Wealth Isn't All About Money
I’m pretty sure I say this a lot but I think it bears repeating – I believe that wealth is a feeling and not a number.
What do I even mean by that?
For me the feeling of wealth (and yes for the purists out there I realise that wealth isn’t technically a feeling – but bear with me) is that feeling when you have everything that you need in that moment. Not forever – not for the rest of your life but right in the present moment.
So imagine – close your eyes and think of a time that you had that feeling. A time when you were happy, fulfilled, satisfied, content, proud.
What were you doing?
Who was there?
Where were you?
What about that moment was it that was really important to you?
Why?
What I can tell you is that in that moment your values aligned – the things that are important to you came together and you were present.
I’m going to share with you one of my moments: It was Christmas – I can’t remember what year and maybe the memory is a blend of many – we had just sat down to dinner at my sisters house.
The table was full of glorious food - which had probably taken hours to prepare (with the odd bout of bickering in the kitchen) - we were pulling crackers and everyone was smiling. If I take a moment and really go back to that moment now I can feel those feelings – the emotion that comes up is gratitude and a heart bursting amount of love.
So what is it about Christmas with my family that makes me feel this way? Firstly it’s about trust – this one has shifted now but at that time being with my family was the only place I felt I could be me and be fully accepted - they just got me. It’s also about connection; being with people who you feel closely connected to through shared experiences and views. The reason that these two things are important to me is that when I have trust and connection I feel free, and freedom is pretty much my pinnacle value.
That’s why understanding our values – tapping into those moments and remembering what the special ingredients are that make us feel alive – is so important. We are not all the same, mine will be different to yours and they will shift with time but get to know yourself and what lights you up – understand your values and how to bring them to life and you’ll be able to create the feeling of wealth.
Sure we need money and scarcity of money can create fear, stress and anxiety but money is just a tool - the real wealth of life is in embodying your values.
Discover your values and look at how you can bring them to life in Week 2 of the 8 week Finding Your Balance program! Click here to learn more.
Hi there I’m Gail Bainbridge - money coach and mentor. I am on a mission to transform our relationships with money. I teach people to find money that they didn’t know they had for the things that are important to them. If you enjoyed this blog sign up to my newsletter to be the first to read all my money musings.