Preparing Yourself For Abundance
Spring has finally arrived, after what felt like an unusually extended winter here on Long Island. Today I was able to go for a hike in a tee-shirt in the same state park where I had been sledding just two weeks ago. It reminded me just how quickly things can change when Mother Earth is ready for the transition. Even with a record 14-inch snowfall so recently, a week of warm sunny days was still going to be in the cards soon, no matter how far away that had seemed during the blizzard.
This has made me think of the dire financial situation that has been splashed across every media outlet through out this long, cold winter. The holidays were tough for many,
bills became a bigger strain for others, and college and retirement funds began to dwindle. Stories of lay-offs, historic unemployment rates, plummeting stocks and heart-breaking tales of complete financial loss through Ponzi schemes abounded.
While there is no denying many people have been truly effected by the recession, times of bottoming out can signify the beginning of transition on grand scale. What if our coldest winter led the way to our most wonderful spring? What if facing deep-seated fears or loss of security…and SURVIVING it, could be empowering, healing and motivating? Is there a way for you to feel that you are financially secure and free before actually seeing it physically? The sunny days could really be right around the corner.
No matter where you are financially, it is simply a summation of everything happening up until this point right…now. Transition towards a better-feeling place about money and wealth can happen as soon as this very moment, if you’d like. Start taking a look at how you feel about money- did you grow up hearing it was the root of all evil? Or perhaps that nobody gets to make good money doing what they love for a living, or that to be rich is to be snobby or a double-crosser. How would you like to feel about money NOW?
Knowledge is power: get very clear about your finances so that you don’t end up in debt with your head in the sand. Write down exactly how much you make each week, month, and year, versus your living expenses. Some will be non-negotiable, such as rent or a bill, and some are more malleable, such as how many dinners out you have each month. Take a week and create a spending budget, writing down honestly and without judgment how much money you spend each day. It can be a very eye-opening experience.
Once you have all this information, you can create a budget for yourself. Seek out the support of a good friend, family member or financial advisor if you need to. The key to not feeling broke is not living check to check spending your last dime on expenses. You might try “paying yourself first,” with 10% of your weekly income going into a savings account. It is exciting to know you have a little nest egg growing without any strain.
Start to examine when you start to feel uncomfortable about money. I used to find that when I needed to talk utility companies, student loan offices or the like, that I tended to feel disempowered, broke and confused if there were was any kind of discrepancy, even when it was their mistake. This was a pattern I wanted to break. I decided to have someone I trusted about money sit with me for support when I had to make these calls. I made sure to have all the information I would need for the phone call handy, and I asked plenty of questions. If I felt that the communication wasn’t going well with a particular representative, I asked to speak to a supervisor. I took deep breathes. I kept my voice strong and firm. While not everyone may relate to this issue, dealing with this has really changed my attitude around money, and in doing so, my actual finances.
Finally, keeping your body and mind healthy is a fantastic investment that shows a very high return! When you feel good most of the time you will avoid the physical and financial costs that come along with being ill. Eating high-quality doesn’t have too pricey when you learn how to shop. Buy a water filter for your faucet, a good quality thermos and quit buying water bottles. Shop the perimeter of the supermarket for fruits, vegetables, and organic meats, and buy your grains in bulk. There are also co-ops where you can shop for reduced prices in many areas of the country. Take a look at your grocery list. Whole foods are not what’s breaking your budget- it is the processed snacks and chips that leave you craving more an hour later the cocktails and beers you didn’t really need and the take-out meals that you could have done better if you had cooked them at home! Getting sub-par food out on a regular basis takes can really eat away at your savings. If you enjoy the socializing and different flavors that restaurant meals provide, why not try a pot-luck dinner with friends? Try theme nights, or having everyone bring a recipe from childhood. Then when you really feel like going out to eat, spring for a special place.
There are probably many ways in which you live an abundant life, even if your bank account is still in the process of becoming what you would like it to be. It can feel good to list the ways in you live richly today-having access to delicious food whenever you are hungry and a hot shower whenever you’d like, having a computer and internet, your own warm and cozy bedroom, your dog, attending a fun concert, having a bike or car that runs well, the vacation you took last summer and so on. Focusing on all that you do have already and enjoying the abundance of it all is sure to invite more into your life!
Happy spring…here’s to a beautiful transition into an even better season of life to us all!
