What a frightening, grown up thought that is for many of us - taking responsibility for money and our financial affairs. For many of us, handing over responsibility for our financial affairs has been part of a codependent trade off in our relationships.
Some of our emotional dependency on others, on this tight tie that binds us to others, not in love, but in need and desperation, is directly related to financial dependency. Our fears and reluctance to take responsibility for our financial affairs can be a barrier to the freedom we're seeking in recovery.
Financial responsibility is an attitude. Money goes out to pay for necessities and luxuries. Money must come in, in order to go out. How much needs to come in to equal that which is going out?
Taxes... savings plans...appropriate spending habits that demonstrate an attitude of financial responsibility.... Part of being alive means learning to handle money. Even if we have a healthy contract with someone that allows us to depend on him or her for money, we still need to understand how money works. We still need to adopt an attitude of financial responsibility for ourselves. Even if we have a contract with someone else to provide for our financial needs, we need to understand the workings of the money earned and spent in our life.
Self-esteem will increase when we increase our sense of being financially responsible for ourselves. We can start where we are, with what we have today.
God, help me become willing to let go of my fears and reluctance to face the necessary parts of handling money responsibly in my life. Show me the lessons I need to learn about money.
From The Language of Letting Go
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
I needed that today! Time to buck up, face my fears, make some phone calls and Deal with it! Thought thats what I need to do today upon waking-this must be a sign!!!! Lani
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
This is a big deal at any age. I was just pondering on this yesterday. Money is not the most important thing but it's arguably the second most important no matter how you look at it. For me the priority list goes something like this: 1.) my sobriety (which includes spirituality) 2.) my work and financial health 3.) taking care of myself 4.) my family. If I don't take very good care of the first 3, me and my family will suffer.
Of course it's not that cut and dried and more likely resembles a trapeese act where the person is riding a unicycle (sobriety) on the tightwire (life & health) holding a staff level (work) balancing several objects (family, finances, maintanence of everything, exercise & fitness, social, hobbies....). And if that unicycle slips or he drops the staff, everything else goes with it.
This popped into my yesterday while driving around looking at real estate.
Money can not buy you love But Love can not replace money You can live without love But you can not live without money So Love must co-exist peacefully with money, Or love must go HP does not guaranty that we will have relationships, they are a privilege and taking care of our financial health is a big part of earning that privilege
Because Money = Life and Love only = A sweeter Life
Hopefully you can have an abundance of both, but boudaries must be made, set, and kept. My wife and I have been writing an annual budget and goals at the begining of the year for the last 14 years, and it works magically