When money seems to be a problem… whether there doesn’t seem to be enough, or there is too much… remember that money flows both ways.
If you don’t have enough, instead of holding tight to every last penny, try letting money flow out.
Give a little something to someone else.
Or try this: Give something to yourself. And then receive it joyfully.
It works best if you give yourself something that you enjoy on a sensory level.
Our brains tend to calm down the fight or flight response if we feel the gift through one of our five senses, then receive it in a thankful, joyful way.
If your problem involves too much money, try receiving from others.
Accept money. Accept help.
It’s a bit like a sticky window shade… you have to pull down before it can roll up.
Make sure your faucet isn’t clogged.
Money flows both ways.
In a recent poll Americans say the “magic number’ to retire is $1.46 million dollars saved.
That is 53% higher than people said they needed in 2020.
Is that inflation or fear talking?
Here is another number: Adults in the United States have an average of $88,400 saved toward retirement.
What do you think about all that?
All sorts of people have all sorts of thoughts and feelings about that information.
They are thinking things like, “I am behind! Red alert, red alert!!!”
“I am going to end up living in a gutter if I live too long.”
Or even, “Why is society putting those pressures on me?”
Those statistics have caused some pain.
And here’s the bottom line, my friend: the numbers are all made up.
They are totally made up in people’s brains.
The people polled are pulling numbers out of their asses.
Good or bad, the numbers don’t apply to you.
They don’t take into account how much you make, where you live, who is going to take care of you and any possible medical conditions.
Your life is art.
You design it, you decorate it, and you fill it with more of what you want and less of what you don’t want. What do you want “retirement” to look like? You are the artist.
Start there.
Not with a number.
That is the beginning of a plan for a beautiful life.
I was just rewatching a Mike Birbiglia comedy special on Netflix, and here’s what he said about why he journals…
“If you write down what you are saddest about you can see your own life as a story. And if you see your life as a story, sometimes you can zoom out and encourage the main character to make better decisions.”
Wow.
I couldn’t say it better than that.
And I don’t think it has to just be about what makes you sad. I think it would work with any challenge.
Try it this week… write the story of you.
And try out imagining a few different endings.
PS – Mike Birbiglia’s special is called The Old Man and the Pool. Check it out. It is both funny and touching. Just how I like my comedy.