Insight for Change

Explore earliest strong memories related to money... 

What messages were you given about money by your parents or parental figures?

$ And Marriage:  How did your parents relate to themselves and each other about money?  Who made what money decisions? Were there hidden messages?  Did they come from equal or different financial circumstances and did this effect how money or other issues were negotiated?

What was your family’s socio-economic position or what did you perceive it to be?  Did this change at any time?  How was money dealt with in your family?   Did there seem to be enough?  How was it spoken of?  Did “it” cause conflicts or power struggles between people?

 ·   Larger system issues such as the economic times you were raised in are also good to note such as the Great Depression, living in a community with lay offs and unemployment, or living in a time of abundance or obvious inequality vs. living in a community in which almost everyone is struggling.

 Peers:  Did you get an allowance?  What messages came with this? How was it in the community? Were there discrepancies, like having more or less than your peers?    What messages came from your schools and teachers?

 The larger culture:  What messages did you get from media, music, and advertising?  

 What messages did you take from spiritual or religious sources?

 Based on any of the above, are there any promises you made yourself about how money would be or not be for you in your life?

 ·   Deeply held values often emerge from childhood beliefs.  They may be useful or not in present life, but re-examining them is always useful.

Last, but important:  How did you see money used well and by whom? These often help us form our core values. What meaning did you make of this and how is it expressed now?    

Have a written conversation with your money, or let your money have one with you! 

For a great alternative: Allow an imaginary interview with your money by the talk show host of your choice.  They might ask your money what it is like to live with you and how “it” is completely happy with you--or perhaps “it” wishes you would change the relationship even a little?

 · Would any of the people of primary influences from your history care to comment? (imagination!)

Take a moment to note any change you would like to make in your money life.

 ·  Go easy on yourself, small changes serve as a line of inquiry to gain insight and make the next right step!

© Carolyn Bartlett, 2005