seeking self enlightenment

MONEY ENLIGHTENMENT

self enlightenment exercise no. 12

No matter how bad or impossible your money problems may be, you can face up to them right now, with this simple exercise.

Before reading further, look in your purse or wallet and take out the highest value banknote you have.

  • Hold it in you hand
  • Look at it closely
  • Feel it with your fingers
  • Smell it

Imagine how you would feel if you were to tear it up into little pieces?
Notice the power this piece of paper has over you.

Now, without making the banknote unusable

  • Crush it into a small ball

as you squeeze it

Think about what money you might have, receive or earn

Think about all the money you owe or need to spend

Think about any cuts or savings you could make

and lastly
Think about anything you can do to make more money

  • Now, unravel the ball of money and flatten it out

Congratulate yourself on gaining a clearer picture of the challenge you face.

NOTES
Money is so dominant in our world today, that it has achieved an almost mystical status.   The symbolic act of crushing a banknote weakens its power and allows us to think objectively about it.

For more self enlightenment on your finances, I recommend you listen to this 21 minute guided meditation
called Facing Money Worries

Comments :
Skip's Gravatar Ok I krinkled up a 20 dollar bill as it instructed in the excercise, but when I straighted it back out again I still only had 20 dollars.. I was hoping for two bills like that trick they do in magic shows. ;)
# By Skip | 08/07/08 16:28
Richard Latham's Gravatar Hi Skip,
LOL yes I hoped for this when I made up this exercise today. I've got a load of crumpled banknotes on my desk, but at least I'm pleased they are not all torn up into little pieces.
:-)
# By Richard Latham | 08/07/08 16:44
Mindy's Gravatar darn, i was hoping MY banknote had a few extra zeros on it... but you're right, at least it's still in one piece!
# By Mindy | 08/07/08 22:44
Cathy Schultz's Gravatar i'm a 60s child. with the same ideals. i read an excerpt from suze orman's book in which she says that if you have no respect for money, you have no respect for yourself. there is a "secret garden" somewhere between suze and my 60s child within, wherein once again, it is all about balance. BALANCE your checkbook, don't play beat-the-bank.
# By Cathy Schultz | 09/07/08 05:08
Richard Latham's Gravatar Yes, Cathy, you are right it's about getting the right balance in our view on Money. I have learned that either loving or hating money leads nowhere and I am trying to achieve a neutral respect for it. Money is certainly not the key to happiness, but it something that is best not ignored.
# By Richard Latham | 09/07/08 19:58
Hardik's Gravatar Hi Richard,

The exercise is quite difficult for me. My mind trainer told me to Love the Banknote. He developed an exercise to let us do everyday. Well, I`ll not explain what the exercise was, but it was all about respecting money. You are true above exercise will deffinately makes a neutral respect for money.
# By Hardik | 28/07/08 17:33
Richard Latham's Gravatar Hi Hardik,
Yes thanks for your very interesting post. Even if the primary objective is to get loads of money, I do not think that loving money is the way to get and keep it. I was once so obsessed with making money, that no amount of money was ever enough. I therefore carried on taking risks until I lost most of it. I now respect money, but learnt that what really matters is having the right amount of money to enjoy a happy and worthwhile life. Thanks again for your post, it got me thinking and forced me to clarify my own thoughts, so much appreciated
# By Richard Latham | 29/07/08 00:19

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