How to Remain Calm Over Finances

As someone who is not a millionaire, I can say that finances tend to cause me stress. Will I be able to pay my health insurance next month? Am I spending too much money on food? Can I ever save enough to move out on my own? Every day new worries over money flow through my head and circle around and around until I decide that I should not buy those $3 cupcakes at Target. But when I do find myself in these circling thoughts, especially if it's making me feel like I can't spend money reasonably on things that bring me joy, I follow a couple positive mantras to help me feel calm over my finances.

I watched an Adam Roa video on YouTube recently where he talked about his own anxieties over finances. Something he mentioned that has still stuck with me is his own mantra: "For every dollar I spend, two come back to me." Since hearing this, I've tried to implement it in my own spending habits so I don't feel anxious every time I shop or pay a bill. It's helped me understand that money always comes back to me; money can be seen as an exchange of energy, and energy is always being given and received. As long as I recognize that my spending money is an exchange for something I value—like my health insurance and food—then that energy will come back to me.

Another mantra I follow is "I am financially abundant." Even if my bank account doesn't exactly reflect that on the surface, I look at the number and think, "I am so fortunate to have X amount in my bank account. It allows me to not only pay for necessities, but hobbies and fun activities with friends." I constantly express gratitude for the money I have, instead of focusing on the money I don't. It can be easy to slip into the "Ugh I wish I could pay off my school loans NOW", "I wish I had the money to fly to Japan this summer", "I wish I had the money to buy a new car", etc. The more grateful we are for the money we have now, the more money will come to us in the future. I can tell you from experience that this has been true for me; when I stress out over money, I find that sudden expenses pop up that dwindle the number in my bank account. But when I'm grateful and calm over the money I have, I start earning more money that week and for each week I think this way. Try it out for yourself and see your finances grow.

Speaking of school loans, this can also be a major source of anxiety for us former college students. We could easily stress out over having this large sum of debt and think of how horrible our financial future is—or, we could think of it this way, "I am so fortunate that I was able to acquire funds for my college education (law school, medical degree, etc.). Because of that money I was able to earn a degree/degrees that have made me a more well-rounded and educated individual. This money allowed me to go to a school where I met some of my now closest friends/spouse/partner." If we focus on the negative aspects of this debt, we'll find ourselves struggling even more in trying to pay it off. Remember this mantra, "I will pay off every cent of my school loans." Make it a fact; not a wish. It will happen.

These are the mantras that help me stay positive over my finances so I not only have control over them, but earn more money in the process. I'm telling you, remaining positive will keep you more connected to your desire for wealth and financial stability. I can't tell you the difference I've seen in my own financial life within the past two years; I went from barely making it through the month to having a surplus, allowing me to take up hobbies and go out more with friends. Money is an essential part of living a healthy life, it is responsible for an endless list of privileges and necessities that life without it would be miserable. View money as a necessary and important resource that you are always connected to; thank it when it arrives; thank it when it leaves (because it's paying for something that you need that will bring you value); and respect it as an energy source.

We all deserve to be financially abundant; let's get there together.