Money
Fears: 5 Steps to Mastery
There's so much about our relationship with money that
can be incredibly rewarding and nurturing, but if our
fears are overactive, we face an uphill battle.
The goal is not to eradicate fear altogether. Fear,
like all other emotions, is a helpful guide, providing
important information. The key is to employ our fears
to serve us, instead of allowing them to drive the bus.
There are five steps to mastering your money fears.
1. Name It
A Chinese proverb says, "When you name a thing,
you tame it." The best way to diminish fear's power
is to call it out from its hiding place. Identify your
specific fears. What exactly are you afraid of? What
thoughts and beliefs amplify your fears? In a stream
of consciousness fashion, let your thoughts and feelings
flow without censoring yourself.
2. Hear It
Imagine your fear is a guide, trying to tell you something.
What message lies within your fear? What is the fear
saying about something you'd like to change in your
relationship with money? What is it asking you to pay
attention to?
3. Contain It
Feel your fear, but contain it. Don't let your fears
leak out all day, buzzing in the background. Try a daily
"15-minute freak out" (preferably not too
close to bedtime). During this block of time you can
feel the fear, write about it, cry, yell, and get yourself
all sweaty and nauseous. If your fear pops up outside
of that time, don't give into it. Tell it you'll pay
full attention to it at the next designated freak-out
session. By doing so, you claim your rightful place
at the helm and take power away from your fears. If
you try this, you'll probably find you don't need to
do it everyday. Even once may be enough. It goes to
show just how flimsy fears truly are.
4. Flip It
Anything worth having in life has both fear and excitement
attached to it. Where there's money fear, there's also
money excitement. Maybe you've spent so much time on
the fear side that it's become your default mode. Flip
that fear and start building a vision around what excites
you about money. What would it be like if you could
partner with money to fund your dreams? What if your
interactions with money were aligned with who you are
as a person? What if money could support all you care
about most? Spend more time on the excitement side,
and the fear will diminish. What do you know so far
about your short-, mid-, and long-term life goals?
5. Do It
If you're waiting for your fear to completely disappear
before you move forward, you'll be forever stuck. Take
action. As they say, feel the fear and do it anyway.
What small step can you take this week that aligns with
your vision for what you want? Write it down in a visible
place, alongside your other priorities so it doesn't
get lost in the shuffle. When you accomplish that step,
move onto the next and before you know it, you'll be
living a new relationship with money.
Living It
Mastering your money fears isn't easy. Each step requires
your commitment and presence, but the end result is
well worth it: less stress, more clarity about financial
decisions, and the energy required to propel you toward
your goals. Without money fears sapping your energy
and derailing your efforts, think of all you'll be able
to create and accomplish. So what are you waiting for?
Start practicing and become the powerful fear master
you know you can be.
Contact:
Debbie Lacy, www.MoneyMindful.com
206.709.3948
See Debbie's other article: Does
Your Money Need a Job?
Copyright Protection and Reprint Rights: This
article and accompanying tips are fully copyrighted
by the author, but can be reprinted without permission
provided the article links back to this page: http://www.800Muses.com/muse-profiles/muse-debbie.htm
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