Where were you ten years ago? Where will you be ten years from now?

In the pastor’s message a few Sundays ago, he asked the question “If you could go back to any age, what would it be?”

I answered 32. My friend asked why I chose 32. I had to really think about how to answer her. It really was just the first thing that came to my mind in that split second.

When I thought about it, though, that was about the point that my life took a pretty significant turn for the better.

I had struggled for three or four years before that through a very tough season in my life that included surgery, a car wreck, a divorce, a break up and mountains of debt and poor choices (at least it felt like mountains). Age 32 was when I “came to” and started turning it all around. I landed a job with a significant increase in pay in a really nice city with a lot of promise. I started becoming myself again after wandering aimlessly for a few years “trying to find myself”.

After that, it was not all positive, it wasn’t all rainbows and daisies, but I definitely moved the financial needle over the next several years, in partnership with my current husband.

I don’t know that I would go back to that age, because I really like my life right now. But if I had to go back, I think it would be around that age. There are some money decisions I would do differently, assuming that I could do them differently. I would have to know what I know now in order to do that.

A lot like most of my clients, at that time I wished I was further along. The thing is, we’re always exactly where we are. Instead of focusing on how I should be further along, I could be figuring out the next step, which would make sure that I’m progressing. If I’m always thinking I should be further along, I never actually get where I want to be.

So stop looking back — in other words, stop thinking you should be further along. Instead look ahead — focus on where you want to be and keep figuring out the next step to get there.

Take the example of paying off debt, which is a goal that many of my clients have. If you want to pay off debt, the first step is to figure out what debts you have. Do that first step first. Stay focused on it until it’s done.

Figure out the next step. When you know what debts you have, pick the smallest debt and stay focused on getting that to $0.00 — keep visualizing that statement with that $0.00 balance until you get that statement with that $0.00 in the mailbox.

Then work on the next smallest debt and do this until you have all $0.00 balances. When you focus on the $0.00 balance, you get closer to having that $0.00 balance. Stay focused on the $0.00 balance – the balance you want – instead of focusing on the balance you have. When you focus only on the balance you have, you keep getting that balance.

I promise if you focus on creating a $0.00 balance, that is exactly what you will get. That’s exactly what your brain will create.

Decide what you want more of and then decide to focus on that. Stay laser focused on exactly what you want. Visualize what it will be like when you have it. Imagine what it will feel like when you have it. Do this every day.

Imagine yourself 10 years from now. What do you want to be thinking, feeling, doing?
If someone asks you what age you want to go back to, what will you tell them?

If you want more help making what you want inevitable, book a free 45 minute call with me and I’ll show you how you can do this.
http://jillwrightcoaching.com/work-with-me/

#FocusOnMore #HaveMore #JillTheMoneyCoach #ChristianMoneyCoach #MoneyAndLife

Are You Trying to Escape Your Money?

Recently we paid to be locked in a room so we could try to escape. The concept of Escape Rooms as a business is fascinating. I haven’t spent any time reading about how these came about, but what makes someone think up that idea? And how did they build that idea and get customers to buy into it? I can only imagine that if people that died 20 years ago would come back and read this, they would wonder what the world has come to. I don’t blame them – it sounds like a crazy way to spend my money, but I’ve done it twice. It is an engaging activity – it’s fun to see if you can escape and it’s better than doing something that doesn’t engage my brain. But it still sounds crazy to me. 

Anyway, the first time we did an Escape Room, we escaped with plenty of time left over. But this last time we did one, we didn’t figure out all the clues and tasks in time to escape. We each got a sticker that read, “I almost escaped!” 

The last time we tried to escape an escape room, we had two engineers in our group. They made really good escape artists. I think they were the primary reason we were able to escape. Maybe the last one was just easier – maybe the difficulty level was lower. But I truly think it was because the engineers just see everything as a potential solution.

This time, we kept trying different things to figure out the clues we needed to complete the tasks, but we simply ran out of time. We knew there was a solution, but for tasks we couldn’t figure out, we didn’t know what the objective was. We didn’t know what we were trying to accomplish. It made it difficult to think of what to even try. We were running out of time and getting more and more desperate for a solution. The closer we got to running out of time, the less clearly we thought. The less creative we were.

This is similar to what we typically do with our money. We keep trying different things, but when we’re not sure what we’re trying to accomplish, it makes it tough to achieve the objective. How do we spend our money? How much do we need to earn? What do we need to fund? College? New home? Retirement? Travel? How much in each? What kind of investments?

Financial goals help provide the objective for your money. When you know the objective, it helps you figure out a solution that is suited to your objective. It helps you achieve your objective more quickly. You can focus on what you’re meant to accomplish. 

When you’re not worried about running out of money, you make better financial decisions. You’re more creative about how to achieve your objective. You’re more open to all potential opportunities and solutions.

And you can escape the stress and worry of an uncertain financial future.

Check out my free checklist “4 Ways to Take Control of Your Money” here: http://jillwrightcoaching.com/takecontrol/ and stop trying to escape your money.