I was able to eliminate a large amount of debt as well as finally get a handle on my finances due to a shift in my thinking towards money, not due to an app, a spreadsheet, or a bunch of other financial tricks.
The first step in changing my mind about money was adopting a new habit in my life. It was a small daily routine that many would consider boring and almost too easy to accomplish, but it has been the foundation for everything I have done.
That daily habit is to write things down; I write something daily.
Now, before this becomes another “get up and get busy” motivational story, let us take a few steps back in time, but not too far back.
The main reason I have come to see the value in gratitude over wanting more things is based on the fact that we have been conditioned to believe that happiness is a result of what we buy next. Buy a new car; buy a new house; buy a better way of living. Once you get that, you will be happy. The problem with this is that it is always out of reach because there is always another goal that keeps moving.
As soon as you quit comparing yourself to others and stop looking at only the good times of others, making money decisions becomes much easier for you (you’re spending less, stressing less, and winning).
A Habit That Changed Everything
The act of journaling was a huge factor in my changes. Not the traditional “dear diary” entries, but rather a quick daily summary of my previous day (what I did, who I spoke with, feelings, plus the important part – things I was grateful for), with (again) the important part being the “grateful for” statement.
By routinely doing this daily I progressively trained my mind to focus on progress rather than pressure and satisfied rather than dissatisfied. That same habit and mindset directly affected the way in which I manage money.
An Unusual Meeting Led To A Change
A few months prior to this process beginning for me I had a casual, informal meeting outside a bakery in Florida with some random guy I didn’t really know much about. The conversation led to him suggesting that I read a book on developing a morning routine. I bought that book but never actually read it until after I developed my new habit. At that time I wasn’t a morning person and I didn’t really read at all.
It is amazing how the timing was so perfect.
Experiencing jet lag and waking up extremely early without the aid of alarms
My honeymoon trip to Europe has come to an end, and once again my sleep cycle has been destroyed. I was getting up and ready for work before 5 am every morning and could no longer fall asleep again once I woke early.
When I woke up that morning I remembered that I had the self-help book that my wife had bought me several months before. I had nothing to lose since I was already awake at that hour and so I began reading the book, decided to follow through and then selected a date for implementation.
That date became a landmark for me; a historical indication of my ability to create a number of new habits. It also created for me a new approach to my finances.
Repeat Small Steps to Reach Your Goals
There was nothing magical about this process; there were no “road-to-Damascus” type incidents or overnight success stories. Just a lot of repetition of small things over time. Over time, the cumulative effect of doing small, but consistent, things led to large, previously unattainable goals being achieved; therefore leaving behind all of my previously accumulated large, overwhelming debt and achieving incredible success through a previously weak financial foundation.
It wasn’t due to chance that they were able to find financial success, but rather due to their changing thoughts and feelings that aligned with their current goals. This is important for anyone who struggles financially. If you’re struggling financially at this moment, you are likely dealing with more than what’s in your bank account or how much your debt is. Your mindset, your point of focus and your view of what you believe you need to be happy (or think may provide you happiness) can weigh heavily on you when you are feeling overwhelmed by money.
You do not need to spend several hours per day journaling. Simply writing for an average of 5 to 10 minutes is sufficient. You could try this for a week or for several days. If you miss a day, that is okay. You can continue on the next day!
You will eventually experience financial success, but first you’ll gain clarity about yourself and your dreams.
Sometimes, financial success begins with a journal, a quiet morning and appreciation for the things and experiences that are in your life at this time.
