Money Thought Leader: Karen McAllister
Let’s transform our relationship with money.
Isn’t it amazing when you feel fully awake and aware of yourself and the world around you? Everything seems so much lighter and more beautiful, doesn’t it? When you’re in this state of mind, you’re not ignoring life’s enormous challenges; instead, you’re better equipped to handle them with compassion and wisdom.
Our Relationship With Money:
Staying clear and present in this way does take effort. It involves practices like yoga, meditation, eating nourishing food, being honest with ourselves and others, managing time wisely, seeking therapy, and getting quality sleep. But there’s one crucial area we often overlook: our relationship with money.
Our relationship with money can significantly impact our ability to stay clear and present. While money is essential for both survival and flourishing, many of us haven’t learned how to act with it in a healthy way. Balancing financial matters with our values and health can be challenging without a holistic view and attitude.
As my meditation teachers, Qapel and Sensei from Planet Dharma, say, “Becoming more conscious of our money issues empowers us to influence our lives and society more positively and helps us avoid the ongoing dystopian malaise affecting the world today.”
“Our relationship with money can significantly impact our ability to stay clear and present.”
The Dhammapada:
How can we become more aware of our money issues and use this awareness to maintain clarity in this distracted world? How do we prevent our views on money from spiraling into scarcity and survival mode? How can we cultivate a balanced attitude towards money?
The Dhammapada, a text believed to contain the words of Gautama Buddha, offers a profound insight: “Oh house-builder! You are seen; you shall build no house (for me) again. My mind has reached the unconditioned (i.e., Nibbana); the end of craving has been attained.”
Together, let’s explore the process of understanding the “house-builder” of your money issues. The good news is, this house-builder is more like a house of cards—by learning the art of observation, you can dismantle it. You can transform your relationship with money.
4 Steps To Dismantle The “House-Builder” & Improve Your Relationship With Money:
- Start by asking yourself, “What do I want my money to achieve for me?”Perhaps you want to create a solid financial base.
- Then, consider, “What actions am I taking that undermine this goal?” It’s important to be specific about your behaviors. Often, our struggles manifest in how we act. For example, some people spend money they don’t have impulsively on Amazon. “To hell with the budget!”
- Identifying these behaviors gives you insight into your underlying motivations. Sometimes, we’re not entirely honest with ourselves. For example, you might be committed to spending money when you want to.
- If you give yourself the gift of going more deeply with this, you might discover the unconscious assumption driving it all. For instance, you might feel compelled to spend money to avoid feelings of deprivation or sadness.
“Often, our struggles manifest in how we act.“
Whatever the underlying unconscious view is, it is important to name it specifically, using words that deeply resonate with you. You will know it! Once you do, it’s like unlocking a door to align your behaviors with your financial goals. This work is magical. It clears away mental clutter and helps you feel more present and clear. You are in touch with your values and even more aware of yourself and the world around you.
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About the Author:
Karen has worked with over 100 clients, helping them untangle their money issues and to become more effective in their work because of it. To do this, Karen has studied financial issues extensively from both the practical, behavioral, and the emotional perspectives.
She has been certified by Deborah Price of the Money Coaching Institute as a Certified Money Coach, a Couples Money Coach, and a Business Archetype Coach. She has studied with Lynne Twist from the Soul of Money Institute for two years on Mastering your Money and Transforming your Life, including studies in Lynne’s Fundraising from the Heart program. Checkout Karen’s site TheMindfulMoneyCoach. Or, you can email Karen directly at the karen@themindfulmoneycoach.com. If you want to improve in any of these areas—whether it’s your scarcity mentality, your communication around agreements, or developing a practice of generosity—join my FREE webinar on September 25th @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm EST here.
