrong – there are hotels I love to stay in, and I really like the idea of someone else cleaning a room. It’s just that I’d rather have the feeling of family, love and acceptance when in a foreign country, or anywhere else for that matter.

This brings me to my thoughts today on Greece. I am very fortunate, and have traveled a great deal in my life. There are still many places I would like to go, but I have many years ahead of me, and I never know what road will open or what the future brings. I’ve learned to love life that way.

While here, I’ve observed some amazing things. I’ve had my “travel radar” on the entire time. In our travels, we have had the pleasure of experiencing some very skilled pickpokets. Here in Athens, there’s been very little of that. Other cities are far worse.

Instead, people watch out for each other. For example, on our first day here, our host took us downtown on the tram. A very unsavory character got on the train, not too far from us, and was lurching into people, slowly making his way towards us. I kept an eye on his hands, and was alert for accomplices, when suddenly a handsome young man looked over at us, and very loudly announced, “Be careful! Watch your money and pockets!” The disheveled would-be thief suddenly had his balance, and briskly left at the next stop. We thanked the young man with nods (and a badly pronounced “Thank you” in Greek), and our trip continued without incident.

Near the National Gardens, I watched an old man reach out and pull a middle aged woman back onto the street corner and scold her for not waiting for the green pedestrian walk light. Another time on the trams (I am a big believer in the merits of European style mass transit), I watched groups of teens on their way home from school mingle and chat while politely making way for older people, and flirting with each other from across the cars.

Nearly everyone here is so very friendly, and even if they don’t know English, will go out of their way to make you comfortable, see to your safety, or to provide you with information. Of course, there are the crazy and less scrupulous taxi drivers, and the street merchants who double their prices when they see Americans or Canadians coming their way, and many, many police officers on the streets because of the threat of rioting. But, Greece is at the cross-roads of three continents, and there are many people of many cultures and races here. Europeans, Africans, and Asians, all mix and meet, and buy each other’s wares. The marketplaces bustle, the street vendors run at the sight of the cops, and the lottery sellers are everywhere.

The willingness to share, the stories of the gods debating the worthiness of the continuance of mankind, and the incredible drama of the Acropolis has stirred many thoughts in me. In Rome, the Basilica is incredible, but made me feel small and insignificant. Here in Athens, you are instead of the same proportions, and therefore a part of, the places of worship, the places of commerce, and the places of contemplation. Did you know that the Greek sayings for health, and for wishing someone well in their life all have to do with athleticism? Older people here swear by swimming in the ocean every day of every year of their life. You’ll see fishermen in padded coats on a rock, and just past them, an octogenarian stroking cleanly through the water. It’s a whole new perspective.

All of this brings me to this week’s thought. I hear of gurus, clerics and pastors advising their faithful to “lose themselves” to gain a connection to God or the universe. But what does that really mean? Should we do as the ascetics and deny ourselves the simplest human pleasures? Should we deny our needs and freedom of choice and accept blindly the word of a self-proclaimed prophet? Should we disconnect from the reality we find ourselves in and bumble around looking for things we don’t really believe in? What does it really mean?

I think I’ve found my answer to the question. Perhaps it means to keep my focus on my fellow man, while honoring myself. These Athenians are in good health, and still take care of each other. I can rise above petty squabbles and dramas to see the beauty that is me, and is all around me. To lose myself is not to give up my individuality, it’s to see beyond my personal needs. It’s easy to be good to others, to serve mankind when you are healthy, happy, and secure. It’s easy to share abundance when you’ve allowed it to flow freely into and through your life. There are no limits. You can do whatever you want. It really is true that when you save the cheerleader, you save the world. Even as you raise the level for one, you have raised it for all. The life of a single child is no less important than all children. The life you are leading is no less important than that of a great celebrity. They are just living a different reality, and yours is no less significant.

Allow yourself to be patient and to be true to yourself. Remember to take at least five minutes every day to simply be by yourself and breathe. Allow yourself to indulge in a moment of thought, reflection and planning when the mood strikes. One day, one decision at a time, remaining aware of your choices and your feelings. You are the world.

