One of the Secrets to Achieving  Your Financial Goals is to
Transform Your Relationship With Money 

Money. 

“The root of all evil.”

“I’ll never have enough money.” 

“I’m not worth that much.”

“I’ll never be able to stop working.”

Have you ever had these kinds of limiting beliefs about money?  If you have in the past – or if you have thoughts similar to these now – I’m willing to bet that you’ve had some money challenges in your life.  And perhaps those challenges are ongoing. 

It’s time to take the bull by the horns once and for all.

There are two steps to transforming your relationship with money:

1. Handle it on the inside. (Examine your limiting beliefs about money and your financial goals, then make attitude shifts as necessary)

2. Handle it on the outside. (Take 100% responsibility for your money).

What are your limiting beliefs about money?

First examine your limiting beliefs or attitudes about money.  With pen in hand, make a list of your self-defeating ideas, decisions, perceptions and attitudes about money.  Be honest with yourself. (“I’ll never make enough, “ or “Earning enough is a struggle,” are two popular attitudes that come to mind.)  Next make a list of the rules you’ve made for yourself about money. (“Never buy anything that’s not on sale” might be one example.)  Now read what you’ve written.  With those thoughts about money, is it any surprise that you’re having some challenges with money?

The purpose of this exercise isn’t to make you feel badly about your limiting beliefs, rather it’s to bring those beliefs out in the open – once and for all – so you can deal with them head on.  Our limiting beliefs show up as negative self talk.  You know what I mean… those voices in your head that are never supportive of you. Often,  the voices in our heads are replays of what we actually heard growing up. (For example, growing up my mom always said things like “You can only buy something if it’s on sale,” “The only way to earn a lot of money is to work really hard.”  “The work never ends.”  My mom is now in her 80′s and I still hear those things from her! Needless to say, I’ve had to face my limiting beliefs head-on to be able to deal with them and ultimately, let them go.)

Once you’ve recorded your limiting beliefs about money, ask yourself  “What is  the new reality I want to create?”  Write out in as much detail as possible your new vision for yourself and your relationship with money.  To go along with your new vision, what new attitude will serve you?  Have fun with this one.  Make up a statement with no limits!  It should feel like a bit of a stretch. Your statement should be powerful, personal and stated in the present tense. 

Here are a few examples:

“Money is abundant.”

“I am prosperous.”

“Money flows to me easily and effortlessly, beyond my wildest dreams.”

Write your new statement out several times. Say it to yourself over and over and over again.  At first you may feel silly.  That’s OK.  This is your new reality. You will create it and transform your relationship with money.

The second step to shifting your relationship with money is to take 100% responsibility for your money.  What do you need to do?  Make a list.  Do you know exactly how much money you have and where it is?  How much will you make this year?  What are your financial goals?  Have you paid off all your debt?  Have you hired a financial planner?  Do you pay yourself first?

Shift your mental attitude and then do what you know you need to do to take 100% responsibility for your finances, and you’ll be on your way to transforming your relationship with money.

Note: For nearly 12 years, I’ve been a facilitator for the world-class planning and implementation program, Best Year Yet. The concepts in this post are based on Best Year Yet and used with permission.