Last week we discussed how self-talk, the things you tell yourself throughout the day, has a significant impact on how you feel about yourself.  The COVID-19 pandemic has many people more worried than ever about their finances.  You may be feeling concerned, afraid, maybe even a bit hopeless.  That's understandable. There's a feeling of financial uncertainty.  Some of it is coming from the reality of job loss or a drop in income.  Yet some distress is a result of the pandemic triggering long-held issues about money.  I know some of your financial situation is not in your hands right now.  Yet some of it is within your control.  That's the part I want to talk to you about: What you can do to lessen your discomfort and manage any current financial strain more powerfully.

I recently moved to a wonderfully welcoming, friendly neighborhood.  My neighbors have a basket of snacks and bottles of water for delivery people to help themselves.  That inspired me to offer a cold drink yesterday to my UPS guy who readily accepted with a huge smile.  It is hot and humid here, folks.  I don't know how they do it: especially with the increase in deliveries because of COVID-19.  The point is this… that brief moment… people, even strangers, working together to get everyone what they need.  The generosity of spirit, kindness, abundance, with all of us lifting each other up.  I believe that's the point of it all.  Or at least in the top 3.  Now you may be asking, how did I leap from snacks and UPS to commenting on the meaning of life?  Because when it comes to money, I used to be stingy.  And it confused me.  I considered myself pretty generous when it came to family and friends, giving of time, and in my work.  While participating in a Life Mastery course, I did a deep dive into my beliefs about money and got to the root of my stinginess.  This changed how I feel about earning and spending.

Bring the following to mind.

"The truth is that there's more than enough good to go around.  There are more than enough creative ideas.  There is more than enough power.  There is more than enough love. There's more than enough joy.  All of this begins to come through a mind that is aware of its own infinite nature.    There is enough for everyone.  If you believe it… if you act from it, it will show up for you ".     ~Michael Beckwith

So how do you shift from an anxiety, fear-based scarcity mindset to a calm, abundant one?  Let's start by taking a look at your relationship with money.  We all have one, and if it's not serving you well, it’s costing you more right now than it needs to.  Whether you're worrying too much, losing sleep, or are just plain irritable or depressed about it, it's disempowering you.  It's robbing you of energy better spent elsewhere.  When it comes to money, your beliefs about it really matter.  You deserve more for yourself and those around you. It's time to make a change.

What do you tell yourself about money?

Are you sometimes nervous or afraid that there won't be enough?  Maybe recently, even more so?  I get it.  An unexpected drop, or loss, of income, means that there is, in fact, less than you expected.  Now, if you had a scarcity relationship with money before the pandemic, the effects of COVID-19 on your income is bound to trigger any scarcity beliefs you have about money.  That fear of "there's not enough" will likely go into overdrive.  Instead of "This stinks," then pretty quickly, "Okay, I can figure this out," it's panic… "There’s not enough.  There won’t be enough”.  Which has you struggling more than you need to.  Some of these fears may be tangible; you’re truly struggling to pay bills or feel that your job has become insecure.  Other concerns, however, may be less about what’s actually happening and more about a negative or limiting relationship with money.

Tell the “what if?”s to take a hike.  Ahhh, the all-too-common “what if?”s.  A frontrunner in the roots of anxiety.  ” What if I don’t figure out a way to make more money?”  “What if we don’t have enough?”  “What if the pandemic continues, and the economy stays slow?”  The language of wasted energy. 

What-if’s mean you’re living in the future.  Whereas living in abundance, free of unnecessary worry, where you feel like there is enough and will always be enough requires that you be in the present.  All you have to do is focus on what you can do today, this week, this month.  This is where trust and self-talk are really important.  Tell yourself that “I trust that all I have to do is work on what I can do today.  I trust that I don’t need to concern myself with the future now.  I believe that it's responsible of me to address the tasks of the future later: when they become the present.

What are you doing right now to improve the situation?

It makes sense that your ability to problem-solve has been affected by the stress of the pandemic.  Yet now that you are letting go of the limiting beliefs you carry about money, you’ll have greater clarity to focus on specific actions you can take.

Have you looked everywhere for ways to decrease spending, even if only temporarily, until your income increases?  Even a small reduction matters as it contributes to you having a greater sense of control.  Have you gotten creative about generating income from simplifying your life, like selling items you don’t use or need? 

Are you being flexible around spending and earning right now? Open to making income in an area outside of your current line of work?  So that if you lost your job and are feeling the lows of being idle, you have a source of not only money but of productivity and purpose?  If not, what is getting in your way?  I know of some people who answered this and had a significant breakthrough as a result.  They noticed they had some negative self-talk around working for less than they’re used to, and challenged it.  Maybe a little pride, what we call an ego conversation such as, “how will this look that I’m doing this when I’m a professional in that?”  You know, the unhelpful things we all say that distract us from what really matters. Then they realized it was powerful to adopt a “do whatever it takes” approach that is allowing them to be productive and generate some income.  I love hearing that they’re feeling happier because they’re living proof of responding to adversity by creating opportunities and abundance.  Are you willing to be open to new opportunities that, while you wouldn’t have chosen it to be this way, has you responding to this crazy time in a way that gives you new and meaningful experiences?    

Take a moment and consider these three simple steps to begin shifting your relationship with money.

#1  Gratitude.  Wayne Dyer said it beautifully. “The first step toward discarding a scarcity mentality involves giving thanks for everything that you have.”  Do you find yourself comparing yourself to others, perhaps being lured in by the perfect photos on Instagram?  Those pictures are just a moment in time and may not reflect reality.  Take a look around you.  What are you thankful to have right now?  Don’t worry about what others have.  Appreciate what’s around you.

#2  Trust.  That there’s enough in the Universe for you, your family, your loved ones.  Enough money for all of us.  You have it within you, always, to generate enough.  Enough money, enough love, enough purpose, enough joy. 

#3  Hope.  It is essential right now that you maintain faith about your future.  It will change how you feel every day, not just about money but your whole life.  Things feel hard right now.  We will get to the next chapter.  Believe that we will overcome this challenge.  Because we will.

For more specific ways to feel better around money right now, check out this article:

https://www.verywellmind.com/managing-financial-anxiety-surrounding-coronavirus-4800849