And, as always, if you need help, I’m available. It’s what I do, and it’s what I love to do.

Sharon.

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T-shirts, shorts, bathing suits – oh my!! Summer is coming. Are you ready? As you know, Sharon is also a certified Irish Dance instructor in Springfield. There, she works with several lovely ladies, each of whom is a gifted certified instructor in their area of expertise. For this April only, we’ve created a special deal: for only $50 for the entire month, you get a weekly class in each of Yoga, BellyDance and Irish Ceili! That’s three hours of classes weekly for only $50 – this is a $140 value! This is a great opportunity to try these classes out and get a jump start on your summer plans. Call Terri Woodliff at 217-280-0719 for further details or to enroll. Enrollment is limited to the first 50 people. Call now to reserve your spot.

Want to get your finances straightened out, but aren’t sure if Personal Financial HypnoCoaching is for you? Sharon is teaching “Personal Finance 101” at LLCC on Saturday, March 28th. The class costs only $25, and we’ll cover all the basics in the single 3 hour session. See http://www.llcc.edu for further details.

NEW! Coach Sharon offers pre-designed packages for the folks who know what they want to accomplish, but don’t want to be committed into months of hypnosis sessions. Our packages are: Quit Smoking, Eliminate Procrastination, Study Skills, and Kicking Bad Habits. See http://www.devasojourn.com/packages.html for more details. As Sharon always teaches in her Procrastination Elimination class at LLCC, planning is an essential key to success. See the website or contact Sharon at coachsharon@devasojourn.com for more information.

Not sure if HypnoCoaching is for you? Not sure what HypnoCoaching is? If you were an athlete, determined to win an event, or seeking to dramatically improve your skills, you’d hire a coach. That coach would work with you, and be completely focused on your needs and goals. They would also hold you accountable for the commitments you made to yourself. A Personal Coach does the same thing. A HypnoCoach adds in the power of hypnosis to make the process easier, and to allow you the ability to shed your resistance to change in the manner best suited to you. Your HypnoCoach is always on your side, and always your advocate. See http://www.devasojourn.com for more details about our offerings.

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In this issue:

Two Thoughts for Readers
Feature Article: The Third of Eight Great Money Habits

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Two Thoughts for Readers

“Awake. Be the witness of your thoughts. You are what observes, not what you observe.” ~ Buddha

“To observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence. ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

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Feature Article: The Fourth of Eight Great Money Habits
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This is the fourth of a series of eight articles I’ll be writing on the eight great money habits I encourage in my students and my clients.

Today’s thought is “Understand Your Investments.”

A million years ago, it seems, I accepted my first professional position in the working world. Yes, I had worked full time to put myself through school, but this was, to my young mind, a much bigger thing. As I selected my benefits, I opted against participating in the company’s 401K. I wish now that I had started immediately, but as a young person with ambitious plans for my money and my life, it wasn’t my first priority. Within two years, however, I did opt in and started socking away 6% of my pay. The choice was made easy at the time, because the company would match two-thirds of your savings, up to that magic number. I made somewhat random selections for my investment options, because I had no idea what I should do, and almost no guidance was given by the HR department. It was far too heavily invested in the stock market, and then after a year, the company started matching the saved amounts with company stock. At the time, I understood that this was to prevent a hostile takeover, but my focus was on the wrong thing – the company’s long term well-being, not mine.

The purpose of a 401K or of any similar program is to encourage and allow easy savings by individuals for the future on a pre-tax basis. The advantages of pre-tax money are clear: simply put, it’s worth more. After tax money that you save has already been taxed, and the gains you make on that money is immediately taxed. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. There are a number of states seeking to tax the gains in 401K and other similar plans to make up for expected tax revenue shortfalls. Does that mean that you should stop saving? Heavens, no. It just means that you must stay aware of the changes in tax law and ensure that Yes, that’s a big job, but that’s what certified financial planners and advisors are paid for (if you can afford one). If not, then you choose: it’s your money.

