Episode 3: Make it Magic - Money Does Grow on Trees
Oh there ain't no rest for the wicked
Money don't grow on trees
I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed
There ain't nothing in this world for free
- Cage the Elephant
My sister submitted the question: How do I make money grow on trees?
And I actually laughed out loud - a little because it’s just funny, but also because hey - wouldn’t it be nice?
We know money doesn’t grow on trees (literally and realistically, it just doesn’t) but the phrase is imbedded into our psyches. Take the Cage the Elephant quote - I saw them at Red Rocks in Colorado and while I didn’t know any other lyric, I knew and belted this one.
It’s an ingrained belief in so many of us - as it is with a lot of our money stories.
We say and think it without thinking. And yet, if you follow any sort of manifestation, law of attract readings, books or podcasts, there’s something to being able to attract money and it starts with base beliefs (and of course action, consistency, etc.).
From my own experience, I can best sum it up this idea like this: I known unshakably that the Universe (spirit, God), has my back and things always work out for me. I am eternally and alway grateful for my present moment. I’m clear on my desires and I have no attachment to my timeline, the specifics or how I’ll get there.
This will NOT drop $1,000,000 into my lap, but it sets the framework for cultivating strong beliefs and an abundance mindset. It can be tricky and it sounds NUTS, especially if you come from a background where money is limited, you have to work super hard to get it, and you’re always only scraping by.
I used to have extreme panic attacks around money. I would cry at unexpected bills because I feared I’d be throw into poverty, not be able to pay things, and never get what I wanted. In a coaching program with Jim Fortin, he asked the question: Have you ever lacked or has the situation you feared ever come into play? It stopped me in my tracks. Because I have spent MONTHS crying and worrying about money. And no, none of what I’ve feared has ever come into play. I know that I am fortunate and extremely blessed, but I’ve always been able to pay bills, my lights have never been cut off, and I can buy organic at the grocery store. But what struck me here was how much wasted energy I put on worrying about money - when those worries never came to fruition.
I made the decision then that I would work to change my mindset around money. That coaching program basin 2017. It’s now 2020 so this decision has taken me about 3 years to really, truly feel, live and believe.
I’ll share a few stories that underscore why I believe this:
Rafting trip in Colorado - One morning I was writing in my journal that I just wanted enough money to be financially free - that if I wanted to go on a two week rafting trip in Colorado, I would just go, done, paid for. I wrote this down, closed my journal and promptly forgot about it. I went to the basement to work out. Meanwhile, I missed three calls from my brother who lives in Colorado. When I called him back about 30 minutes later, the first thing out of his mouth was: “Want to go on a rafting trip in Colorado/Utah in September? We got a permit.” Ummmm…. heck yes I do! Did I not literally just write that down????
Sidewalk hair band on a run - a few weeks ago, I randomly went out for a walk. I decided to run, but didn’t have a hair tie or band or anything. I thought to myself how great it would be if I could just find a hair tie on the ground. gross yes, but I would totally use it. Lo and behold, when I slowed to a walk a few minutes later, what did I find? Hair tie.
Grant stories - Small manifestation stories continue to ingrain these practices into my life. I am currently splitting my time between styling, coaching stylists, and doing grant writing. I want to move away from a part time jobI have, and wasn’t sure where the gap in money would be filled. Like magic, I reached out to an old client who gave me 10 hours a week. Another client sent me a project, asked if I could work on other projects, and then asked if I could work on a NEW project with her. Within the span of a week of me deciding I wanted to shift my focus, I had 4 new jobs.
This doesn’t mean I don’t ever freak out about money or worry about it. But it does mean I limit my worrying - I literally give myself a few minutes, and then switch it off. That has taken practice, but I have proof that all of my worrying hasn’t helped me, so why keep doing it?
I get practice - when I start to worry, I list out my resources, what I could do to make money. The plan of action helps my brain + personality type and lets me see how abundant and numerous opportunities are.
Takeaways to develop a positive money mindset:
Research it - watch YouTube videos. Find out the science.
Test it - Pam Grout has two books on experiments you can do to test the premise that thoughts create reality.
Trust it - This may be the hardest and the most abstract - but start small.
Qs:
How to not feel envious of things I want and can’t afford?
Gratitude for what you DO have.
A plan to save money for what you want.
A plan to increase your income.
How to operate less out of a scarcity mentality?
Switch every negative thought to a positive.
I say an affirmation every day: I am abundant, money and opportunities flow to me effortlessly.
Practice gratitude - stay in that place for 17 seconds (research gives me that #)
Set up money systems like in Episode 1 that will get you to your goals and allow you to celebrate money
Read books on money abundance
Resources:
E Squared - Pam Grout
Jen Sincero: You are a Badass at Making Money (book)
Gabby Bernstein (IG / books)
James Wedmore: Mind Your Business (podcast)
Katherine Zenkina: Manifestation Babe (podcast)
Suzy Batiiz (Instagram)
Gay Hendricks (books)
A Happy Pocket Full of Money (book)
Dollars Flow to me Easily (book)
Marie Forleo - Everything is Figureoutable