Financial Consultant, Trainer and Speaker on Psychology of Money, Financial Counseling for Couples

Many of us bring big baggage to our money lives. That includes me! I grew up with depression era parents and internalized the scarcity model of living. It’s taken me lots of personal growth work to shift to a model of prosperity in my thinking, actions and feelings. This didn’t happen overnight. And I continue to work at it!

What many people don’t get is this: Your personal financial numbers reflect your internal story of what you believe to be true about money. If you aren’t earning enough, maybe it’s because at your root, you don’t believe you deserve more. If you are accumulating growing debt, maybe it’s because you value living more in the present and aren’t worried about your future.

Whatever is not working in your money life, is in part because of the quality of the relationship you have with money. Many people bring the qualities of avoidance, fear, inadequacy and vagueness to their financial lives.

What if you were to bring to money, the same qualities you bring to the best relationships you have in your life. What would it look like to befriend money? What would it look like to bring the qualities of respect, stewardship, confidence, competency, control and peace to your relationship with money.

Here’s an exercise to help you discover your relationship with money. Find a quiet space with no distractions. Take pen to paper and begin writing….”Dear Money,” let your writing flow from your center rather than your head. Write until you have fully expressed yourself, saying all you have to say. What needs to happen to heal your relationship with money?