Today’s Quote

 

“First people, then money, then things.”

– Suze Orman

 

 

---

What are You Worth?

 

It may amuse you to know that when I was a kid my 2 biggest heroes were Elizabeth 1 and Caroline Chisholm.

 

In fact I was SO hooked on Elizabeth 1 that when I was in Year 10  I wrote a play that the school produced about Elizabeth’s life. What was my interest in Elizabeth 1? I have been enthralled since I was 8 that she had taken a religious-based-war-torn-country from poverty into a prosperous Golden Age so they could enjoy a wealth of artistic expression (start with Shakespeare..), and had  given the people freedom to openly believe what honoured their conscience/spirit/soul, after years of torture and persecution for their beliefs. She was also VERY human and lived a long life – a major accomplishment – until she died at 63 years old (REALLY old in those days).

 

I did a project on Caroline Chisholm at school…she was pictured on the $5 note before they changed from paper to plastic money, as recognition for being one of Australia’s greatest women for her assistance to convict and colonial women. Most were homeless and without work when they arrived in the colony, in poor health and living on the streets. After great persistence she was granted a building by the Governor and  from this space she housed and found jobs for over 1000 women. Later, seeing the needs of future migrant women to the colony, she was the first to set up an employment office, arrange work contracts, working conditions and pay. While she looked after her own 9 children and household, Caroline assisted over 11000 women and never accepting pay for her work.

 

Heroes are so important to us as children and as role models as adults. In retrospect, my innate intuitive intelligence was setting me up for life. I admired that each had integrity and a desire to assist others in need for the greater good .

 

Throughout my corporate career in HR and recruitment I saw time and again that the way people thought about themselves was reflected in the work they did, the way they presented and talked about themselves and others AND reflected in their pay. This is living, walking talking SELF VALUE and Self WORTH.

 

 

A kinesiology definition of Proud has nothing to do with having a chest and medals to pin on it. Proud in kinesiology terms is knowing who you are, knowing what you are about and comfortable in your skin. During my days in Corporate I noticed  that those who were PROUD of themselves valued what they had to offer, were paid more and more in demand. They also had more to SHARE because they knew that no one could take away their most valuable asset…their Self Knowledge, their knowledge about themselves.

 

So it was no surprise to hear money expert Suze Orman say, at the Hay House I Can Do It conference in August 2012, that the No. 1 fear of women is that they will lose all their money, or never have enough money and will end up a bag lady.  Suze was promoting her new book Women and Money, an excellent resource for both men and women providing a 5 month plan to get your finances in order and growing.

 

The fear of missing out and not having enough is so common that for years I have worked with women and men to release their fears around money and to provide practical tools and resources so You can become friends with Your money and PROUD of your relationship with your money- that you know all about You and your money, know what it’s about (Money) and comfortable with your relationship with Money.

 

The Fear is SO intense that it creates a BIG fat refusal to even look at finances. Just as with your other goals in life,  your money needs attention to create a solid foundation from which to grow. When you want to be healthy you look at your diet and your exercise and you create a healthy balance that is in line with your values and your goals. It is no different with money.

 

Why is this so important to me? Because YOUR money is YOUR money and it reflects in your self worth. Money gives you Choice and is an energy that allows you to do more, discover more…to expand your life.

 

Money worries create a feeling of No Choice, which in kinesiology terms means STRESS. If you are worried about money you need to pay attention to Your money and you do that from the inside out…what you think you are worth and what your life style is saying you are worth. What your posture says…are your brow beaten wanting to slump into yourself away from the world or walking tall, head high, comfortable in yourself . Your behaviour around spending…do you buy cheap because you can get more because you are worried you won’t have enough? Or, because you KNOW how much you have to spend you buy quality and wisely? How do you share money with family and friends…buy gifts or meals and become upset / hurt they are rarely or never reciprocated? Lend money even though you can’t afford it?

 

 

Money is a form of expression, it’s a way of communicating. Your behaviour and the behaviour of those around you are telling you what you are worth – to You and them.

 

And SHAME and BLAME is the key element that blocks us from looking at our money, paying attention to where it is going and how to grow it is. Time and again I have heard in clinic sessions, “But Deb, I am just SO embarrassed, so ashamed I don’t know how much I earn/owe/ spend or what my credit card or other debts are. I feel too embarrassed to talk to anyone about fixing my money situation.” So, you talk to me and we work with releasing the fears and blocks to you creating a healthy relationship with money.

 

 

Shame keeps us locked in a cage of embarrassment and horror that anyone will find out, especially that massive credit card debt. Blame is the other part of this BIG block…blaming others, the economy, the celebrity that endorsed the product, the bank, the boss. This stops you from growing from a mistake and using the learning to move on.

 

I know. In 2000 I left a 7 1/2 year relationship. With me I took a massive amount of debt because 6 months beforehand , instead of listening to my inner voice and leaving then, I made an agreement to give it another go and support my then partner in a business venture. For many years later as I repaid the debt to the bank I blamed myself for not listening to myself and him for not honouring the debt. When 8 years later I realised that I needed to create a bridge over the hole of debt I had built in my mind so that I could move on to greener financial pastures I did and the debt was finally repaid 2 years later. How? I accepted FULL responsibility for making a poor choice. And that was the end of it.

 

I had learnt a VALUABLE lesson. You can either be stuck in the problem or part of the solution. Where do you want to be?

 

 

It delights me now to see so many Gen Ys living their financial dreams…over the years many have called or emailed me to make  an appointment saying” it’s time to find the money Deb” when wanting a better paid job. Others come in looking to get rid of what is stopping them from creating healthy financial plans to buying their first property – and SO many of you have! BRAVO!- while others are seeking to make money doing what they LOVE doing! Again BRAVO! to the many of you who are now doing that!

 

Remember, once we discover and release the belief systems, fears, emotional and energetic patterns stopping you from creating the healthy financial life you want – you can start to use the wealth of information you have stored all these years to really activate your plans and ADD to them.

 

Is stressing and worrying about money working for you? What VALUE do you place on changing that for Yourself? What are You really WORTH? And are you LIVING it?

 

Be the Hero of Your Own Life. It’s time to START NOW.

 

Looking forward to seeing you for an appointment, event or workshop soon,

All the best,

Deb