WHAT DOES MONEY REPRESENT TO YOU?

Given that we are in the midst of tougher economic times this topic seems timely. After joining my first forum 3 years ago I am amazed at how many get-rich-quick schemes are advertised or discussed on line and off. A friend of ours in yet another multi-level marketing program and not to long ago one of our clients got mixed up in one of those Ponsie schemes where you put five grand in and bring two others who will do the same thing. She lost her shirt...and the five grand and her friends were not impressed when they did too.

David and I write, produce and present a variety of personal development courses and one of them involves the dynamics of money and people's relationship with it. I have condensed some of the basic ideas into a brief discussion.

So here goes...are you up for sharing how you views about money and what it represents to you? For example...
Does money represent any or all of the above?...Power?
...Prestige?
...Status symbol?
...Security?
...Freedom?
...Control mechanism?

Or do you view it in a completely different way? A quotation from Joseph Campbell suggests; "Money is congealed energy...and releasing it releases life's possibilities." After a lot of ups and downs in our financial life David and I finally came to view money the same way.

How and what we "view and do" with our money is a great representation of how we are doing in other areas of our life as well. When we are balanced, focused and living within our means there is greater prosperity and abundance within our financial flow.

During the times we have over-stretched ourselves in other areas and begin to live beyond our means mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically...it often shows up in our finances as well. Well that is a brief overview of my perspective on money...are you up for sharing yours? 

CREATING TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE WITH THE INNER DYNAMICS SYSTEM

The terms personal empowerment and authentic living have become popular expressions in the past few years and clients often ask us how we interpret them.

From our perspective personal or self-empowerment is not something that comes in outwardly directed achievements alone. In our view it is a direct result of "authentic living.” This is a term that is often bantered around and a client asked what it means to us and it gave us reason to pause. Authentic living is a phrase we use in a personal development model we co-created called the Inner Dynamics System (IDS.)

This approach addresses core issues and concerns rather than the outer appearance of things. We look at what the driving attitudes and behaviors are and suggest the outer is only symptomatic of other unresolved concerns. The Inner Dynamics System is a personal development model David and I developed. It promotes strength from within and resolves situations from the inside out…and that requires authentic and conscious choice making.

So even though we have our personal views about what it represents to us no one had ever asked us to specifically articulate what it authenticity and authentic living means. One we thought about it for awhile we concluded that from our shared perspective authentic living is being alignment with our deepest needs and ‘growing our souls’ in the process. It also involves a comfort level in being truth to who we truly are rather than basing basing self-worth on the opinions of others.

Once we reach that place it is becomes more natural to live from the core of our ‘authentic Selves’ and move in the same direction as ‘Spirit’ (whatever that may be for them.) Authentic living supports right action and ownership of an individual’s creative process whether others’ understand or accept it.

Many of our clients contact us because they have an inner sense that their inner and outer worlds are not congruent because they have compromised their own beliefs, principles, wants, needs, goals to please/or not displease others. Others feel dissatisfied because they are caught in needing life to be a certain way in order for them to feel happy, satisfied and/or confident. Their focus is more outwardly directed then inwardly directed and ‘image-management’ drives them more than what supports their quality of life and inner landscape.

Internal conflicts frequently lead to alienation with others and whatever interpretation we put on our association with Source. How can we ever expect there to be peace in the world if we, its inhabitants lack inner peace? A lack of harmony within our inner and outer worlds...cannot help but be projected outward to a perception of "us versus them?" The divisiveness within a confused sense of self fosters judgments of others. "We" are right...and "they' are wrong...our religion, political beliefs, health models are the 'right' and only way...and all else is inferior. Comparison always leads to discontent, confusion and...of course more judgment.

To truly live an authentic life and feel inwardly empowered need to learn how to release self-deception. That involves complete honest with ourselves and the rest of the world. This level of integrity requires conscientious attention, emotional maturity, self-accountability, responsibility for the cause and effect of our choices, self-knowledge, willingness to change and an ability to be discerning and practice sincere internal scrutiny.

A classic Buddhist question puts it this way: "Who were you and what did you look like before your parents were born?" Looking at ourselves without form...and as a spiritual being within a body it becomes easier to accept that...at the heart of you, me, every single person, and all the creatures great and small there is a pure light of love. That inner radiance reflects our essential nature is the larger truth of who we are...sparks of Divinity that are given life and a chance to celebrate our uniqueness in inwardly directed and authentic ways in this journey called life.

This innate luminosity is our essential Self...and as has been said before...Creator does not create junk. Accepting that opens the door for anyone to live their best life...on their own terms. Because we are, from my perspective bright sources of energy...going through our various human experiences. Wouldn't we have a lovely world is we could celebrate who we are...and everyone else within the One song of our humanity?

For more information about the personal development services we offer check out our website at www.fresh-beginnings.com