Where IS your money? How much do you have saved? How much do you want to have available each month if you retire? How long do you plan on continuing to work before you retire? Given the state of the economy and the world, will you ever be able to retire? Do you even want to retire? Are you risk averse? Are you a risk taker? Are you cash or credit sensitive? How many different financial institutions do you have money socked away in? How much money do you have in each? Where are your bank statements? Where are your investment statements?

Phew! What a lot of intense questions! But do you know the answers to these questions? Are you ready to evaluate your options? These are the sorts of questions a financial planner or advisor would ask. These are the sorts of questions you really need to know the answers to. And, you need to figure out what’s best for YOU.

There are dozens of books available on personal investing, and while many of them are valuable, you need to select the one(s) you use with a critical eye. Just as you wouldn’t run out and buy the first car you see, you need to evaluate the authors and their particular points of view. Read up on these “experts” and their track records. All of this information will be available on the internet. When you find the expert you feel best about, then start buying books and reading. You need to create your own financial stability in your own way, not someone else’s.

Speaking of which, the same must be said about financial professionals. Be careful about who you select and why you select them. Your brother’s sister-in-law’s cousin might be a great guy, but if he is employed by a financial institution and is selling their products, then you’ll find that he’s loaded you up on those. Independent is usually best when it comes to financial professionals. Oh, and more importantly, these folks are required by their certifying authority to maintain certain levels of continuing education annually, and there will always be information available on their practices, history and any possible disciplinary actions that may have been taken. Again, it’s your money, and you are the only one who can or should keep an eye on it.

Your investment options will run the gamut from simple savings accounts in a bank to high-risk stock based investments. Often, high-risk will be accompanied by high-yield, but not always. It’s no different than the race track, where people will spend hours evaluating drivers or jockeys before placing their bets. That’s what an investment is: a bet that things will improve over time. What level of risk are you willing to assume? If you are promised a guaranteed 20% return on your investment, turn and run. The old adage of “if it sounds too good to be true, it is” holds here. You have the right, and the responsibility to be picky, and to choose wisely.

I’m always harping on thinking, aren’t I? There’s a reason. We, as humans, have a choice. Do we blindly muddle through our lives, or do we take the luxury of awareness in each moment, and the choices that bring us there and to the future?

Just as I advocate planning when it comes to simple purchases, plan when it comes to your investments. Don’t assume that your HR department knows best, or that others have your best interests at heart. Don’t assume that since you’ve heard nothing about your investments, everything’s still good. It’s your money, and you want it to be there in case of emergency, or when you retire and want to do something new with your life. Any and all research you do in support of planning your investment strategies and growth and viability is well worth the effort and time invested.

Allow yourself to be patient and to be true to yourself. Remember to take at least five minutes every day to simply be by yourself and breathe. Allow yourself to indulge in a moment of thought, reflection and planning when the mood strikes. As a wise old engineering student once taught me, “It’s more effective to measure twice and cut once than it is to rush and waste your time doing the same thing over again.” It’s your money, your choice. Allow yourself to simply succeed on your own terms, to live in peace, abundance, and joy. One day, one decision at a time, remaining aware of your choices and your feelings. You CAN get there.

And, as always, if you need help, I’m available. It’s what I do, and it’s what I love to do.

Sharon.

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Today’s thought is “Buy Smart.”

I still remember the first time someone said “Work smarter, not harder” to me. I was at work, it was about 10:00 at night, and we were in the middle of the various day’s close procedures. You see, I financed my college education by working full-time while going to school full-time. Believe me, there were weeks when I had to decide if I spent that week’s $5 on food or putting gas in the car (this was back in the day when I had a car that got 35 miles to the gallon, and a gallon of gas was still around a buck, as was a pack of cigarettes), I never would have survived those days without two things: obsessive food shopping planning, and my mother’s habit of emptying her pantry of half-used peanut butter jars and assorted sundries every time I came home to do laundry (thank you, Mom!).

