It's Time to Grow up America

As I was listening to Barack Obama's inauguration speech, and as I read it again today, the main theme I heard was his call for us as Americans to grow up. He reminded us of the scripture that said it is time to put away childish things. I could not agree more. That's exactly what Financial Health Solutions' services and products are all about - growing up emotionally, so we can grow healthily, financially.

President Obama said, "Today I say to you the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America - they will be met." This is exactly what I ask of my coaching clients when I work with them. I ask them to meet the reality of their financial situation, by telling the truth about it. In that meeting, ironically, there is freedom and release. When we are in financial crisis, we tend to think that by denying, hiding, covering and avoiding our situation we elude it somehow. We try to free ourselves from it by running from it. But that behavior is exactly what shackles the financial crisis to us. As we meet our financial crisis, we meet our liberation from it.

One thing I hear often used as an excuse to buy what someone can't afford is ... 'I deserve it'. This is a childish attitude. Of course, we all deserve the finest things in life. We all deserve to feel pampered, nourished and excited about the purchases we make with our money. However, having or experiencing things that you can buy with money is not a matter of deservability. It is a matter of affordability and responsibility. Growing up financially, requires us to be honest with ourselves about what we can afford. It requires us to be responsible with our money because that is a sign of respecting yourself and your life. It also gives us the opportunity to meet our authentic self - who we are, with or without money and with or without financial success. In meeting our authentic self, we stop placing false value on things we can't afford. We stop the childish belief that buying things give us worth and value. And in that same meeting of our authentic self, in that same moment, we discover where our unending worth and value truly lies.

MLK Day - Being of Service

I just watched a video of Barack Obama encouraging Americans to be of service to others in whatever way they feel they can. He reminded me of what Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Anyone can be great because everyone can be of service." I've never been more aware of the truth of this statement, than I am now.

There is a stage in life, a very important stage in life, where we are selfish. A stage, where all we want to do is focus on ourselves and our own happiness. And that's okay. But ultimately there is a limit on that type of self-gratification.

Being of service to others opens your heart. It takes us out of our own selfish neurosis and reminds us of what it really important. It shows us that when what we do is not simply about fulfilling our own happiness, we are happier and more fulfilled than ever before.

It is the same with our finances. When we focus on making money for ourselves by feeling good about and fulfilling ourselves, that can be very beneficial and quite necessary. When we begin to focus on making money to benefit ourselves, as well as, being of service to others, that is the doorway to wealth, coupled with financial health.

Another point of view

This morning, I was watching a show with a prominent financial expert. She was asked a question by one of the hosts. The question was:

Question: You said that this is a transformational moment for our society. It's time to pay as you go. Don't whip out the credit card.How do you change that (charge it on my credit card) mentality, it's in your DNA?


Answer: The psychology of it. It's in your DNA but the credit card companies will be changing that mentality for you because as I just said as few moments ago they will be reducing your credit limit revoking your credit lines, taking away your home equity lines of credit, so you will not have the credit line available.

I would like to share the answer that I would have given, had he asked me. It is a very good, and insightful question. It shows that they have been taking this crisis and his own financial health seriously.

My answer is this: The reason people whip out their credit card for things they can't actually afford is because they want to numb and compensate for some emotional pain that they are going through. They may not even know that's what they are doing. It may seem like using their credit card to cope is 'just how life is'. But when someone takes a moment to investigate what they are feeling right before they make that credit card purchase, or if they reflect back on the financial choices made to live beyond their means, they will find some negative or uncomfortable emotion they have been avoiding. In order to change someone's financial DNA, it starts with them feeling those uncomfortable emotions. Ironically, in feeling the emotions, you free yourself from them. Then, I suggest investigating what thoughts you think about money and yourself that cause the negative emotions. Once they are identified, you can choose to replace them with new, positive, better-feeling thoughts about money and yourself.

Gratefully Affirm your way to Financial Health in 2009!

Happy New Year! I am so very grateful and excited about the pre-launch of my website, http://financialhealthsolutions.net and my business moving to the next level. I'm grateful that I finished my first book, 'Your Financial Health Handbook:Sticking with your Budget through a Peaceful Mind and a Grateful Heart'! I'm grateful for my clients. I'm grateful for my family and magnificent, fabulous friends. I'm grateful for the incredible spiritual mentors and guides who always seem to find me and make it their business to see to it that I am at my best spiritually. There is so much to be grateful for.


What are you grateful for? In the most important ways, I am no different than you. If I can find things to be grateful for, so can you! I hope you are counting your blessings. It's good for the Soul AND it's good for your finances!

I went into business for myself two years ago. It has been so gratifying to see what started out as affirmations on a piece of paper, manifest before my eyes. About a year and a half ago, I wrote an affirmation that I wanted to hire an assistant to help me with the bookkeeping side of my business. At that time, I was just recovering from a devastating loss and disappointment in my life, personally, professionally and financially. I was in no position to hire anyone. I was living with my parents while I was not only building my business but rebuilding my life. But, instead of letting my situation discourage me, I used it to inspire me to proclaim what I wanted in a more powerful way! I affirmed my desire for an assistant while acknowledging what I was grateful for at that time.

Today, in the midst of a financial recession and a financial crisis for so many, my business is flourishing. People are sending all types of work and new projects my way. A few months ago, I hired an assistant with the exact specifications I wrote in my affirmation! And to boot, I hired a PR consultant! I don't share this to boast, but to make a point. Originally, my affirmation was based in my desire for a successful business where I would need help and relief from a heavy workload. This a has certainly come to manifest. But even more and better than I imagined, it is so gratifying, especially in these economic times, to employ a young woman of color who needs some extra money while she's in school. It is so gratifying, especially in these economic times, to hire a brilliant woman of color with a sharp marketing mind who is building her own business as we speak. The most profound gratitude is in giving to, supporting and serving others. It is a love I've never quite experienced before.

It is wonderful to see how perfect the Universe is, especially when we make our priority to love ourselves and offer services to the world that we are passionate about. It is as if the entire Universe not only has our back... but it has our front, side, top, bottom, inside and out too!

We are never done growing, especially financially. I continue to have financial goals, and with any goal comes challenges. My life is a testament to the fact that no matter how financially challenged we are, we can see our way clear and free of financial distress. The challenges don't necessarily go away, but our reactions, and therefore our financial experiences are transformed. That is the gift. That is the financial reconciliation. That is the true financial freedom.

I pray the services and products of Financial Health Solutions are used as the catalyst for your financial health, as they have been for mine!

As always, to your financial health,

Simone