Youve been thinking that your financial life could probably be better, right? Maybe you think, If I could just stick to a budget everything will be fine, or how about When I get that next raise or promotion, Ill have enough money to pay off my debts and save some money You may even be thinking,I can do this on my own! I hear these comments and more on a regular basis. I usually say, Great! Can you think of any reasons your financial life isnt perfect right now? Its really your little voice which is prompting you to say all these things! Your little voice has a job to do and that is to protect you from any change because it knows that change will be hard or scary or cause more work and its just easier to keep things the way theyve always been. Your current situation is something you already know and even if you dont like it, you at least know what you already have. Or maybe you feel its all up to you and its weak to have other people help you, especially when it comes to money. Besides, you might think, Ill probably have to pay to get help! People who challenge these thoughts and hire a financial coach find that their attitudes toward getting help changes dramatically within a couple of weeks. Youll find someone you can tell everything to, literally. Your hopes, fears, dreams, problems - the whole lot and you can even drop the image that your life is perfect, that you know it all and that you can do it yourself. The first thing youll notice is that your coach wont judge you. Youll be accepted as you are, even if there is room for improvement. Youll find someone who will truly hear what you say and support you in your efforts to be an excellent money manager. Youll feel your dreams are something to be valued and youll encouraged to clarify them and move towards them. Youll be asked challenging questions, youll think bigger, be clearer about the role of money in your life, and youll consider other possibilities! Because coaching is a professional relationship, youll be working with someone who isnt just going to say "yes" to you. Youll know your coach has your best interests at heart when she challenges you. Your coach can help you see big picture when you get bogged down in the detail or run into difficulties. Shell open up your thinking so you can see you are capable of more than you see for yourself. Youll be encouraged to truly be your best, particularly when you are inclined to stop short of doing whats possible for you. Your little voice will be very happy to protect you from these wonderful experiences, especially if youve never experienced the opportunity to work with someone who is on the same playing field as you, open to brainstorming ideas and continually moving you forward. Your inner voice protects you from growing and being outside your comfort zone. Your little voice tries to stop you doing something, whether through fear or pretending you don't need to do it. Your little voice is useful when it protects you from danger such as putting your hand in fire. And, remember your little voice is extremely clever and powerful; after all it's had a lot of practice! It will keep trying to find a way to stop you. You can be quick to identify your inner critic getting in the way, and it will find another way of stopping you. We've become so accustomed to letting our inner self rule our lives that we tend to see it as normal, never questioning whether it's healthy for us. This inner critic can kick in when you think about getting the help you need and making changes that will improve your finances. I dont need 'help'; I can do it myself! youll hear it say. Getting financial help may suggest that you arent capable, you have something missing, or you are just plain lazy or stupid. Youll quickly realize that a coach doesn't 'help' you. A coach sees you as a whole person who is capable of unbelievable things. They don't hold your hand like a child and they're normal human beings who aren't perfect. They act as a sounding board, an objective observer, offer a safe place to learn new information about money and answer questions youve never been able to ask anyone else. They see things clearer than you do because they step back and aren't caught up in your daily routine. You can take more responsibility when encouraged by a coach. Coaching will give you the opportunity to stop and reflect, gather your thoughts, sort out your priorities and focus for the coming week. The dynamics of two people working together are greater than the sum of the individuals. What is your little voice stopping you from doing, which could be extremely beneficial for you? Write down what your mind is saying, because seeing it in black and white allows you to see more clearly. What could your life look like right now if youd had this kind of help when you were just starting out? What will happen 20 years from now, if you keep listening to your little voice? What are you waiting for?!?!? |