Anyway, that statement really struck me. Up until that moment, I truly had been a person who thought that the harder you worked, the better things got. Something that came easily just wasn’t the same. The worst part about that statement was that it came from an employee who had this habit of asking “Why?” every time I set a task to him. I will credit him with saying it to me (although I’ve long since forgotten his name), and with the change it brought in my life. I can’t say that I’ve not been guilty of working too hard for something since, but I did apply the tactic to many other aspects of my life, especially money.

What does “Buy Smart” mean?

There are very simple answers. And they all boil down to this simple truth. It’s your money. You get to choose how to spend or not spend it.

Do you spend because your emotions rule your wallet, or do you think about your purchases before making them? Do you spend money because you must for necessities or because you feel obligated? What is the difference between a necessity and an optional purchase? How do you make these distinctions? How do you retain control of your money? Yes, yet again, mindfulness is the key. Not in some New Age vague sense of the word, but in the pragmatic awareness of your actions, thoughts and feelings of the moment. That is what I mean when I use the word “mindfulness” in relation to money.

So, on to the practical thoughts. Let’s start with coupons.

Ah, yes, coupons, those lovely bits of shiny colored paper that promise you 50 cents off your next purchase of toilet paper. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? But, when combined with a dozen other similar coupons, you have over six dollars to spend on something else. Coupons are readily available in your newspaper, at the supermarket, in your mail, and online. Retailers and manufacturers WANT you to spend money on their products, and they use coupons, discounts and package offers to draw you in and entice you to buy. Online retailers will even offer free shipping for purchases over a certain amount (it’s often less expensive to go with the shipping and forego the additional purchases, so be careful about that).

Speaking of online, since we are all connected via the internet nowadays, look to your favorite manufacturer’s websites for printable coupons. Spend an hour every weekend collecting coupons and organizing them by product, type, and date of expiration. Go to websites such as couponcabin, retailmenot, anycoupons, dealio, and onlinecoupons to view, select, print or use coupons or discount codes available there. Google or Yahoo search “online coupons” and you will find dozens of providers. You have no excuses for not finding sources, only now you have to make the time commitment to wade through all the options and select the best ones for you. Yes, it takes time, but it’s your money.

Buy top quality used items.

In 1989, when I purchased my first condo, I needed appliances. I purchased a new stacked washer/dryer unit at Sears on clearance, and I purchased a used refrigerator. My Dad helped me install the washer/dryer unit – thank God I was still skinny and limber – the upshot was that I had to be behind the unit to install it, and then climb over the top. Yes, Dad made sure I didn’t fall, but boy did we laugh a lot. I sold the unit to the purchaser of my condo when I moved in 1992. The refrigerator came along with me through 2007 when I moved to Illinois, when I finally replaced it. I replaced the compressor once, and that sturdy little Kenmore unit kept chugging along through all the moves and all the years. Finally, I decided to upgrade and buy a much more energy efficient unit for the basement. Nearly 20 years out of a used unit? Yes. I firmly believe that if you shop carefully, and purchase wisely, used can make sense. For me, I never buy used cars anymore, but that’s just me. Since I tend to keep cars for at least 10 years, purchasing only new cars makes more sense for me. Others swear by used cars.

Goodwill, Salvation Army, consignment shops, Craigslist, are a few of the sources for good quality used products. Honestly, the Salvation Army ticks me off in terms of the quality they demand of donated goods, but then when it hits the store, I’m thankful. Let someone else pay the full retail and then move on to their next purchase. Their movement is your gain.

Research.

I’m always harping on thinking, aren’t I? There’s a reason. We, as humans, have a choice. Do we blindly muddle through our lives, or do we take the luxury of awareness in each moment, and the choices that bring us there and to the future. Hopefully, the answer is both for all of us. If you’ve made any large electronic purchase in the last year, I’m sure that you put the time into researching the best options for yourself, and found the best pricing either locally or online. We tend to do those things for ourselves. You can do the same with other purchases as well.

When a retailer such as Circuit City goes out of business, they cheerfully advertise that everything must go. But, when you walk in the store, really think about the prices. I found very little that was cheaper than I could find at Best Buy or Office Depot. It was frustrating to me, because I walked in ready to spend money, and I think I bought one $7 piece of hardware. I was ready to spend more, but since the deals weren’t there, I didn’t. How often do you find yourself sucked in to a store or website that promises discounts or incredible value for the money, and you find yourself mindlessly spending? Think about it. You’ll be surprised. Any and all research you do in support of planning a purchase is well worth the effort and time invested.

