Mindful About Money

For the last year I’ve been interested in mindfulness meditation practice. I went to a mindfulness guru once a week and learned how scattered my thoughts were and how difficult it was to stay focused on my breathing alone.

In August I went to a group retreat led by a rabbi and Zen master. There was no electricity. Silent group mindfulness, chanting, yoga, Chi Gong and kayaking were the daily practices. 11 of us meditated together for a half hour twice daily.  We spoke only at lunch, dinner and in the two processing meetings.

Being with other like-minded people, feeling their caring and support and yet having space within myself to freely feel what and how I was experiencing both myself and my surroundings was and continues to be a liberating and expanding experience. I learned and will continue to learn the power of mindfulness meditation to alter how I experience myself.  It also gave me a perceptive eye into my values and how I was manifesting them (or not) in my daily thoughts and actions.

It is a natural step to apply mindfulness to your relationship to money (see below for tips on how to stay mindful about money). It will provide a way to help you change difficult money patterns you have that may leave you sabotaging your own best interest and leave you knowing you could do better.​​​​​​​

To start, experiment with: slow down your breathing and take a few deep breaths. Notice your thoughts as scattered and random as they may be. Accept them as they meander through your mind. Then go back to a focused awareness on your breathing. You will go back and forth between your thoughts and breath. That’s what happens to everyone.  No worries.

You can then develop some mantras or phrases to carry with you as guides to your goal of learning about your money patterns. For example, “Less is More” is a good place to start.

Maggie Baker, Ph. D.
Psychologist – Financial Therapist
Author of Crazy About Money: “How Emotions Confuse Our Money Choices And What To Do About It”.

#money