Freedom or stress: What is at the heart of your Money Story?

When you think about “money,” what words or feelings come up for you?
 
This is one of the first exercises I do with clients of my “Re-Write Your Money Story” program. Here’s a sampling of responses that I’ve heard from a number of people of what money means to them:

• Freedom
• Burden
• Not enough
• Greedy
• Flow
• Energy
• Stress

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Looking at this list, you start to realize that money isn’t just about money. There’s a whole host of feelings, connections, attachments, ideas, beliefs and experiences associated with money.
 
And guess what? You carry all of these feelings, ideas and beliefs about money with you…when you pay for groceries, when you look for the best prices in travel, or when you hear a news story about the economy.
 
You have associations with money that shape how you look at money and how you treat it. Some of these associations you might very well be aware, and some of them may be unconscious in the way they’re playing out in your life.
 
These associations with money are what I call your Money Stories.
 
Your Money Stories are beliefs and emotions that you hold that affect your relationship with money.
 
How you feel about money and how you treat it are signposts to your Money Stories.
 
Some of your Money Stories are helpful to you, and some of them are not. As you can see from the list above, some help you to feel expansive. Other times, money stories may give you a feeling of stress and restriction.
 
The question to ask is, which Money Stories are operating predominantly in your life?
 
The first step to Re-Write Your Money Story is to uncover the Money Stories operating in your life.

For your coaching assignment for this week, here are a few questions to help you get started. Bring out a journal and write down your responses.
 

• What feelings and emotions come up for you when you think about money?
• What did you hear about money growing up?
• What are the different ways you treat money compared with your friends and family?
• Where in your life do you feel limited when it comes to money?

 
As you begin to delve into these questions, be extra gentle and tender with yourself. A lot of emotional energy can be released in shining a spotlight in an area of your life you might not have really explored.

​If any heavy emotions come up, know that it’s okay. Bring an observer’s eye to how money operates in your life.
 
We are bringing a greater sense of Awareness and Compassion. This is one of the first steps in your journey to awakening with your money. I encourage you to breathe spaciousness in this exploration.
 
And here’s the wonderful thing.
 
If you don’t like your Money Story, know that you can change your Money Story! What was written once can be re-written. This is because you are the Author of your life. You get to choose how the story of your money life unfolds.
 
If you are feeling the need for support to Re-Write Your Money Story, here are a couple ways I can help.
 
In the next few weeks, I’ll be opening up a new group online class of my Re-Write Your Money Story program. I’ve been offering this program on a one-on-one basis to a number of people over the last year, and the results for each of them have been phenomenal.
 
As one Re-Write Your Money Story participant wrote to me, “I feel more confidence and power when it comes to money. You offer the mindset, the spiritual practices and the space for non-judgment.”
 
If you’d like to get notified about this class and the early bird special, sign up below.
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If you'd like support sooner, I offer a 30-minute Free Clarity Session to help you get clear on your next steps when it comes to money (and your career too!). If you’d like to sign up for that, click here.
 
As always, I’d love to hear from you. What are some money stories you heard growing up?  What money stories do you suspect you're carrying around with you? Please leave a comment below.
 
Abundant Blessings and Namaste.