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Money is a tool. You provide the fuel. Let it Flow!

I’ve been reflecting on the relationship I have with money.  Friend or Foe?  Abundant or Scarce?   A source of joy or a source of pain?  It seems as complicated as any kind of relationship really, rooted in borrowed beliefs I’ve adopted from an early age.  I’ve recently learned more about this by listening to the audio book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, by T Harv Eker.   My borrowed beliefs have me thinking, “I’m slightly ashamed to admit that I listened to such a shallow topic.”  This  speaks to my financial blue print, as Harv would say.  A blue print which has been embedded from an early age, based on how my parents treated money and talked about money.   A few words come to mind, which are probably the foundation of my financial blue print, “comfortable” and “source of stress”.

My ambivalence towards money may explain why I am having such a difficult time writing this post.  I’ll take it as a sign.  All day Sunday I’d start writing, then stop.  I’d delete and restructure.  Then I’d go do a load of laundry.  Now Monday evening, determined to work this out, and proud to have had a great start, my post mysteriously disappears.  OMG!  Kind of like when I say, “where does all the money go?”

Money is a Tool.  Don’t give to people who don’t let it FLOW and GROW Community!

I’m compelled to attach a GPS tracking system onto each and every dollar I have earned, saved and spent.  Imagining this, I’m happy to report that some is flowing and growing community.   Unfortunately, many of my dollars have been condemned to the wasteland of unintentional spending, a place where the money GPS signals are cloaked by the vibration of no intention and ambivalence.

Let’s face it we need money.  Nonprofits need money.  Businesses need money. Families need money.  It’s a powerful tool, which can be used for good or bad and when we mindlessly spend we risk putting money into the wrong hands.

It’s time I had a “come to Woodrow Wilson” meeting with my money.   Me: “Okay, Money here’s your chance.  What do you want to tell me?”

Money:  “Some of you hoard, others spree.  You think I can only stay or leave.  It’s true on trees I do not grow, but all I really want is to get into a mindful, community growing, flow.  I am powerful, there is no doubt, but when you think of me as yours I lose my clout.  You’ll get as much of me as you can handle, so if I’m not showing up you haven’t set the intention,  made a plan and tracked your progress.”

Budget + Goals = Abundance

I heard the successful women entrepreneur, Melinda Emerson,  say something like this once, “If you can’t budget your household money, how do you expect to run a successful business?”  At the time I wanted to ignore what I was hearing.  That denial acknowledged my fear around my own power and money itself.   I had kept a budget a few years prior.  It was one of the most empowering feelings I’ve ever felt.  Paying bills wasn’t like going to the confessional when operating on a budget.

Contrary to popular belief budgeting isn’t just for accountants and the financially strapped.  I truly believe you can budget your way to abundance.  The way I see it budgeting is about accountability and the first step to abundance.  For some this means facing some hard facts. It’s like getting on the scale after the holidays.  You can’t address the unknown or the unacknowledged.  Here’s a link to a some budget spreadsheet templates that can get you started.

Once you’ve tracking what’s coming in and and going out for a few months you can start setting some goals.  This is where I fell short last time.  I didn’t set and write out my intentions, which must be focused around my values and desired lifestyle.  What kind of money do I need to give me the freedom to spend time doing the things that energize me and gives me the resources to support the organizations and companies that share my values?  Last time I didn’t have a strong enough WHY.

Tithing (what?)

You’d think being raised Catholic I would know what this word means.  At least that is what my friend at work said to me when I shared how I learned of the practice.

Tithing as explained by www.tithing.org – The law of tithing  is to give 10 percent of one’s increase back to God, with God represented on the physical level by the source of one’s spiritual teachings — often a church, synagogue, mosque, or a spiritual teacher.

Don Miller writes in his book, Blue Like Jazz, about a conversation he has with his minister after discovering a friend, that seemed less than holy, practiced tithing.  The minister asks Don, ‘How much do you make?”  Don, “I don’t know.  About a thousand a month, maybe.”  Minister, “Then we want a hundred.  And you should also know how much you make.  Part of the benefit of giving a portion of your money is it makes you think about where your money goes.  God does not want us to be sloppy with our finances, Don.”

Now Back to that Million Dollar Mind Thing

What’s 10% of $1,000,000?  $100,000. GET MY DRIFT?  Can you imagine donating $100,000 to your favorite charity or spending it with companies that make a significant impact on improving community and the environment? In the audio book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, Harv tells you to set aside 10% for charities. Here’s how he breaks it down:

50% for necessities, 10% for charity, 10% for investments, 10% education, 10%having fun and 10% in real estate. This could be a guide to setting some goals.

Let It Mindfully Flow and Grow Community

I’m working on my relationship with money.  I am becoming aware of my financial blue print and how that influences my decisions.  I believe the world needs the influence of women in reshaping the definition of social responsibility and personal success.  Money is a  tool for good.  And no it doesn’t grow on trees, but it sure can plant some.  It can also be the seeds that bears the fruit of something better than what we have today.

I’m collaborating on a project that helps nonprofits raise money.  We’re calling it Global-Local.  We’re harnessing the power of global online shoppers to empower community well being.

I’ll be sharing more information as the project progresses.

In the meantime here are some more resources that will help improve your relationship with money.

In Women We  Trust -Recognition of the dual roles women play in bringing about a more Sustainable world

The Soul of Money Institute – The Soul of Money Institute offers workshops, keynote speeches, consulting and coaching for organizations and individuals to create freedom, power and sufficiency in their relationship with money.

Big Green Purse – At Big Green Purse, we believe that the fastest, easiest, most direct route to a clean and healthy environment is to shift our spending to environmentally-safe, socially responsible products and services.

Danielle LaPorte – An interview on the subject of her relationship with money.  She’s not shy and she doesn’t apologize.

Consider how the media is portraying women -  Hyper-Competitive Women in Black Friday and Holiday TV Commercials

Acumen – Why charity alone is not the answer. Social Entrepreneurs needed.