Let's Talk About Money

Please credit to Beverly Keaton Smith if you use these money photos or reprint this article.  

 "It's so hot, you could fry an egg on the sidewalk!"

One hot summer day, my young hands reached into the refrigerator and sneaked a few eggs into my pocket. With great expectations, I cracked the shells open over a sidewalk and waited for them to start cooking. Through the sting of disappointment, I learned that expressions are not always meant to be taken literally.

My neighbor saw me playing with the eggs and mentioned it to my father. Our neighbor thought my experiment was funny. My father did not! Dad casually asked me, "how much do you think those eggs that you took from the refrigerator cost?" I replied that I didn't know. Together, we calculated how much money I had wasted by ruining perfectly good eggs. The small amount was deducted from my allowance and I learned that next time I should be more secretive with my experiments. Okay, the bigger lesson I took away was that money is hard to come by and should never be wasted. I guess this is just one of the episodes from my childhood that shaped me into a "saver." 

Many times, I coach clients around the issue of money. Usually, there is a core limiting belief that gets in a person's way of accumulating money. Often, the core belief is something along the lines of

Love of money is the root of all evil.

I'll get my rewards in heaven, not now.

Money is scarce and hard to come by.

These perspectives are core limiting beliefs which are very effective at keeping money away from your bank account. Here are examples of positive perspectives around money.

Money is freedom and I deserve freedom.

I love money and money loves me.

I am a money magnet. I have the Midas touch!

Since we choose our perspective around money, wny not choose a belief that is positive and affirming? You can reinforce your money magnetism by creating a structure that reminds you of your positive perspective on money. I recently moved into a new office and the window shade that was hanging on the window broke and fell to the floor. Instead of buying a new shade, I hung my money boa across the top of my window to serve as my reminder that money is abundant and constantly flowing to me. I love looking at it and being reminded that money is always within my reach. Also, my money boa sparkles with joyful memories and energy because it was a gift from friend and colleague, Laura Howard West who owns the Center for Joyful Business.   

With a crazy stock market and fears of a recession floating around, it is even more tempting to fall into a negative perspective around money. Why not reflect on your core beliefs about money and see how they are working for you? If you find you are operating out of a limiting belief, try updating your belief and see what happens. There's not much to lose and everything to gain!

I'd love to hear about your core belief around money. If you'd like to share, leave a comment. We can all inspire each other to generate even more empowering beliefs around money.

Blessings!

Beverly

Comments

[Kate I]

Beverly, you just put your finger on my biggest fear...lack of money. I know this has nothing to do with how much money I have or don't have at the time...somewhere in my brain is the belief that it could all dissapear in the blink of an eye. I'm sure that I got this from my depression raised parents whose experiences were such that they didn't have enough money when they were growing up. It's time for me to let this go!

Thanks for discussing this here, I appreciate hearing your positive thoughts!

[Beverly]

Hey Kate, I'm right there with you. I have the same fear and I really have to work on letting this fear go. That's why I find it so helpful to have the positive structure in my space around money. I believe I inherited the fear from my parents since they (like your parents) went through the tough times of the depression. Even so, this doesn't mean I have to hold on to the fear. There is TONS of money out there. Why not believe that I'm always going to have my fair share? Thanks for your comment. I can really relate to your words! Beverly

[stacy]

great post beverly...and very timely for me to read as i step into a whole new world today. you are a wise, inspiring woman!

[Angela]

Beverly,

The core belief I have around money is that you must work very, very hard for whatever you get. Not necessarily a negative belief, but it can get pretty exhausting working so hard all the time! I would definitely like to feel more ease around the flow of money. Love that boa!

[Amanda]

Wow what a timely reminder. I come from a family of savers and having spent 4 years at uni living on about £5k a year and then struggling to survive after uni in the care work field on minimum wage I have a very limiting view of money. I am sensible, reliable and good at budgeting (all aspects I consider to be positive) but I feel guilt whenever I treat myself to anything (even a haircut) when it isn't necessary (a very negative and limiting aspect) and I fear money in many respects.

This is very current for me at the moment as I consider leaving home to live with my boyfriend. His job is well paying when stable but being a plumber the work is not always available for steady periods of time. For me to move in with him I have this fear that if I don't move on and put myself in higher paid jobs (which is stressing me because I can't find one and also I adore my care work) I cannot move in with him - I am seeing only two options - be happy in work but far away from my boyfriend or miserable in work but have money to live with him... instead I should be reaffirming that I can be successful and financially stable in a job I love.

