DAY 1: Dig and Sift Through Scarcity.
Today we are getting to the bottom of the barrel to understand why you relate to money in the ways that you do today. Like any pattern or dynamic, the way we feel in our bodies around the topic of money is connected to things from our past; a distinct moment (and probably multiple moments) that created the lens in which we view money. These experiences were either positive, abundant, and empowering, or negative, fear-filled, and disempowering.
Within each week’s practice I will share earnestly about an experience I’ve had related to the topic. I will give you the inside scoop, because I believe that when we see someone that we can identify with make a change that we desire, we feel capable to do the same. So let’s get into it.
The first thing we need to talk about is that scarcity is not about the money. It’s not about the number of dollars in your bank account. Scarcity is a learned thought pattern and is the relationship we have to those dollars and transactions. It’s fearful, disempowered, and exhausting. Ring true?
The tendency for that scarcity mindset is to hyper focus on the number in the bank account. Awareness is essential. You have to be aware and responsible to have a healthy relationship to your money. But you do NOT have to hyper focus. You get to feel more free.
Example:
Growing up with a semi-single parent for so much of my life wove an immense amount of scarcity through my bones. I saw a lot of money coming in from outside support in a very disempowering way. Like if mom didn’t ask, we couldn’t eat.
I internalized this as a perceived truth that money has to be given from the people around me in order for me to survive rather than trusting in my capacity to make a living on my own.
I want to intentionally leave this simplified, because there is obviously more to the story, but this is the kernel of a scarcity relationship to money.
Homework:
Today (and for the rest of the week) you will be keeping a journal specifically looking at your emotional response to financial transactions. What does money feel like? Take a step back to try and get into objective observation. What’s that little sweetie experiencing right now? Each day I want you to simply notice. When you are at the grocery store. When you are paying a bill. When money comes in. The whole money in, money out flow. Notice how you feel. And write that shit down.
Get some cash. For me, what I’ll be doing is using my debit card to get some groceries and will ask for $20 cash back. I’ll have this money for treating myself this following week (which usually looks like a fancy coffee and buying one for my friend). The purpose of this practice is to intentionally move cash from your money in, money out cycle. The number doesn’t matter as much as the intention behind the draw and usage and the body feeling behind it. So when you spend money from here, notice what happens in your body.
