This week's question is quite timely given all the talk about the economy and the up and down trip of the stock market over the past weeks. Thanks to "Open to Abundance" for the following question:
Dear Ask Remabulous,
What coaching suggestions do you have for attracting abundance and financial prosperity? I am open to ideas on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Thanks,
Open to Abundance.
image: bradipo via flickr.
Dear Open to Abundance,
Thank you for asking this question. When the news is blaring on about the economy and the readio keeps talking about gas prices going up and the Dow going down, it can be discouraging to think about the possibility of abundance and prosperity.
First and foremost, I love that you are open to solutions on all the levels that you talked about. I will address each one here.
On the physical level, I will talk about the actual currency itself. I have found, in studying with Conscious Bookkeeping and in my own records that for some strange reason, money goes further when I keep track of where it is going. Setting up quicken or quickbooks and watching where your money is going can be a huge wake-up call. You haven't said in your note whether you are the sort of person who tracks spending and income or if you are the sort who shoves bank statements into drawers unopened, but I will say that shining a light in the dark of that knowledge often helps us open to abundance.
Mentally, if we are not doing what I mentioned above, money becomes a subconscious trigger for stress. If our mental link is between money and stress, we will sabotage ourselves from earning more. If our bookkeeping and records arent running well, or if we need to hire someone to help us but keep resisting doing so, there is a negative association going on inside that connects earning more with suffering. I also find that playing with the labelling of your bookkeeping system, as Conscious Bookkeeping suggested to me, is a huge support. How much more fun to have a savings acount labelled "seeing the world" savings. This makes it more fun for me to save and, when that deal on a flight somewhere fun comes up, I have money ready to take advantage of it. Many financial planners recommend saving, even if you are in debt, because as you pay down the debt, you can also have money ready for fun or to cover sudeen expenses, which increases your feeling of safety, which is often what people hope for when achieving abundance.
This bridges into the emotional as well. I woudl encourage you to create positive emotional experiences with money. There are a few ways to do this. One is to create a soothing ritual around bill paying and around reconciling bank statements every month. My teacher, Bari Tessler, encourages the use of organic chocolate as a tonic in these moments. Who wouldn't enjoy bill paying if there was nice music on and chocolate involved as well as a rewarding bath afterwards? Try to conjure an attitude of gratitude when paying- be thankful that you are able to pay as much as you can and that you have access to the services you are paying for. I find this very useful. Writing "thank you" in the memo line of checks -if you pay bills that way- or when endorsing checks written to you has been a great practice I have enjoyed as well.
On the opposite side of the emotional scale, I also like to encourage people to take the emotion out of financial elements. When we make money decisions or think about money and finances when we are scared, upset, or sad, it is hard to make good decisions and choices. Try to distance yourself, even if you are more of a touchy feely intuitive type, as I am. I have been very much helped by trying to think of finances as a game or mental exercise. I love Chellie Campbell's books, The Wealthy Spirit and Zero to Zillionaire, which both suggest the idea of "sending out ships."
What this means is that whenever we send out an opportunity into the world to receive money for, whether that is advertising goods, contacting potential clients, marketing, networking, etc, think of that as a ship in the time when trade was conducted via ship. Now, if you were a trading company and needed to sell six ships worth of goods to make a profit, it wouldn't make much sense to only send out six ships to trade with. Why not? Because not every ship was going to come back with goods or money. Weather, storms, rocky coastline, illness, and pirates were all real risks at this time. So- the companies needed to learn how many ships to send out in order to get back enough goods to profit. Taking a step back from fear and playing with the idea of it being an equation or math problem about sending out ships can take the charge out of the situation, and can make taking risks and putting yoruself and your business out there easier. How many ships are you sending out now? How many more do you think you need to send to get the results you are hoping for?
On a spiritual level, I think there are many ways to be open to this concept, and all of them are very personal in terms of choice. The concept I like to use is to visualize the outcome I am hoping for, but to let go of the need to control exactly how I get form point a (where I am at the beginning) to point b (to the level of prosperity I want to reach). I do know that it helps to get specific. Wanting to make enough to save for a specific trip or purchase is helpful and the desire is focused making us more motivated. And connecting to any positive thinking and willingness to do what it takes to get to your goal is a huge asset to you cause.
Above all, don't give up on your dreams or your hopes because of money. Nothing shuts down a feeling pf prosperity or abundance more than feeling "I can't afford it" about what you ahve always wanted to do. Get creative and find ways to pursue things you love within your means and the feeling of prosperity will move you forward. As Tim Ferriss said about wealth in his book the 4 hour Work Week, most people don't really want to be millionaires- they just want to live the life they think is only possible by having millions.
How do you get creative with money? What make syou feel most abundant? Please share your answers in the comments- both "Open to Abundnace" and i are eager to hear your responses.
Thank you!
Caroline
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