One of my new inspirational gurus is Jen Sincero. She’s written a series of books about being a badass. I recently listened to her book called ‘You are a Badass at Making Money.’ She says that money is currency and currency is energy. Even though it doesn’t feel like it sometimes, we have choice concerning how much money we make and what we do with our money. A lot of it depends very much on our attitudes and philosophies surrounding money. There is plenty of money out there to be had, but we have to be willing to do what it takes to get it. 

For various reasons, many people have negative thoughts and beliefs when it comes to money, such as only greedy people have money or that “money is the root of all evil.” In contrast, there are many incredible people who not only have a lot of money but do wonderful things with their money. While money doesn’t bring happiness, it does bring options and opportunities. 

Lately I’ve been dissecting my own ideas and thought patterns regarding money. I’m learning to open myself up to situations and connections that could lead to earning or acquiring more money. Like the adage indicates, I do not think more money would make me happier per se, but I certainly would like to not worry about having enough money for retirement or to help with college tuition. 

My challenge to you is to spend time reflecting on your own philosophies and financial situations. Are you living your best life? Would you like more money flowing into your world? Most of us would answer yes. That being said, Sincero offers the following tips to get you on your way. 

Get clear on your financial goals: This isn’t just about finding a secure job with benefits or creating a simple budget. This is much bigger and specific than that. Sincero suggests we do things like write down the kind of life we want and exactly how much money we need to live that life. For instance, if traveling is important to you, a goal would be, “In two years, I will make enough money so I can spend $10,000 solely on travel.” Before the universe can help steer us in the right direction, the universe must know what we want.  Write them down, think about them all the time, own them. 

Be willing to change: No one likes to feel uncomfortable but to achieve a place of financial abundance you may have to do some things that feel a bit uncomfortable. This may mean quitting your current job and getting one that pays more. It may mean asking for a raise or getting a second part-time job for an interim period to pay off debt. It may also mean getting up early to work additional hours, raising your prices or borrowing money to start your dream business. 

Take decisive action: Once you’ve developed goals, you’ll need to start taking steps toward this new reality. Chunk your action plan into bite-sized pieces so you don’t get overwhelmed or give up.  Action steps may mean hiring someone to help your business become more efficient or investing in a coach to help guide and motivate your endeavors. Perhaps it’s an action step such as putting yourself in situations and around people who will help move you in the right direction, or maybe it’s reading books, taking a course or attending a networking event. Every little step matters. 

Surrender instead of control: As human beings, our comfort zone involves control. We try to control most situations in our lives because control reassures us (albeit falsely) that everything will be okay. Instead of being rigid and controlling, try being observant, reflective and open to possibilities. Surrender to the universe and all it’s trying to do for you. 

Invest in things that will help you grow financially: We all know the old saying, “You have to spend money to make money,” and that is usually the case. Whether it’s investing in a new website, a marketing assistant, a photographer, designer or graphics expert, to create the life you desire or chase lofty dreams, you’ll need to hire others to help you at some point along the way. The key is making those investments intentional and worthwhile. 

Don’t give up: People often give up right before the pivotal moment. Things begin to feel too close or too big to manage or too much out of the norm. If you’re beginning to feel uncomfortable, keep going. That probably means something is about to shift. Continue taking one step at a time and keep your eye on the goals.