Planned Trips

The final thought today is to promote the idea of planning all of your trips that will involve purchases, errands, or chores. If you’ve got to buy food, run to the bank, drop a package at the post office, pick up dry cleaning, and put gas in the car, can’t you do all those things in one trip? More importantly, can you plan that one trip as a large circle? Will the frozen peas really melt if you get to the dry cleaners and gas station on your way home? The effort here is to maximize your results while minimizing your time shopping, and minimizing the amount of gasoline, time, money and effort you expend on these mundane tasks.

If you have trouble remembering everything you want to accomplish, write a list on a post-it note and stick it to your dashboard. In my Eliminating Procrastination class, I also offered that the students could stick it to their forehead, but that would mean writing backwards so that they could read it in the rear-view mirror. If you have multiple sub-tasks within your trip, just use multiple post its. Lists really do help you plan your purchases and reduce impulse shopping and unnecessary expenditures. They are not just for those suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, believe it or not. Besides, if you write it all down, your brain is free to wander and think about other more important things, like it wants to anyway. This way, you indulge in your daydreaming, and still accomplish all of your goals.

Allow yourself to be patient and to be true to yourself. Remember to take at least five minutes every day to simply be by yourself and breathe. Allow yourself to indulge in a moment of thought, reflection and planning when the mood strikes. As a wise old engineering student once taught me, “It’s more effective to measure twice and cut once than it is to rush and waste your time doing the same thing over again.” It’s your money, your choice. Allow yourself to simply succeed on your own terms, to live in peace, abundance, and joy. One day, one decision at a time, remaining aware of your choices and your feelings. You CAN get there.

Today’s thought is “Debt is Rarely Your Friend.”

There are times in your life when debt is a sign of strength, both personally and financially. The mortgage on your home is an excellent example – well, it’s an excellent example when that loan payment represents less than 32% of your gross income per month or no more than 24% of your take home income per month. Debt is something that can enable us to have a stable home life, a solid vehicle for transportation, or to replace appliances.

However, for most of us, it’s been a way to enable ourselves to get things we want, we feel we deserve, or just to go from day to day. The media, it seems, is constantly providing us with reasons to buy more. We see people on TV, in magazines, on billboards, and on the web, living the good life, and we want to be there, too. Reality TV, especially, has driven much of the trend. We get to peer into the lives of the rich and famous and find ourselves wanting that leather coat, that granite countertop, that custom deck, that beautiful flooring, and we begin to rationalize expenditures. We’re told that we must completely redo our kitchens at least once every ten years. We’re told that without the right look, or the right accessories, we’ve allowed ourselves to stumble or fall behind. The lessons our grandparents and parents taught us based on their years of living through the Great Depression seem antiquated, extraneous and even unrealistic in our world.

However, living within your means, and honoring who you are through meaningful activities is not an antiquated notion. Have you noticed that when you get that next acquisition, there’s always another one on the horizon? The race to catch up is succeeded by the race to keep up, and it is draining, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and most importantly, financially. It’s time to sit back and take stock. What is really important to you?

The first piece of advice I give my clients is stop using your debit card. Leave it home, and only take it with you on vacation. Seems somewhat out of touch, doesn’t it? I mean, it’s so much more convenient that running to the bank and withdrawing money. And that, dear readers, is the problem. A debit card looks, feels, and acts like a credit card. It’s shiny, easy to use, and pain free, until you bounce another check. It’s not a credit card – it’s a very easy method for draining your bank account. Stop using it. Cash hurts more, and that’s good. You want that discipline in your life.

So what is my alternative? Simple: one, always managed credit card, used in conjunction with that cash. Open your wallet. How many credit cards do you have? What’s their annual fee? What’s their interest on outstanding balances? How much do you owe on each?

