I took the opportunity to attend a conference designed exclusively for financial coaches at Ramsey Solutions in Nashville last week. The event was packed with learning, networking, and sharing.
One financial coach helped me shift a perspective that I had, and it didn't have anything to do with personal finances. Iâm on a mission to walk at least one mile a day at least six days a week. Iâm doing this for my mental and physical health. I also want to be a good example for others in my life.
Iâve tried the âexercise while travelingâ thing before. Itâs such a pain! Packing extra workout clothes, making sure you have the ârightâ shoes to wear, and planning a schedule that allows for the exercise are all potential barriers that you donât face at home. But this time was different. I was prepared! ExceptâŠI HATE sweating.
Did I mention the conference was in Nashville? I went from 25% humidity to 85% humidity. It was so uncomfortable. But I leaned into the offer of walking to a nearby coffee shop, Just Love, and Whole Paycheck (Foods). We walked over a mile and all I could do when we returned to the hotel, was walk into the hotel room and turn the thermostat down to 65 degrees to expedite my drying time (my poor roommate)!
As I complained to my roommate about sweating, Financial Coach, Sarah van Akkeren, challenged me by saying, âyou know that sweating is a good thing, right?â I was perplexed. âHuh?â She went on, âthe fact that youâre sweating means that youâre getting rid of toxins in your body.â While Iâm not convinced that what she said is true, the idea that sweating may not be a bad thing stuck with me. Iâm more accepting that sweating IS a good thing and that it is my bodyâs way of keeping me cool and preventing DEATH!
Her question and challenge helped me shift my mindset and perspective around exercise and sweating. What does this have to do with money? When I ask people about their budgeting practices here are the most common perspectives:
1. âI have an Excel spread sheet and I list out all my expenses for the month.â
2. âI donât need to budget. We have enough money to cover our expenses.â
3. âI donât budget because I tried it, and it didnât work for me.â
Here are some alternate perspectives to those listed above.
- What if you spent more money than what you planned in your Excel spreadsheet? How would you know where your money went at the end of the month?
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What if these were limiting beliefs? Meaning you believe that the thought or state of mind is the absolute truth, and it stops you from doing certain things. For example, if you donât need to budget because you have enough to cover your expenses, how would you know if you are living paycheck to paycheck or not? And how do you measure your success in reaching your financial goals? Or if you donât budget because it didnât work for you, what part of the budget process didnât work for you? What else is possible?
What is your sweat story? What results or goals are blocked by these stories? What limiting beliefs or perspectives do you have that might need challenged? What do you think is impossible? How do you know itâs true? Share your story with me.
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