Have you ever thought maybe the way you think about money is not in alignment with how you’d like to think about money, or even in line with the truth about money?

Does this line sound familiar? “I need more money!” I like Byron Katie’s comment on that…, “It’s not possible to have more money. No one has ever had more money than they have!” She will also respond to “I need more money!” with her coined response, “Is that true?” (I’ll give you a hint, it’s never true!…sssshh)

Ok, so now you want to clarify your statement. “I need more money…soon, or in the future.” Well, sorry again Katie for stealing your line, but I must ask again, Is….That….True??
Nobody knows. You can’t tell what’s going to happen in the future.

The way most of us think about money is that it’s elusive. It’s somehow in shortage, and for others but not us. When we think of money in this way, we don’t “get” more money, we simply “get” to be right.

So how can someone change how they think about money? I think a good way is to notice another area of your life where you have an abundance. What do you attract plenty of? Could it be smiles, laughter? What about compliments? They can be about anything. Your cooking. Your clothes, your hair, your looks, your work, or your clever decorating ideas. Pay attention to something good that you do attract. Then write down how you think about that. Ask yourself these questions. 1) Do I try and attract this, or does it just happen? 2) Am I surprised when I attract this, or is it just normal for me? 3) When I think of this, what pictures/feelings come to mind?

Once you’ve written down your answers, do the very same exercise, but this time asking the questions with regards to money. ie, Do I try to attract money, or does it just happen? Perhaps your answer will be something like “I try to attract it, but it doesn’t happen.”

Chances are you will see opposite answers to the questions you asked about what you do attract now, and when you answered them about money. Then make the shift in your thinking about money to the same as your thinking about what you do attract. And have fun!
Rich

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“If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they’re yours; if they don’t they never were.” Richard Bach.

Free Money:

Interesting concept, isn’t it? Of course it’s free, because you can’t buy money. (Well, unless it’s collectible or different currency’s, but let’s not split hairs)

But what if we looked at “free” differently. If we look for different definitions of “free”, perhaps we will view the statement, “Free Money” differently.

I looked up the word “free” on dictionary.com, and pulled a few of the various definitions posted. I will only make brief comments on each definition to help steer you to make your own connections.

1) “To make free; set at liberty; release from bondage, imprisonment, or restraint.”

Hmm. Interesting. Does that definition ring any bells with you if you relate it to money?

2) “Exempt or released from something specified that controls, restrains, burdens, etc.”

Do you feel restrained? Burdened by lack of money for bills? Maybe let that go and see what happens.

3) “That may be used by or is open to all”

Do you agree with that notion? Or might you feel that money is only for the few?

4) “Clear of obstructions or obstacles”

Might you view money as an obstacle to the things you want? Does that create a positive or negative relationship?

5) “At liberty to enter and enjoy at will”

When was the last time you thought of money as something for you to really enjoy?

Free Money. Just thought it might be interesting to take a look at it from a different perspective and see if it’s actually us who are restricting the free flow of money.

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Do you ever walk around with that helpless feeling…ahhh…”I need money!”
You may not walk around with the conscious thought, but see if any of these sound or feel familiar…

I need money….because I can’t pay the bills at the end of the month
I need money….so that I can get a better car
I need money….in the bank in case I get laid off.
I need money….to send my kids to college.
I need money….so that I can retire comfortably.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself if this has worked? Does this weight on you actually help you get money? For some, maybe. Maybe you work harder, longer etc. Yet does that weight of that “need” ever leave you? Does that feel good? Of course not. But then the question is, what do we do about it? Heck, in most cases it’s true. I need money!
But, whenever we need, crave, or want, we actually push away. Are you attracted to someone who is desperate for your affection or attention? No. And money isn’t either.

There is only one thing to do the next time the feeling hits you that you need money. In my book “When Money Talks, Listen!”, Mr. Money teaches us that money is here to serve us. But we have elevated its stature so much that we feel unworthy of it. So let’s try and shift that thinking on the spot when we feel we need money for something. Try this tiny change and see what happens. Yes, it’s going to sound a little strange, but hey, nobody will know you’re doing it. All we are going to do is change one word, and feel the difference. Ok, ready? Here it is. “I feed money”. See, I told you it was a little odd. However, we are just trying to change that sense of being unworthy. In this case, money needs you. You feed it. You give it life. Think about it. What purpose does money have without you? Without “us”?. Plants and animals have no use for it. So, you feed it. You give it life, you give it meaning. It exists for, and because of…you! Let it thank you by paying your bills and taking care of your needs. It’s thankful for the purpose only you can give it.

Rich

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At least to AgentSully (Kris) over at Lifelearningtoday.com!

I had a fun interview with Kris about my experience writing “When Money Talks, Listen!”. She has this posted on her site as well, but here is the transcript….

This was a very sweet story! Sorry to be cliche, Rich, but I laughed, I cried, and I learned! What was your inspiration to write this story? Any biographical elements?

Kris, let me begin by saying thank you for asking to do this interview. Also, there is no need to apologize for the ‘cliché”. Hearing that you “laughed, cried, and learned” from my book is about the best review you could give me.