Thanks for the post - your experiment as a child sounds like just the sort of thing I would do too hehe

[Beverly]

Hi Amanda, thanks for sharing. What a great opportunity you have to shift some of your beliefs around money! Also, I wonder if you can think of at least one or two other choices for your situation around moving in with your boyfriend? Once we start looking, often we discover that we have more options than we realize. Two options is more of an either/or situation while three or more options puts us in a stronger position to really have choice. I wish you the best on the outcome around this. I will hold in my heart that you will find a way to have it all! Beverly

[Beverly]

Hi Angela, Thanks for dropping by! Can you think of a structure that would remind you that money is coming to you easily? I agree that working hard for it is exhausting. Since I've become a coach, I've learned that money can come to me through fun and joy since I enjoy leading workshops and coaching so much. Still blows my mind sometimes! Beverly

[eileen (the dream)]

Money!!!! I'm thinking of the Pink Floyd song.

Right now, with a daughter who is hoping to attend an ivy league school (or close to it) and with the promise of a deep recession in the future of this country, the time to tighten up is NOW. Radical changes are happening in our household, but that's OK. It is what it is.

[Monique]

I love your Money Boa! How fun!
As an artist I have always had an interesting approach to money...and for the most part would have no problem doing away with the need for it (back to a barter system!) But there have been times (say at the end of the month when rent is due) that I've stressed long and hard about where it will come from. But for as long as I can remember I have always believed that what you need will come...and thankfully I've found this to be true throughout my life. (Even if sometimes I have wished that I 'needed' a little bit more! lol

In my opinion there is enough money in the world, it's just not evenly spread out. Just like there is enough food in the world to feed everyone...but it is not evenly spread to those who need it.

I left my secure 'real world' job over four years ago and have been living on the money that I'm able to earn as an artist, and while that can be tough, I have never felt richer in all my life!

[Beverly]

Hey Monique..congrats on Leaping into a career as an artist...no doubt you followed your heart toward that direction....You make a good point...we can bring a feeling of richness into our lives in many ways...not just through accumulating money...even though money is a good way to do this too! Thanks for your comment...I agree with what you wrote about money and how it is unevenly distributed..AND that what we need will come...

[Sharee]

I think the money boa is fabulous! I grew up with limiting mindsets about money also.I just believed that it was scarce and that abundance was reserved for a select few. Sometime in my adulthood, my perception started to shift as I heard new points of view. Our income started to increase as I embraced these concepts. So now,with the aid of a vision board, I have replaced by scarcity mentality with the new thought of "MONEY COMES EASY".I'm also finding it helpful to acknowledge that all of my debt and bills are a result of the remnants of my "there can't be enough for all of us, sooner or later this luck is going to end" mentality. And I am replacing this with "Money is no object for God, There is More than enough to supply all of my needs and Desires. I expect to see those debts disappear soon.
P.S. I just discovered your site, I look forward to exploring it.
Love and Peace
Sharee

[Beverly]

Sharee, Welcome and thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and shifts around money. Also, I followed your link to your video...Love the belly dancing! You've inspired me to take the plunge...That will be the next class I sign up for! ~Beverly

[Lisa]

I love this money boa! And the core beliefs - I can really relate to this. ... btw, trying to reach you regarding your vision collaging. You can reach me at the email noted here. Thank you!

[Anna]

thanks for this post - great timing for lots of folks.

in my own life, i'm limited by negative money thoughts. my parents were on opposite ends of the spectrum...one who was a major tightwad and the other who didn't have many boundaries with spending. so, in my own life, it's definitely been a struggle with finding a balanced perspective.

i look forward to finding a relatively happy medium eventually - where i'm not confined by all the negativity and fear!

[kanchan rebecca haynes]

I just found this site while I was searching online for images of money to make into a collage. I liked the link connected to the money boa and clicked on it.

I found myself reading posts that directly relate to what I was just writing about!!!

I have been exploring my core beliefs around money for the last 2 days, seriously, for the first time. I can't tell you all how timely finding this site was. I recently left a 10 year non-profit management position with the intention of creating art and natural healing products. Since then it's been a journey through fear and ecstasy over the whole shift.

I am currently working on accepting my creative energy while also healing my perspective around money so that I can finally step into my right livelihood. It's an amazing journey.

My goal is to manifest investment capital to grow my healing service and pursue my education in art and graphic design at the same time. This will allow me to stay home with my family while working in the fields where I find the most inspiration.

I believe that doing what you love is the key to happiness on all levels and there are no mistakes in doing it, only rewards. They may take on many forms but they are rewards nonetheless.

All of you have inspired me in different ways to continue on my journey. I am grateful for you, Beverly, and for everyone who shares here. Blessings to all of us!!!