(Written by guest contributor Loral Langemeier)
Most people aren\’t born with a silver spoon in their mouth; the truth is very few experience that luxury. Many people opt for settling with the average life, being \”gainfully employed.\” Most buy a home, raise a family, pay into a 401K and get in and (if they\’re lucky) out of debt. Sound familiar? If it does, you\’re in a lifestyle cycle — meaning you tend to struggle your entire life making sacrifices and never gaining much, if any, ground. But it doesn\’t have to be that way. Maybe it\’s time to reexamine your relationship with money. How do you view the role of finances in your life?
Are You Stuck in a Rut?
We all learn by collecting information, acting on it, and experiencing results. So, what we will be thinking, feeling, and doing in the future is usually based on results from our past. This is exactly how people often find themselves in the same old, same old and wondering why nothing has changed. In order for your results to change, how you think, feel, and act around money has to change.
In most cases it\’s YOU that gets in your own way of a healthy financial life because you remain uneducated about how your money should function. But that\’s not your fault. We learn next to nothing from the school system. Education about money is primarily based on conversations and experiences growing up. We heard things like, \”Money doesn\’t grow on trees…\” and that just told us: Money is hard to come by. You can\’t have everything you want.
Get Out of Your Own Way
You can adjust your views and realign your relationship with money. Change how it should function in your life AND gain control of its purpose.
It\’s time to eliminate the noise! I\’m willing to bet you already know what I mean by this. \”Noise\” is comprised of those nasty mind monsters like confusion, excuses, procrastination, rationalizations, blame, and distractions. Believe it or not this noise has proclaimed mutiny on your brain and it has taken over about 85% of your mental activity. It\’s time to exercise your mind and build your solution-based thinking muscles.
When you\’re confronted with an obstacle, what do you do? What are the first thoughts that run through your mind? Is it bringing you to a place of negativity? It\’s time to take control of those knee-jerk reactions and train your brain to gain!
Gain control of your thoughts, emotions, and your actions. While it will take time and effort, it can be done. With practice you will start reducing the amount of noise going on upstairs and learn more powerful behaviors.
Examine Your Beliefs
While you\’re learning to shut down that noise, take time to examine your life. How much of that noise holds you back? Determine where your beliefs originate and examine their validity. Most of your beliefs were formed in childhood and carried into adulthood. Your beliefs are reflected in your conversations about money, which reflect your relationship with money and, in turn, your bank account.
Beliefs become ingrained in your subconscious, causing you to feel like you\’ll never get ahead, or that you\’re not lucky, you\’re inadequate, or you don\’t deserve more. You then act accordingly without conscious consideration. You\’ve become controlled by programmed messages about money and your potential. Most of those messages are antiquated and flat-out wrong. Don\’t buy into them!
If you\’re not happy with the current state of your financial situation, you\’re in a rut. A large part of the problem is running those old reflex conversations through your head. Your goal should be to overcome those negative thoughts and behaviors. Find a way to increase your income and use it to live the way you want to, build a stable financial future, and perhaps, if you\’re driven, create wealth.
So, if you\’re stuck somewhere between your current circumstances and your dream, start now to change your conversation:
• Examine the validity of your current beliefs and conversations around money.
• Eliminate the noise that\’s holding you back by understanding where they came from.
• Replace the negativity and inaction with positive beliefs and actions.
• Take charge of your financial future by being in control.
So what can you accomplish with a little reflection and a new thought pattern? A new life!
And in case you\’re wondering, \”what now?\” consider this: there\’s a little entrepreneur in all of us. Nurture that!