When you say the words, money, money, money, how does your body react? Do you cringe? Do you feel the area at the base of your spine flare open? Do you crave it? Do you hate it?
This month we will dissect the energy of money and hopefully unravel some of society’s pictures about this neutral energy. And that’s what it is. At its core, money is a means of exchange. It’s neutral. It’s not inherently evil or extremely good; it’s just paper and coin that we hand over for goods and services received. That’s it.
The money itself is a neutral means of exchange, but the emotions, thoughts and feelings that we attach to it are what cause us angst. That’s what I call your Money Story – the emotions and images that you attach to the word money.
So, let’s start at the beginning: what does money mean to you? In my book, Tame Your Inner Critic Find Peace & Contentment to Live Your Life on Purpose, I devote a whole chapter to the energy of money. One of the most enlightening exercises in the book is called the Money Web. In this exercise, we will unravel your money story, bringing your awareness to the core beliefs you hold about money. In this exercise, we use a technique often called “mind-mapping”—a way of jotting down free associations.
Exercise: Your Money Story
- Draw a circle in the middle of the page and write the word “money” in that circle. Now, start writing down your associations with this word. Do this by drawing lines moving outward from the center circle. Write down words or phrases that pop into your mind when you think about money.
- Write down both the positive and negative words. You may find that one word or phrase triggers many others. Write those down too.
- When you run out of ideas, you might reflect upon:
- Some of your mother’s favorite phrases about money
- Some of your father’s favorite phrases about money
- How you feel about money:
- whether money is dirty
- whether you have to work hard and struggle to get ahead
- whether money is the root of all evil
- whether spiritual people should or shouldn’t be wealthy or affluent
- whether money is rewarded to those, who live by certain rules.
- Do this exercise quickly; don’t edit your thoughts. Your mind map will look something like a spider web with all kinds of lines and words moving out from the center.
- Draw circles around the words with a repetitive tone or mood. You might find themes of unworthiness, resentment, or confusion. On the positive side, you might find themes of spontaneity or opportunity. Other energies, such as guilt, craving or striving may be mentioned. Write those repeating themes off to the side of your web.
This web represents your current level of thought and emotion around the concept of money. It is your personal model of how you see yourself connecting with the energy of money. This web acts as a filter, drawing to you events and circumstances that match the frequency of your story around money. As you review your web, consider the following:
- What your web reveals about your relationship with money.
- Whether this is a current representation of how you see money, or one based on childhood memories.
To change the vibration we have to first become aware of the energy we are sitting in. So breathe in some self-acceptance and lightness as you think about the energy of money. We will move out the old and bring in some new as we continue throughout the month, but for right this moment, just become aware of your money story.
Get together a group of friends and work your money energy together! Learn, laugh, play and grow as you learn to ground, blow roses, and tap out the energies that are keeping you from living a life full of joy and purpose. There are plenty of exercises and meditations to help you increase your awareness around money and prosperity. Learn more here: Book Group
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