Turn Money Obstacles Into Opportunities Part II

Turn Money Obstacles Into Opportunities Part II

Do you feel like you have hit a brick wall in your finances?

Maintain Your Composure

Obstacles present themselves each day. We’re constantly presented with a choice either to maintain our emotional state as related to our finances or to become rattled. Whether it’s a traffic jam on the way to work, an employee that calls in sick, an overdue bill that you forgot to pay or a child that’s broken your front window, two possibilities exist. Which do you routinely choose?

Try these tips for maintaining your composure in the midst of money challenges:

1. Be defiant. On some level, composure is the result of defiance. It’s the refusal to be intimidated or to view a temporary result as a failure.
2. Take responsibility. Something powerful happens when you choose to take responsibility for your money challenges: you have the power to change things. When you have power, you’ll feel less stress and worry.
3. Stay present. In times of turmoil, keep your attention on your current task and do not dwell on past money mistakes. Keep your mind in the present moment. Keep your mind on your work, rather than on the possible negative outcomes. To stay present when your mind tries to wander, focus on your breathing and your senses. Make a mental list of the things you see, hear, smell, feel and the life you want to live.

• You can only think about one thing at a time. Use that fact to your advantage. Negative thoughts about the future lead to anxiety.

4. Focus on money solutions. Unsuccessful people are masters at concentrating on their challenges or lack of money and making them more intimidating than they really are. Keep your thoughts on the solutions and the possibilities to build generational wealth for your family.

• This requires practice. The more you practice, the more adept you’ll become at this skill.

5. Realize that becoming upset limits your options and build negative associations with money. Fear and anxiety limit your ability to see all of your options. The most elegant, and often simple, solutions will elude you. You’re at your best when in a state of equanimity.

Chaos is one type of obstacle. Use chaos as an opportunity to build your emotional resistance. You can control your thoughts and emotional response in every situation including those related to your finances. Focus on maintaining your composure throughout the day in every situation.

[ctt template=”12″ link=”Yf1i2″ via=”yes” ]Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. [/ctt]

Objectivity

Objectivity is elusive. Objectivity is the ability to see the situation accurately, without the influence of emotion, prejudice, or bias. When you’re observing, you see what is actually there. When you’re perceiving, you’re seeing more than what is actually there.

We often create turmoil with the belief that a situation should be a particular way.

• My boss is supposed to be supportive of me.
• My ex-girlfriend should still be with me.
• I should have more money than Bob.
• I should have more free time.Accept the situation and make up your mind to move forward.

Become more objective and see the truth with these techniques:

1. Avoid quick reactions. Have you ever noticed that deer run when frightened? It’s not a thoughtful process. A deer either freezes or runs. The instinct to flee is strong. In fact, it’s so strong that deer often flee from one problem only to be struck by a car.

• Reacting quickly is the result of instinct. Your boss infuriates you, so you quit. Your spouse makes a mistake, and you verbally unload on them. But reacting quickly is rarely the best option.
• Take a moment to assess the situation before choosing a course of action.

2. Consider your sensitive spots. Which topics cause you to routinely overreact? Are you easily slighted? Are you impatient? Do you hold strong political beliefs that you defend vigorously?

• When you’re in situations that result in strong emotions, you’re much less likely to be objective. Notice when you’re involved in one of these situations and tread carefully.

3. Strip away your perceptions. Take the situation at face value. Suppose you’re waiting for your friend to arrive at the movie theater. Depending on your past experiences and your personality, you might conclude:

• She had a car accident.
• She’s stuck in traffic.
• She doesn’t respect my time.
• She’s late again. I’m really going to let her have it when she gets here.
• However, you can’t know any of these things until you actually speak to her. Why upset yourself when there might not be a reason to be upset? All you know is that she’s late. More helpful questions might include:
• Should I call her?
• Should I wait for her or go inside and buy the popcorn?
• Will there still be seats available if I wait much longer?
• If I continue waiting, how long should I wait?

4. Make a list of what you know regarding the situation. You might know that your company’s earnings are down this quarter. However, you might not know that you’re going to lose your job as a result.

• Before making decisions, make a list of what you know for a fact.
• Then make a list of logical conclusions.
• Finally, note your thoughts that are unsupported and tainted by your emotions and negative thought patterns.

5. De-personalize the situation. Imagine you were giving advice to a friend or a stranger. Objectivity is easier to find when you take your ego out of the equation. Obstacles and setbacks seem smaller when they’re occurring to someone else.

Few people can rightly consider themselves to be objective. We’re all victims of our past and our erroneous thinking. It takes tremendous effort to maintain objectivity. The ability to see the truth lays the groundwork for overcoming obstacles. If you are ready to see the truth and learn how to build generational wealth, then schedule time to speak with Lynn here.

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”- Christopher Reeves

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