I pay two people for advice: my guru and qigong teacher. They are the most insightful, intuitive people I know.

One told me that my “relationship with money isn’t grounded.”

That’s not hard to see. I’m generous to a fault – though not as much with money and things these days – and I tend to be high maintenance!

So how do I begin to ground my relationship with money? It helps to understood why, which is where self-reflection, or meditation comes in handy.

First, some background:

My grandfather (“Pops” – that’s him and his better half at our wedding in 1986) was the most influential person in my life. He set an incredibly high bar which I’ve never cleared – but that hasn’t stopped me from trying. He was generous to a fault too – but he could afford to be!!

His dad (above) was a wannabe robber baron. He ended up winning in terms of the wealth he accumulated. When Pops opened the old man’s safe deposit box and found a bunch of jewelry that people had pawned during the first Depression (along with the records), Pops simply gave all the stuff back. Yeah; the bar’s pretty high.

These early childhood memories floated up as I pondered my pecuniary weakness:

• I stole some coins from my uncle’s collection and bought candy with them (I still feel guilty about it 52 years later!)
• I stole some change from the kid who lived across the street. He had a job long before I did (I didn’t have to start working ‘til I was 15).
• I stole a dollar bill off my father’s bureau – but I never got a chance to spend that one!

[Ask me about the time my old man tried to make me to eat a bar of soap!]

I also remembered my parents arguing about money – right before receiving a check from Pops that made them happy.

Message received: stealing money BAD; giving money GOOD.

 

As my qigong teacher says (repeatedly): it’s about balance!

What are the seven words George Carlin told us not to say in public?!?! LOL!!

Deepen your own self-awareness. Find your “why” and the “how” will come – along with renewed faith in yourself!

Meditate. Tap into the power within.

God bless us all, Skip