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The answer is yes! It is important, that´s my honest opinion. Your financial health influences a lot of other aspects of your life and from a holistic point of view, it is needed you give it enough attention as part of your whole well-being.
I want to start with a remark on something that is often neglected when discussing financial health. And it is that our finances are a result of our state of mind about money.
Before doing any changes around your personal finances check how is your mindset
Our finances are a result of daily habits and thinking patterns that were defined through the years, most of them since we were small children. Therefore, to have healthy finances we need to start by identifying those patterns or paradigms we may have about money.
Also, we need to figure out if they are doing more harm than good, if that is the case, change them… of course, this can not be done through the night but with patience and consistency it is perfectly possible.
Think about this chain: Thoughts – feelings – actions – results. Your actual results in your finances are, like many other aspects of your life, a result of your thoughts.
Popular Sayings About Money That Could be Reflecting Harmful Thoughts
For instance, let me mention some popular sayings related to money and ask you to think about how many times you find yourself repeating them or if you believe them:
- The worldwide famous… “Money does not grow in trees”: Well, literally it is true but its actual meaning is that money is too hard to get… and… is it really?
- “Money can’t buy you Happiness”: Maybe it can´t but it sure can help you do things that will make you feel happy if you love writing, for instance… wouldn´t you love to have the ability to finance the publication of your own book?. If you love children and want to help children in need, how great would it make you feel to have the funds to start a project to give education and food to poor children?.
- “Money is the source of all problems”: Well, I certainly know it can be a source of many problems as it can be a source of many solutions, all depend on the hands that have it. Money is an instrument and as with many other instruments, it can be used for different purposes both bad and good.
- “Is dangerous to have money, it attracts all kinds of thieves, scammers, etc”: This can not be farther from reality. It´s your lifestyle that determines this, you can attract all kinds of people having or not having any money.
I could go on and on but I think you get the idea, so what you have to do now is start questioning these preconceived ideas about money, you may have.
Now, I dare you to change those thoughts… if you have them of course, it is not a matter of making money the most important thing for you but of giving it the importance it really has.
Small changes you can start doing now to improve your mindset about money
Check your ideas about money
Write down some ideas you have about money, take some time to really think about:
- How would you feel having lots of money and discover if you have any fears related to that?
- Think about what your parents used to tell you about money
- Think about your main thoughts when you check your monthly budget or when you receive an income
Write all these down and then change those statements or thoughts by positive ones in the case, of course, they are not so positive.
You could discover interesting stuff. Let me tell you that when I did this, I discover something I was not aware of… I had the thought that very rich people were in danger all the time. I believed that they needed to hire bodyguards and live watching their backs permanently… This belief is due to an experience I had at an early age with a relative that was very rich and ended up killed, but the truth is his fortune did not kill him, getting into some not-so-legal business did.
Put some attention to your language about money
Every time you find yourself saying things like the popular sayings mentioned above, or any negative words about money, change them immediately for more positive words, for instance, if a friend tells you about a new restaurant and your first thought is to say “I can´t afford to eat in a place like that”, that sets in your mind the idea you are not capable of something. You may be not able to do it now but you could eventually. So, say instead: I am watching my expenses right now but maybe in near future I could go with you.
Be more aware about what you read and what you watch
Start reading more books about setting a positive mindset about money, how to have healthy finances, successful people biographies, etc.
I will share here my list of favorites to start off.
Start avoiding those movies or programs where rich people are bad, or delinquents.
Install more positive habits and thinking patterns about money
Focus on abundance instead of scarcity, this is a big one and takes time if you have very hard and negative patterns installed in your mind, but being more aware of them will help you to start changing them.
Allow yourself to dream
Is very understandable that we want to avoid pain by forbidding ourselves to dream. It is a very human and natural mechanism of self-defense. And if you have had a past of not achieving your financial goals or not even getting to set some goals because you are always struggling to get to the end of the month, maybe you have quit dreaming big.
Well, in order to change your state of mind about money, dreaming is needed. Think about the things you have always wanted but your budget gets always in the middle.
Maybe a trip? a house? a business? Allow yourself to think even about the details… If it is a trip, would you go by plane, by car? That will trigger a series of thoughts about how much money is needed and how you could make it. But please if the thought of getting more credit card debt comes to your mind shut it down immediately, you should put your mind to work in more healthy ways of achieving those dreams.
Once you have followed all these steps, you could set some goals, realistic ones, to save or invest your money.
If you have been struggling with your finances start today working on your mindset and soon I will share with you some practical steps you can do to improve your financial health, but remember that any plan won´t work if you don’t work on your mind first, so you prevent yourself to go back to the old bad habits.
I wish you all the prosperity!
Love
Monica
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