You need to be very worried about all of those questions. Each credit card has a limit, and that limit shows up on your credit report. Every time you miss a payment, or pay the minimum, that has a negative consequence on your credit score. In my opinion, it is never a wise choice to have a retailer’s credit card. They are simply too expensive, too open to abuse, and extraneous to your needs. Every retailer these days (including Sears, the old holdout) accepts MasterCard, and Visa, and often they will accept both Discover and American Express. My first credit card was an American Express. I was 19 years old, working full time, going to college, and trying to manage my expenses. I have no idea how I qualified for the AmEx, but I will go to my grave thanking the stars for that fortuitous occurrence. Do you know why? Because the green American Express card (the basic card) must be paid off, in full, every month. Talk about discipline! I learned very quickly that this was not as easy as it sounded, so I carefully kept track of every cent I put on that card, and never missed a payment. Never.

Now that I’m all grown up, I have one MasterCard (from a major financial institution), linked to the Frequent Flyer program of my choice. I do not have any retailer’s cards, and my debit card almost never leaves my house. The MasterCard is paid in full, every month. Yes, that means that some months, I have to put off food buying, or gas purchases, or other purchases for a week or two. Yes, that means my family gets to eat creatively crafted dinners that include whatever’s on the pantry or in the freezer, whether or not it makes sense. Yes, it means I plan everything very carefully. The upside is that I maintain my payment schedule discipline, and I never exceed my monthly budget.

Choose your credit card and your credit card provider carefully. Take the luxury of time to investigate policies and practices for each of several providers. Always go with a large company, since they have the resources to support them. Select a vendor with good fraud protection and notification that comes with the card. My vendor calls me within 24 hours or less when a sudden change in spending patterns occurs. Sounds very creepy from the Big Brother point of view, but at this point in my life, I’d rather be safe than sorry. Keep track of your expenditures, and commit to pay the card off monthly, once your decision is made.

What to do with the other cards? Cut them up. Pay them off. Pick a luxury you indulge in monthly, and put it off until these cards are paid off, using the money that would otherwise go to that item. Put off having your nails done, put off having your hair done (yes, you will survive roots), put off going to the dog groomer and brush the dog out yourself: every little bit helps, and the financial freedom is worth far more than the pain of a foregone luxury will cause. Monitor your spending habits and find opportunities for success and achievement. They are always there.

Speaking of financial institutions, let’s look at your bank. Are you banking with one that allows you to link your savings account to your checking account? Do you have overdraft protection? Do you watch your balance online daily to ensure that you know what checks have cleared, and what’s still outstanding? Do you still float checks, hoping that you won’t trip yourself up again? Do your research and select the right bank for you – credit unions tend to have very customer centric programs and offerings, and they tend to be very stable.

This all comes down to one thing. You are in charge of your money. You may be in a situation that you didn’t create, but it is still your problem. You can deal with it successfully, if you take the steps necessary, and are patient. It could take months to slowly restore your confidence, and to establish new healthy spending habits. But, the increase in your credit rating will always be worth it.

Allow yourself to be true to your goals. Allow yourself to take a deep breath and take a break. Allow yourself to be selfish and not spend money because someone else wants you to. Allow yourself to skip an indulgence because it will mean great rewards in the long run. Allow yourself to succeed on your own terms. You have the power, the choice and the freedom to live in peace, abundance, and joy. One day at a time, one decision at a time, you CAN get there.

As always, I’m here to help. All it takes is commitment and patience.

I am a former teacher. I specialized in students no one else wanted because they did not speak the language of the majority, and they were unpredictable, and often had undiagnosed issues. Better yet, I was good at it. I am slowly creating a practice that centers around teens. THIS, I love. I love the enthusiasm, the honesty, the openess. But, the parents are feeling the pinch and they don’t want to spend money, no matter what I can do for grades. I need to advertise my ability to be successful with grades — not quite sure about how to do that, yet.

I am a middle aged woman, married with two children, a dog, and a business. I am stressed at times, I am at peace at times, I have no one to talk to at times. How many women are there out there like me? I love working with women like me. I love giving them someone to talk to, to trust, to allow them to release a burden without asking permission. I love making it easy for them to just be themselves without having to meet someone else’s demands. And, you know what? They have the money to pay me.

