Five Elements to Financial Freedom AND Fulfillment

For each of us, our current financial situation is a reflection of our past beliefs and actions. So if you are not happy with where you are, financially, it is an indication that you may need to make some changes in your life. And as integral beings living in an integral universe, when we make positive changes in one area of our life, such as finance, we create positive changes in other areas of our life as well.

The contracting economy in many ways takes away the fatty layers that have kept us in our comfort zone. It can be scary, stressful and uncomfortable. But it also presents a wonderful opportunity for us to look inside, reexamine our lives, and set a new direction for the life we truly deserve and desire.

In ancient times, five elements were used to symbolize the harmonious workings of the universe. Using a similar approach, I have identified five elements that, when properly deployed, will help us build a solid financial structure and reach high for our dreams - elements that will lead us to our ultimate joy and fulfillment in life. The five elements are:

Beliefs (AIR) - Our financial situation reflects to a large degree our beliefs about money: our money memories, and our positive and negative associations about money. What are some of the limiting beliefs you have about money? By examining those beliefs and gaining a deeper understanding of the laws of money, we are able to adopt healthier views and habits - and change our financial condition DRAmatically.

Goals (FIRE) - Successful people set clear goals and have well thought-out plans to achieve them. What is your dream? Does it have a deadline? What is your plan to make it happen? Clear, compelling and concrete goals in alignment with our passion, purpose and values will ignite a powerful force within us and propel us to move forward.

Discipline (EARTH) - Without discipline, a dream does not have wings. It is like a ship that stays in the shipyard. Discipline is one of the most important muscles to help us turn our dream into reality. It is essential that we cultivate and exercise the muscle of discipline so that it becomes a natural part of us and our life.

Alignment (WATER) - Money is a means, NEVER the end by itself. If we don't know what is truly important to us, and align our finances with our passion, mission and values, we will never be fulfilled and satisfied - even when we obtain financial success. It is crucial that we structure our finances in ways that support us and allow us to live our passion, purpose and values.

Relationships (SPACE) - As interconnected beings, we cannot achieve our dreams all by ourselves. Without loving relationships, success is an empty and lonely place to be - even if we get there. It is very important for us to cultivate and develop meaningful and fulfilling relationships that are based on generosity, love and support.

Transformation begins with awareness, and happens in action. Reevaluating our beliefs is the beginning of things. Our beliefs about money often reflects our beliefs about ourselves, relationships, among other things. When we gain clarity on who are are and what we want in life, and make a decision to change those limiting beliefs that have prevented us from moving forward in the past, we will begin to notice the world around us also changes.

To get what we want in life, we need to set worthy goals, and practice discipline, patience and persistence to achieve them. On the other hand, this needs to be aligned with our passion, mission and values in order to fulfill us. We also need to consciously create a harmonious environment that support us to walk confidently towards the directions of our dreams.

There is only one corner of the universe we can be certain of changing, and that's our own self. If we can create more harmony in our own life, we are also bringing more harmony to the world around us.

The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore. ~ Cyril Connolly

Say Goodbye to Financial Stress

Financial stress is one of the greatest anxieties in human life. Why? Because the threat of not having sufficient funds to support life threatens one of our most fundamental needs: the need for safety or security. In a tribal society, people may deal with hunger, but never financial stress. But in our modern society, money is the medium required to fulfill our most basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and comfort.

The thought of not having enough money to support our life is like a virus. Leaving untamed, it can eat up our creativity, focus, and joy in life. It can carry such a heavy weight on our shoulders that we can’t breathe freely, and live freely. It can even affect our health.

I find the following strategies useful in getting through financial stress, and coming out victorious on the other side.

Practice gratitude – I personally find gratitude the most effective strategy to overcome fear. When we appreciate and focus on what we already have, we feel nourished and strengthened by the invisible force of the universe. We are ready to receive more of what we already have. As long as we are alive and conscious, we can always find something we can be grateful for.

Understand the cycle – In nature, there is spring, summer, fall and winter. Animals are intelligent enough to gather extra food in order to prepare for the tough winter ahead. It is not so much different in human life. There are ups and downs. Change is inevitable. In good times, shouldn’t we strengthen our base to prepare for the unexpected? Good planning and savings seem to be good policies. In bad times, we must also remember, it too, will pass. Understanding the season we are in can help us look ahead and keep a balanced mind when the times gets tough.

Get organized – Fear is like a paper tiger. When you see it as it is, it loses its power over us. Financial stress is no exception. When we get a clear grasp of our current financial situation, we are better prepared to come up with an effective plan to deal with it. If it is debt, knowing the exact amount and its hefty interest rate are much more likely to motivate us to come up with a solution. Bring it to light!

Set worthy goals – It is not mountain that we conquer, it is ourselves. Whatever we encounter, it is an opportunity for us to rise up, higher and higher, every time! Setting goals worthy of achieving can give us energy and power to conquer seemingly difficult situations and reach far into the stars.

Take action – Somehow fear subsides when we take action. Action is like fire. It boils us out of the stagnant water of financial stress. By taking action, we utilize our creative energy to find solutions and move in the direction of our dreams.

I hope you find this piece useful. Many of us are experiencing a great deal of financial stress lately. It would be wonderful to share your strategies with others.

“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” ~ Mark Victor Hanson

Fear, My Dear Friend

“Death is not the biggest fear we have;

our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive

-- the risk to be alive and express what we

really are.” -- Don Miguel Ruiz

Fear, my dear friend

You are in my body

I can feel you

Every time I step out of my comfort zone

Fear, my dear friend

You are there with me

When I aim to be bigger than

What I already am

Fear, my dear friend

Once I was intimated by your honesty

Once I was overwhelmed by your power

Once I was deterred from fully living

As time goes by

I am getting to know you better

You are my friend, dear fear

You are not there to stop me

You are here to remind me

All is all right

Just keep moving

No longer, I stay in the comfort

No longer, I stop living