I did have a real life inspiration for writing this story; kudos to your instincts. I had left my job because I no longer felt fulfilled, and many months passed while I searched for something different. Naturally I began to get concerned about money as time passed and I had no income coming in. I began to wonder what it is about money that makes us so stressed, and why it has such a hold on us. I have always enjoyed writing, so one day I had an idea that I could try and create a fictional character that might be able to answer some of these questions for me. So, I named him Myster (Mr.) Money.

Who was the audience you had in mind when writing this book?

Because I decided to create this character to answer my questions, the original audience I had in mind was me! Ha ha. However, once it was completed and I let some family and friends read it, it seemed that the principles and story would apply to most any demographic. However, I’d say it’s most beneficial to those who find that money has always been a challenge in their lives. Some people can attract abundance easily into their lives, and probably wouldn’t need to read this.

Why did you decide to use a story for teaching these financial principals?

I have always believed that stories, fables, and parables are great ways to teach. They use examples well, and provide entertainment so that the mind forgets it’s being taught, and thus doesn’t resist so much. Also, as I write I have noticed that when I am writing a story, if I let myself get out of the way it will begin to write itself. This is when a deeper wisdom can take over and offer better insights. So I was writing to learn.

How do you think people will benefit from reading your book?

It’s my hope that people will benefit most from this book by improving their relationship with money. Perhaps changing their perception of what money is, and its purpose. One of the 5 lessons that Myster Money teaches is to notice the gifts that are left behind when money leaves your possession. I think this is a good habit to be in.

I like the idea of giving money away, knowing that it will come back to you. Any personal stories in this regard?

Sometimes children are our best teachers. I remember the first time I was taught this principal, and it was from my 8 yr. old nephew. His family came to my parent’s house for dinner. My Father (his Grandfather) found $2 in his coat pocket, and turned and gave it to my nephew. My nephew said, “Wow. Today I had a dollar and put it in the church basket. And now God paid me back… double!” I’ve since experienced this numbers of times in my life, but think that says it best.

Did you ever have a guy like Scratch in your life?

Scratch does not represent one person in my life, but several. While I didn’t create him with anyone in mind, I can now read the story and see pieces of my father, grandfather and a few other notable mentors. There is even a mention in the book to his cologne smelling like my grandfathers. To me that is always a nice memory.

For someone attempting a makeover in their financial life, what is the best advice you can offer them?

Find a way to break the “craving need” for money. Like many things in life, we can want something too much, and thus push it away. Think back to a person or a job you wanted that you ever pushed away by this method. Money is the same. I was recently told a story by someone I met who said the best lesson he ever learned about money was from his father. He told him that whenever you can least afford it, take a $100 bill and burn it! Then, one day when he was down and out, he got his hundred dollar bill, rolled it up, and smoked it! Ha.ha…He said he never had an issue with money again. I love the lesson, but I think it’s probably even better to give that money away to someone else.

Myster Money mentions in the book that money is here to serve “us”. However, we treat it the opposite, as though we are unworthy and somehow have to convince it otherwise. I portrayed Myster Money as a generous, wise old man….give money this characteristic, and watch what happens!

Thanks, Rich!

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can get a copy of this ebook, head on over to MysterMoney.com.

Please take a look at the interview, and check our her great site while you’re there…..(tell her Myster Money sent you!). Link below…

Read “When Money Talks, Listen!” Interview

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In July there was a news story coming out of Japan regarding a very strange occurrence. It seems that someone was giving money away. Randomly. To Strangers. Wait, it gets better. Anonymously. They were leaving the money in envelopes in mailboxes, without even wanting credit for it, or to see the delight in their “victims” faces. I don’t mean to sound like Seinfeld here, but what’s the deal with that?

The deal is that this can, and does happen. The deal is that most people are good, and most people are generous. We just rarely get to hear about good deeds because they are not juicy enough for the news to report about. This time it was.

Life Imitating Art?

Okay, this was weird. I wrote my book “When Money Talks, Listen!” in June of this year, and began selling it in July. Daniel Meager is the main character of the book, and he is taught 5 lessons from a wise, and mysterious old man named Myster (pronounced mister) Money. One of the chapters and lessons in the book is entitled “Mystery Money”. In this lesson, Daniel is taught how to keep his eyes (as well as his heart) open to receiving this thing called “mystery money”. Myster Money describes it in the book as “money that’s floating around out there just waiting for a home”.

A few short weeks later I see this story about the money in Japan of people finding money in their mailboxes, and they have given it the title, Mystery Money. (click to read story). I would love to say that the person or persons giving the money away in Japan read “When Money Talks, Listen!”, but I can’t say whether they did or not.

I thought with the holiday’s fast approaching, this would be a nice time to remind us all the power of giving, but also the willingness to receive. Be open to receiving the gifts that are out there waiting to find a home. And if you are fortunate enough to be one of lucky who will get presents this season, be a great receiver. There is no greater gift back to someone than accepting their gift with a smile, a hug, or if they’re really lucky, a tear.

Happy Holidays!

Rich

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