Energy Boost: A Fresh Approach to Managing the Stress of Your Financial Challenges
I’m a firm believer in the mind-body connection, and the stress that so many of you are experiencing these days really can take a toll on so many levels. Headaches, irritability, digestive issues, sleep problems, and the list goes on of how stress can show up in your body. I’m sure that as you’re reading this you could add your own symptoms to the list. Unfortunately, no one seems to be immune.
One of the most common sources of this ongoing stress is in the area of finances. The feelings of uncertainty when it comes to jobs, rising expenses, and the concern of increased spending with the holidays approaching, are just of few of the topics that are occupying our minds these days (and nights). So many of us feel like there’s no relief in sight. Perhaps you are one of them.
Today what I’d like to do is to share a 5-step process that I hope will begin to give you some relief, at least in terms of the impact of the stress on you physically, mentally, and emotionally. I encourage you to experiment with this process, especially if you haven’t had success with other stress management methods that you have been trying. (Note: This 5-step process can be applied to other situations as well that are not financial in nature.)
1. Get brutally honest with yourself (and any other key people) about your current financial situation.
2. Acknowledge any part that you have played, but do not get into the blame arena.
3. Extend forgiveness to yourself, to any others involved, and to the universe (world, society, etc.).
4. Focus on what you can now control and put your energy into what you do want to change and create.
5. Stay in the present, as much as possible (taking one day at a time, one hour at a time, a few minutes at a time). Offer gratitude for what you do have, so that you start to spend some time in a spirit of abundance (instead of lack).
So many of us have made good choices, have worked hard, and have been extremely conscientious with our finances. That’s what makes this all the more difficult. There is a tremendous feeling of things being beyond our control, of circumstances having happened to us. And this may absolutely be the case in your life. But, nevertheless, it is what it is, and we must do our best to move out of victim-mode. These 5 steps are a great place to start.
As you try out these steps, you may find that you’re moving through all 5 steps each day, or you may spend more time initially in the first few steps and then eventually focus on the last ones more. Again, experiment with them to determine what works best for you. This is an ongoing process, so give it time and be patient with yourself.
Share a comment to let me know what you think of these steps, how they work for you, and if you have any to add. I’d love to hear from you.
