good financial decisions, is an important first step to attracting wealth. A tip for spenders and givers, who both tend to end up carrying debt, is to cut up credit cards and start using cash. “There is no emotional connection with sliding a debit or credit card, but when you physi- cally hand over $200 in cash, you feel that,” says Casserly.
Create a Life Map
With her Dunkin’ Donuts job behind her and a blank slate ahead, Smith took a serious self-inventory. When she concluded that she wanted to work with animals, she called a kennel and agreed to groom dogs a few hours each day in exchange for an education in dog training. Within a few years, she owned a lucrative dog training and boarding business.
“Our lives are the stories we nar- rate for ourselves,” she says. “If we don’t like the story our life has become, we can tell our self a better one… and act on it.” Smith recommends making a “Treasure Map to a Rich Life” out of poster board as a visual reminder of what’s important to us (e.g., travel, fam- ily, a career in a specific field). When life circumstances derail those aspira- tions, which often happens, we can take a reminder peek.
Say our leading aspiration is get- ting out of debt. Imagine what the day would look, feel and taste like absent that nagging credit card bill. Would we start saving for a son or daughter to go to college or quit that second job? Write it all down and post the intention in full view. “Surround yourself with all the things you are trying to create,” ad- vises Casserly. “Persistently replace any shame, blame and guilt with dreams and desires.”
Earn with Our Spirit in Mind
As Rosemary Williams, founder of Women’s Perspective (WomensPer- spective.org), puts it: “Spirituality and money come together easily when we realize that we cannot live a satisfacto- ry life when we don’t engage our own spirits or when we operate against our soul’s purpose.” No one would argue that we all tend to do our best work when we choose jobs we are passion- ate about, and that when we invest in
For the first time, half of all U.S. workers are women, and that changes everything. Not just for women, but also for spouses, families, bosses, coworkers and society. This is a permanent change in our culture that’s affecting nearly every aspect of our lives—how we work and play and care for one another.
~ The Shriver Report
things contrary to our beliefs, they are never as satisfying.
“Part of what the chaos of the cur- rent economy is bringing up for people is the question, ‘What am I here to do and what calling do I have?’” says Rob- inson, noting that the root of the word enthusiasm is entheos, or “God within,” in Greek. “Try to figure out what it is that enthuses you,” she counsels, “and then ask, ‘How can I make a living at this?’ at least part of the time.”
Trust Gut Wisdom
Whether deciding in which stock to invest or whether to trust a potential business partner, the power of intuition cannot be understated, advises Robin- son. Some view a gut instinct as the sub- conscious synthesis of past knowledge that rises to the surface when our brain needs it. Others see it as a manifestation of a Higher Power. Either way, it’s worth listening to, as a critical adjunct. A good way to start each day is with a 10-minute prayer/meditation, asking that inner voice to provide three ways to help advance our financial
health, and staying alert the rest of the day to listen for the answer, which can come when we least expect it. “I often find that when a woman asks these questions, it primes the pump, and when she is walking the dog or doing the laundry, she may hear an inner voice speaking,” Robinson says. “Pay attention.”
Spend According to Personal Values
To Washington-based writer Vicki
Robin, author of The New York Times best seller, Your Money or Your Life,
financial independence is as much about spending less as making more. “It’s not about going out and getting a financial advisor or turning over your savings to the stock market. It’s about living within your means, saving money and getting out of debt,” she observes. “Every financial decision you make is a chance to say ‘What are my values, re- ally, and how does this serve them?’” Robin recommends viewing mon- ey as “life energy” and assigning value as such to each purchase we make. Is that high-end haircut and coloring re- ally worth the stress or time away from family for what it costs? What is worth that much to us? Once we start aligning our spending with that inner conver- sation, we will inevitably spend less, which results in less debt, more savings and ultimately, more freedom, she says. Smith agrees. With the money
she made working with animals, she invested first in real estate, and then in stocks. When she acknowledged her four-bedroom, three-bath home didn’t jive with her Earth-conscious values, she downsized. She still drives a 12-year-old car, frequents Craigslist and sticks with a frugal but gratifying “values-based budget.” The payoff for her, her husband and her young daughter has been huge. “We spend very little on housing or transportation, but we buy organic food. We travel when we want to, we homeschool our daughter and we spend as much time as we want togeth- er,” she smiles. “Probably the biggest thing this has all bought us is time.”
Lisa Marshall is a freelance writer who lives in Lyons, Colorado. Contact her at
LisaMarshall08@gmail.com.
natural awakenings
May 2010
37
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