We live in a culture that encourages debt and denies the lost art of delaying gratification. And, like color that fades on a cheap paint job, the repercussions of this lifestyle are beginning to show.
For example, researchers at Ohio State University in Columbus have found that high levels of income-eating debt, especially big credit-card bills, may be related to high blood pressure, insomnia and even problems with physical mobility, vision and hearing. Additionally, a recent survey shows that the overall, number one, greatest source of stress is personal finances. And, what do couples and business partners report that they fight about most often? Money.
Money is a hot-button issue for the majority of people these days. Everybody, it seems, has money issues, whether it is concern about the lack of resources or the fear of losing it. Many men and women experience a debilitating lack of confidence about supporting themselves, their children and their parents, while also trying to provide for their own secure retirement.
Meanwhile, we are showered with seductive messages to “Buy Now, Pay Later.” Which many of us do. Then we have to work harder to keep up with payments, which causes even more stress. For everyone involved.
Because the language of money is complex it is also subject to misinterpretation. Often it is the earliest messages we received about money that influence our current beliefs. So, one of the first steps in dealing with money issues is to check out old ideas that continue to shape our attitudes and behavior.
Personal and professional partners, who may have grown up with different values about money, need to talk about their beliefs. Not who is right and who is wrong, but what their basic beliefs are. According to the Institute of Certified Financial Planners, by better understanding our attitudes and values toward money, we may be more able to regain control of our money instead of letting it continue to control us.
Many books on how to deal with financial issues are available, and seeking wise counsel from professionals such as banks, consumer financial agencies, financial planners and advisors, and accountants, is always a good idea.
Meanwhile, here’s a Baby Step you can take to begin identifying and shifting any self-destructive attitudes you may have about money. Explore replacing a few of your counterproductive money beliefs with this simple four-fold commitment:
1: I am grateful for all the good in my Life.
2: I am a responsible steward of my time, talent and money.
3: I live within my means.
4: I plan and save for my future.
Author’s content adapted under license, © 2008 Claire Communications
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About djwlifecoach
I am retired from 40+ years of helping individuals and teams build lives and organizations they love. One of the great joys of my retirement from professional practice is having greater bandwidth to donate my professional and creative talents to support and promote animal and social welfare charities.
During my 30 years as an organization transformation consultant, I served as a senior partner in four of the world’s largest, most prestigious global professional services firms. In 2005, I took a five-year sabbatical to find healing and peace because non-stop work had taken its toll.
My recovery from burnout led to finding my purpose guiding others on their journeys. As a board-certified coach, author, consultant, radio host, Reiki Master and EFT/tapping practitioner, I share hope, possibilities and empowerment with the world.
111419 DJW Sid CH Pet Corner Photo ShootI help clients achieve rapid, extraordinary, sustainable results by connecting who they are with what they do, a connection often lost through stress and the sheer busy-ness of daily life. Courageous self-awareness and unconditional self-love lead to honest choices based on priorities that nurture you and those around you on a journey to wholeness.
Decades in coaching, consulting, change management, organization development, human resources and mixed media artistic expression honed my business sense, professionalism, creativity, intuition, leadership and communication skills. The result? Practical tools that help you become more insightful, creative, committed, productive and fulfilled.
Even the most dedicated and hard-working individuals can shift from frustration to a sense of futility when their values, passion, work, and lives become disconnected. One of the problems with not taking care of our health is that the effects of ignoring it are often slow to show up. We continue to juggle family responsibilities, work and finances until we lose ourselves, waking up one day 50 pounds heavier in body and soul—no good to ourselves or anyone else.
I love working with people who are ready to take life-changing action to make their dreams a reality. At each moment, you have inside you all the wisdom you seek to choose your life and your way of showing up. Limiting thoughts, beliefs and feelings can block you from moving forward. An absence of love and concern for yourself can result in negative head talk that holds you back with discouraging messages about who you are and what you can do.
By listening and caring deeply, I guide you in connecting with your own inner wisdom. We identify the way you’d like to live. We determine what’s blocking you and release you from the hold those blocks have over you—unleashing the positive energy that will fuel you forward. Together we develop a plan to move you closer to your heart’s desire.
My books, blog, radio show and signature coaching programs help individuals and organizations harness the transformative energy of love to turn unexplored possibilities into fulfilling realities and step into their greatness. What’s love got to do with it? Everything! My book, Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life! (Hay House/ Balboa Press 2013) shares my story and the stories of 10 of my clients along with my signature Discovery Framework.
For fun, I love reading, sewing, knitting, yin yoga, afternoon tea, opera and movies. I live in Williamsburg, Virginia with my spouse, Wilson Abney, and the cat who runs our life, Maisy Jane.
We live in a culture that encourages debt and denies the lost art of delaying gratification. And, like color that fades on a cheap paint job, the repercussions of this lifestyle are beginning to show. 
Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life! 
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to “return the
favor”.I’m attempting to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
If you mean ideas in terms of how I structured my blog site or coaching web site and features, yes you’re free to adopt them and I’m happy you found them inspiring. If you mean reproducing my content, I am glad you’re finding the content meaningful and prefer that you provide links to either or both of my sites rather than reproducing my content on your site. If you wish to reproduce any of it on your site or elsewhere, you will need to contact me with information about exactly how you plan to use it and receive express permission to do so, since the content is copyrighted. You would also need to provide attribution to me as the author. Happy blogging!