Small Steps For Fighting Your Money Fears
Face your fears
- Write down your worst
money fears. Once you have
made your list, decide which
fears are real, and which
fears are beyond your control.
Cross out the ones beyond
your control. Then you can
develop a plan to deal with
the fears that are real.
As you move past the fear,
you’ll watch your whole
world change.
- Make
a list of 10 money thoughts
you have had in the past
two weeks. Were they positive
or negative? How could you
treat yourself better? How
can you send a message of
respect and love to yourself
with your money?
- If you have
a money secret that’s
been bothering you, tell
it to a trusted friend. Find
someone to whom you can admit
this secret without fear
of judgment or reprisal.
Then, feel the pleasure you
experience by releasing your “secret.”
- Get
moving for 15 minutes! Consider
what you do for exercise.
Exercise is not usually considered
a money topic, but blocking
the flow of energy in your
body will also block the
flow of energy outward to
create wealth and prosperity
in your life. Do something,
anything, that gets your
heart pumping for 15 minutes.
- Today,
make a date with yourself
to take care of one small
financial issue that is bothering
you (such as requesting a
credit for an unjustified
late fee on a credit card
or ordering an extra copy
of a statement)
- Choose one good money habit to practice for today, such as making a list of everything you spend—and make it a part of your life, just for today.
Visit the past
- Write down the worst
thing that ever happened
to you financially, in three
sentences or less. Then,
write several good things
that came about because of
this event.
- Spend 15 minutes thinking
of a time when work did not
go your way, yet ultimately
provided you with more rewards
than you’d have received
had things gone the way you
had expected.
- Sit down in a quiet place
where you won’t be
disturbed. Set a timer for
four minutes. Close your
eyes and think of the worst
money mistake you have ever
made. Relive the hassle,
frustration, and loss you
experienced one last time—and
then let it go. When the
timer sounds, forgive yourself
for your mistakes. Next time
you are tempted to dwell
on it, say to yourself: “That’s
water under the bridge”,
and move on
- Set a timer for 10 minutes.
Take 8 minutes to think of
the ways that you hold tightly
onto the money in your life.
Think of how you grasp money
and try to squeeze it for
all it’s worth, instead
of simply allowing it to
flow into your life. Then,
clench your hands as hard
as you can for 1 minute.
Feel the tension blocking
the flow of energy in your
hands. For the last minute,
relax your hands and let
the tension flow out of your
body.
- Money has a natural
ebb and flow. Spend 10 minutes
focusing on the ebb and flow
of money in your life. Sometimes
there is more than you need,
and other times there is
less than you want. This
exercise will help give you
perspective the next time
your money seems to have “deserted” you.
It will be back soon, with
the next flow tide.
- List 5 things you thought were important in life but you have found that you can live without. They can be physical things, emotional things, or qualities, such as status or prestige. What is more important to you now?
- When you are in the middle
of a financial crisis, it’s
easy to blame yourself—but
try to resist the urge. Always
remember, keep your head
held high, and your eye to
the future. Tell yourself
that “this too shall
pass” and reward yourself
in small ways for the progress
you make. Your self worth
is not dependent on your
net worth.
- Make a list of
some of your best attributes
and skills. Each day, choose
one attribute to concentrate
on. Write it into the blank
on this affirmation: “I
am ________, and with each
day, I am wiser, stronger
and more self-confident.” Tape
this affirmation to your
mirror. Say it to yourself
throughout the day.
- Take
a small risk with something
you do each day—take
a different route to work,
try a new type of ethnic
cuisine, experiment with
a new hobby. Get used to
taking small risks in life
and seeing what happens.
Increasing your tolerance
for risk will help you
expand your horizons and
think more creatively about
your investments.
- Did you get enough sleep last night? Do you usually get enough sleep? Figure out five ways that you get more rest in your life. If you are well-rested, you will have the focus you need to create prosperity in your life.
- Stand in front of a mirror
and say today’s Money
Attraction Affirmation to
yourself 20 times right now.
- Find a quote,
poem, or religious verse
that inspires you. Copy it
and post it where you will
see it. Whenever you are
feeling the “money
crazies”, look at your
inspirational message and
remember that you are much
more important than money.
- If you are worried about something, ask yourself, what difference will this make six years from now? If it will make a significant difference, begin working to solve it. If it won’t make a difference, recognize where it fits into your priorities.
Get support from your friends
- Think of the person who
most supports your life,
who offers you hope and encouragement
when things look bleak. Write
this person a thank-you letter
for all he or she has done
for you.
- List 5 people you really
enjoy talking to about your
life—who make you feel
energized and strong after
you spend time with them.
List 5 people who are the
exact opposite—who
drain you and make you feel
weak and hopeless. List ways
you can spend more time with
the former and less with
the latter. Would your favored
five like to join
with you in a Money Club?
- Think about friends with
whom you’d like to
share information and who
can act as a support system
for you or join with you
in a Money Club. Write their
names down, then give them
a call.
- Organize a regular family “money
meeting” to discuss
your financial situation,
dreams, and goals. Use this
time to brainstorm creative
solutions to problems and
generate ideas to improve
your future. Make it fun
and educational by holding
back criticism and approaching
problems with a “can-do” attitude.
- Build your financial “advisory
board.” Which of your
friends can you count on
for unbiased career advice?
Who is good with investments?
Who comes up with the most
creative ideas for getting
out of a financial jam? Start
a Money Club to build on
your strengths and help each
other achieve your financial
goals.
- It’s sometimes
hard to look at yourself
objectively. Ask your friends
in your Money Club to help
you assess your talents
and suggest what you can
do in the future to make
the most of them
- Form a support group. Do you know other women who could use financial guidance? Invite them for a casual gathering at your home, and talk about the money issues that concern you. Odds are, some members of the group will be able to offer support and advice to others facing similar issues. If there is interest among your friends and peers, you could hold regular meetings and start a Money Club of your own!
