Money is ……..

Dear Awesome Woman,

What comes to mind when you ask yourself the question “money is…….?”

I got this exercise from Barbara Stanny’s book “Overcoming Underearning.”  She said to write down “money is…” 15 times and then jot down the first words that pop into your mind.  

Wow!  What a revelation!  I thought I knew what my personal beliefs were around money, but plunking myself down and doing the exercise revealed a lot to me.

Instead of limiting money beliefs rattling around and around in my mind, I sat down with a pen and paper and took five minutes to write down the words and phrases that popped up for me.

Then, with these thoughts clearly on paper, I typed up what would be opposite – new thoughts on money that felt freer in my body and less constricting.  Instead of “money is …(negative, limiting belief)” rattling around in my head, I’m choosing “money is enlightening, money is possible “ etc.  

I’m choosing to introduce new money thoughts to my mind.

Why? What difference does it make if I think something different?

It can make a big difference.

If I think a thought again and again, that neural pathway in the brain becomes very strong.  I almost can’t think something different.

But the brain can change – that is the idea of neuroplasticity.  A new neural pathway can be formed with a new thought.  

So the question to ask yourself is “do I want to be thinking this particular thought over and over again?”

Where we put our attention, our energy goes.  I’d rather develop new thought patterns and put my attention on the presence of money in my life instead of the lack of it.  My attention will go to gratitude or to another positive way of focusing my energy.  I’ll for sure have more energy to take steps towards what I’m trying to accomplish.

So, try sitting down and writing down what you really think that “money is….”

I invite you to notice how your body feels with each one of the thoughts. Does it feel constricting in your body or expanding?

If it feels constricting, then can you pick a different thought that feels more hopeful? More light?

For myself, I noticed that the negative, lacking beliefs felt scary and icky in my body.  When I tuned in and said them, I felt constricted and low spirited. A bit hopeless and despairing.

But when I say the new positive thoughts, I feel uplifted and hopeful. I feel more energized.

This uplifted feeling represents a sense of truth in the body.

When we tell ourselves a limiting belief, besides feeling like our breath gets shallower, we are telling ourselves a lie.  And our body recognizes that.

Here – try it with something other than money. Tell yourself a lie.  Tell yourself something that you know is not true.  Say out loud that you have platinum hair, when your hair is actually brown. Notice what that feels like in your body.

When I lie and tell myself that my hair is platinum, my face scrunches up, my stomach feels a bit sick  and I feel a bit haywire inside.  Something isn’t clicking. Something doesn’t make sense and my body reacts to that.

Well, when I tell myself the truth – my hair is brown for example – it feels smooth.  It feels like “ok” – yes, that’s true.  No cogs in the mental wheel. No confusion in the body.

So, I suggest when you do this exercise, don’t pick a more positive thought that brings a sense of “eh, that also doesn’t feel true.” Check your body to notice what’s going on in there.  Pick a thought based on how it feels in your body. If it feels smooth and uplifting – go for it.  Write it down and  read these new thoughts in the morning and evening. It only takes a few minutes.

I also used this exercise for other areas of my life as well.  

Relationships are…..

My body is……..

Men are….

Women are……

Reveal what you are really believing.  These beliefs may stem from childhood or society. Either way the question to ask yourself is “do I really want to keep repeating this thought to myself?” or am I willing to try a different thought?

Needing additional support?

As a Somatic Healer and Clarity Coach, I’ve developed a technique that can quickly identify a memory where an old belief originates from and then help click a new one into place. You actually get an “aha” moment.  This is the formation of a new neural pathway in your brain.  When I do this for myself or clients, the old thought is almost impossible to rethink and instead the mind goes to the newer one.  There is such a sense of relief in your body. It’s very amazing and a quick shortcut to a new belief system.  Contact me at miriam@miriamracquel.com and I’ll send you my connection link for a Clarity call. Looking forward!