I have two passions. I don’t want to do stuff I don’t like, but it makes money. Wow. Strange position to be in. Isn’t this why I left the corporate world and started my own business?

In an economic downturn, it becomes more and more important to remain true to yourself, and to focus on what brings you joy. What becomes murky at moments is how we are willing to define joy.

For the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” fans out there, the reference is clear. For the rest of us, you’ll just have to accept that there’s a big smile on my face as I type.

The First Great Money Habit: DON’T PANIC!!

As you look at your finances in these stressful days, how are you feeling? Every time I pick up a newspaper, read an article on the web, or watch TV, I see something about our economy and the financial state of the world. It’s horrible.

But, my clients can tell you that I never worry about money. Sounds strange, but it really does help. How in the world can I not worry? Because I trust myself. As time has gone by and as I have been trained, I’ve learned one extraordinary lesson: I’m in charge. I don’t spend money because I’m depressed (although I will go window shopping). I don’t spend money because I’m afraid a sale will end, and I might need that cashmere sweater some day in the future. I don’t spend money because my teen-aged children will absolutely fall off the social radar without the latest electronic device.

At all times, my intellect governs my money. It’s no different than when we’re on the job, and we’re told to find ways to cut costs professionally. You don’t panic at work, you simply find ways to do the same amount of work with fewer resources, or you eliminate a trip and hold a conference call instead, or you stop printing every email you receive because it’s easier to read paper than your computer screen. You don’t take these things personally when it’s your job. You can afford yourself the same luxury with your money. You have the power, the right, and the ability to question expenditures, and to say “No” when you want.

The question does arise, however, of how in the world can I not worry? Because I not only know that I’m in charge of my money and my spending behavior, but I also know that I can and always have worked through all of my problems. Each of us can look at our lives and see both good and bad decisions, actions and behaviors, and the causes and effects of our day to day lives. Where do you put your focus? On what went right or what went wrong?

There are many folks who say that the Law of Attraction is bunk, and that simply thinking good thoughts about what you want will not make good things happen. Well, that’s not entirely true, in my book. I think positive thoughts about the future because I know I can weather anything that comes my way. I know that I have lived long enough to find solutions to most of my problems in life, and that even if I don’t have a solution right now, it will come to me.

And honestly, that’s what I hear from my clients, too. They’re adults. They’ve lived. They’ve made good decisions and bad. They’ve learned lessons that have helped them grow. More importantly, the older you become, the more you realize that your reality is where you put your focus. If I decide I’m always broke, and that it will never get better, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. If I decide that I’m in the middle of a minor set back and that things will get better, those opportunities will present themselves, and I can choose to take advantage of them.

Positive thinking is not idiot thinking. It doesn’t all go away if you ignore it (other than your teeth). Your money is yours to spend, save, invest or waste. What results do you want from your life? Who’s in charge of your money? Don’t wish for things to get better – that implies that you have no control, and that you don’t expect that things will improve. Instead, say to yourself “I know
that things will get better, and I know the opportunities will arise to help me solve this situation.” Then, when those opportunities present themselves, take advantage of them, and let yourself succeed. Each of us can only do our best in any situation. Make every decision your best decision. Say “No” when you don’t want to purchase something, even if it means disappointing someone. Say “No” when you’d like to indulge in something, but it will result in you missing a payment on a bill. The opportunity to indulge always comes around again, and you won’t feel guilty when you take advantage of it with your conscience clear.

Allow yourself to be true to your goals. Allow yourself to take a deep breath and take a break. Allow yourself to be selfish and not spend money because someone else wants you to. Allow yourself to skip an indulgence because it will mean great rewards in the long run. Allow yourself to succeed on your own terms. You have the power, the choice and the freedom to live in peace, abundance, and joy. One day at a time, one decision at a time, you CAN get there.

And, as always, if you need help, I’m available. It’s what I do, and it’s what I love to do.

Sharon.

I’m reading Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth. Very interesting stuff. What do you think of it?