Originally Published June 16, 2003 -- Your Wellness
Guide
Financial Stress Ends
With Simple Changes
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My client was
witnessing me become increasingly stressed about finances. So she
came to me with a gift one day, a book. I made a promise to my
client to read it.
I began reading.
The book started with daily affirmations – like “People love to give
me money.” I did that affirmation all morning (and got results).
I’m now counting my money – I never did that before. I budget for
things, and my financial goals are not limited.
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Now, I set
goals for myself that are beyond what I think I can do. I have more
faith, and I market myself better.
I’ve also
just embarked on a savings plan, an IRA – before I felt like there was
never enough, but now I’ve changed to a mentality of abundance.
These are the thoughts of the once financially stressed L.A. publicist,
Lea Yardum, who read
The Wealthy Spirit by Chellie Campbell (www.chellie.com)
and made dramatic changes in her life.
Money and finances are some of the most stressful aspects of life for the
majority of people. In fact, 80 percent of divorces have money as the
major issue.
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Graphic: Wellington Media
Author Chellie Campbell talks about “sending
out ships” as a way to minimize financial stress
and increase your income potential. |
Author Chellie
Campbell told me “People have a voice of doom in their heads. It’s
negative thinking. You have 60,000 thoughts every day with 95
percent of them the same thoughts you had yesterday. 85 percent of
those thoughts are negative, as a habit.”
She says that with
all these negative thoughts, many of them are about money. Instead
of thinking that money is evil, it’s too hard to make, or that
earning it is difficult, Chellie says you have to start thinking
about money positively as one of the first steps to lessen financial
stress.
To start yourself
on a positive money track, Chellie said that you should 1) say
positive affirmations about money everyday and 2) “send out ships”
everyday, which are those actions that people will pay you for.
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People unduly stress themselves out about money, says Author Barbara
Stanny of
Secrets of Six-Figure Women (www.barbarastanny.com), because they spend more than they have and are vague
about how much money is coming in or going out.
“Any
financial stress can be resolved,” says Barbara from New York. “It is not
a terminal illness. When you have money problems, it’s usually never
about the money.”
Barbara’s tips are practical:
Knowledge of Money is
Power:
Educate yourself more about money.
Look for Ways to Save
Money:
Look for 500 ways to save a dollar, instead of one way to save $500.
Use Experts:
Help can come from accountants, financial advisers – don’t be afraid to
use them.
Tear Up The
Credit Card:
Look for the
free services of credit counselors and debt consolidators. Attend
Debtor’s Anonymous (www.debtorsanonymous.org)
to get help, if needed.
Start Paying Yourself:
Set up a savings plan, IRA, or 401K.
Deborah McNaughton, author of
All About Credit, says that the first
thing people can do when they are looking to reduce their financial stress
is to make a journal of all expenses and income for 60 days. Write down
everything you spend, from vending machines to car payments.
At
the end of 60 days, Deborah says you will see where you are wasting
money. Then, formulate a budget, put extra money toward credit card
bills, and start saving.
She
has a free newsletter to help you in the process at
www.financialvictory.com.
All
in all, money can turn into a joy, if you are willing to make behavioral
and mental changes. It can give you the means to live comfortably and
peacefully.
And,
as Chellie Campbell says, we want to be able to “look at money with a
spirit of thanks.”
Sounds like great advice.
Terra
Wellington
is a
national authority on creating a wellness lifestyle.
www.terrawellington.com
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Wellington