You may have heard this before- money is a form of energy. It’s a tool. It’s something we exchange for something else (usually a feeling). We’ve been taught that money is valuable but it’s really not. What money can do for is where the true value lies. And, what you spend your money on shows you what you really value.
I honestly go out to eat several times a week. It’s not that I mind cooking, but I don’t like the time it takes, I don’t like having to plan or decide what I’m going to cook, and I really don’t like the clean up after. On the surface level it may seem like I’m just spending my money on going out to eat all of the time, but what I’m really spending my money on is not having to clean up and time. Plus the fact that I don’t really have to think about what all I’m going to make.
Again, when I go out to eat, I’m of course buying food, but I’m really paying for my time & the simplicity of it, and I don’t mind that at all. So what I truly value is time & simplicity.
Why does this even matter? When you know what you truly value, you become more conscious not only of your spending but in every area of your life.
Let’s use the example of myself above- I value time and simplicity. I notice this in other areas of my life play out- I happen to buy things that help me stay organized because I want it to be easy and simple to find things. The way I have my house set up with our furniture and decor is simple too. I make sure that we don’t have too much so that it’s easier to clean. This plays out in my work with the way I do my work- I follow step by step processes (that I created) to get my work done easily, quickly, and efficiently. I know this is effective because others in my group have not done this and they take longer periods of time to get things done and have more mistakes. And it all goes back to what I value- time & simplicity.
Grab your journal!
Looking at your most recent purchases (at least 3) write out what your purchase was and what that purchase gave you.
After you write out what your value was really look at how that value plays out in other areas of your life.
Another example: my most recent purchase was a fabric shaver- I bought the shaver because my sofa has the fabric beads on it from my doggies. I hate how it looks! I want my sofa to look clean, nice and comfortable. So what I value is cleanliness and things looking nice while being comfortable. The way this plays out in my life is that I want my home to be clean and look nice so I feel comfortable and if we have guests I want them to feel that way too. This can even cause me to plan my weekends according to me being able to take time to clean up.
I hope this helps you discover something new about yourself and understand yourself in a more deeply.
Sending you peace, love and happiness. Always.
-Alisha AE