Sometimes we go along with our brain because that’s all we know to do. Sometimes we go along with our brain because it’s just easier and requires less energy in the moment. We need to be aware of the direction our brain is taking us and the impact it will have on our lives.
It’s a little like when your kids want a toy or candy at the store. They keep asking, they might throw a little fit, they might whine a little, they ask some more, they whine some more, until they finally wear you down and you give in. What impact does that have? It teaches them that if they are persistent enough, they will get their way.
It’s the same with our brain. When our brain offers us thoughts that are not useful to the outcomes we want in our life, at first we might be able to fight those thoughts. Sometimes we think more positive thoughts. Sometimes we focus on staying busy to distract us from the negative thinking or emotions. Sometimes we just resist or avoid the thoughts – pretending that they don’t exist. But our brain can be persistent and keep bringing up the same destructive thinking until we give in. This often happens subconsciously. When we don’t choose consciously, it tells our brain that if if it’s persistent enough, eventually our brain will get its way. There is another option – we can choose.
It’s so empowering to know that these are all choices and regardless of the choices that we have made in the past, each day we have new opportunities to make different choices. So if you didn’t like the choices that you made today, there’s good news. Tomorrow is a new day and you can choose differently.
What I want you to try is to start to notice your thinking and your feelings when it comes to money, debt, saving, spending, budgeting — any of these where you’re feeling stress or anxiety. This thinking is what drives what you do and don’t do — it drives what happens in your life.
Start to question why you make these choices. Then start making choices that you like — choices that make what happens in your life match up with what you want instead of what you don’t want. Start to notice those times when you think, “I’ll never get ahead.” or “I’ll never pay off this debt.” or “I can’t seem to stop overspending; I just can’t control myself.”
When you believe these things, you will become these things. So next time you notice a thought like this, stop. Take control of that thought and choose something else that is just as true. That might be “I am not my past and I am learning how to get ahead.” or “I am working on this debt.” “What I’ve done in the past is not what I will continue to do because I want more for myself.” Think of things that will empower you and don’t beat yourself up. Think of things that will give you hope and a future — things that will focus on what you want instead of what you don’t want.
The past doesn’t matter – it’s gone and there is nothing we can do about the choices we’ve already made. It’s tomorrow that you can have an impact on. So choose wisely.
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In 2000, Jill Wright was in debt and living paycheck to paycheck. Through focus and hard work, she paid off her debt and began building her savings. Over the years, she and her husband completely transformed their financial life and built a nest egg that allowed them to retire at ages 50 and 53.
In 2018, Jill heard God’s call to help other women repaint their own financial future and was eager to answer it. She left her corporate job and became a Financial Confidence Coach. Jill loves helping women give up shame around spending so that they can stop stressing and have peace around their money.
Jill volunteers in her community as a coordinator for Financial Peace University, serves on the boards of Barefoot Republic, Coach Approach and Day 7, and is a mentor for Leaving the Cocoon, a prison ministry for women. Follow Jill at More Money Cents, her business page on Facebook.
