5 Ways to Feel More Resourced with Money
No matter how much or how little money we have in the bank, it can be challenging to feel resourced in our financial lives, especially for us entrepreneurs who have variable income. The fear can lead to a nervous system that is stuck in fight, flight, or freeze. So what can we do to feel more resourced when our brains are wired to send off alarm bells and alert us to danger?
Here are 5 ways to feel more resourced with money.
#1 Connect with a Resource
Pause for a moment. Connect with your breath. Feel your feet. Feel your hips and any areas making contact with a chair or couch. Call in something tangible or intangible, within your body or surrounding your body that is bigger than your fear related to your finances. For some this might be a place in nature. A tree firmly rooted, or the expansive ocean that can hold all of the biggest feelings we have. For some this might be an area of the body that feels steady, warm, and safe. The resource might be a relative who had a regulated nervous system with money, or a spirit or guide you feel safe with. Take a moment to call in and connect with that resource.
#2 Notice what emerges
When we connect with something safe, sometimes, within that safe container, other feelings rush in that need care and attention. Fear. Shame. Anger. Frustration. Sadness. Grief. If this happens, allow these feelings to coexist with the resource without needing to change what is here. As much as feels doable, be with the emotion. And if it feels like too much, return to the present moment. Notice the colors in the room around you. Place a hand on your body.
#3 Hold both
Without making the shame or fear go away, and without letting go entirely of the resource, see if you can hold both the resource, and the feelings present. This can be hard to do alone, and the help of a coach or therapist or even a trusted friend who can have a regulated nervous system alongside you might help. Our minds are oriented toward noticing what is not working so consciously trying to hold both what isn’t working and what feels safe is a powerful practice.
#4 Notice what changes
The practice of being in dual awareness of what feels hard or scary, and what feels grounding and safe helps give space for the disregulation to move, melt, burn, or change shape. Notice if any of the feelings or sensations shift or change. If you feel frozen with money, bring in warmth literally (blanket, tea) and/or in your imagination (a warm fire or bath, a sunny beach). Sometimes in this dance, it feels too overwhelming to continue, if that is the case, return to the present moment.
#5 Find the next doable step
When you feel safe enough in your body, see if there is any doable step you can take to address your financial situation. Perhaps it’s setting up a co-working session with a friend, opening a bank statement, looking at the medical bill, or scheduling a call with a money coach. What’s important is that the next step is doable.
MAC Club is available for anyone who would like a weekly co-working space with break out room support to tend to any tasks that would build a feeling of safety, security, or freedom. I’m also available for 1-1 coaching.
When our nervous systems are activated by a stress/trauma response with money, it can be hard to do anything. Remember that you’re not alone. The more practice you get connecting with a feeling of safety, security, and freedom in your body, the more you can begin to be with your options.
The comments section is open for questions or shares around how this post lands for you.