Our relationship with money involves more than just how much we have in the bank. It’s much more complicated than that. It involves more than our salary, more than our benefits, more than what’s in our 401K.

We learned in previous weeks that most of our unconscious beliefs -- those around money, prosperity and many other important topics -- were handed down to us from our caregivers. What we learned in our youth -- whether good or bad, whether  favorable to or suspicious of money -- is what’s known and comfortable to us. 

And it’s uncomfortable to get outside of our comfort zones, even when those zones are keeping us in less than ideal life conditions.

Most of us fall into one of four prosperity comfort zones:

1. Level 1 is about survival and scarcity. It’s a hand-to-mouth existence. Consumption and instant gratification are hallmarks of this level, and there’s little, if any, planning for the future.
2. Level 2 is about creating financial security. This level is characterized by “corporate America,” hard work, perfectionism, good benefits, caution, calculated pleasure spending, and giving lip service to saving for the future. But substantial savings don’t materialize.
3. Level 3 is characterized by entrepreneurship. This level is characterized by self-expression, creativity, multiple income streams, investing, an abundance mindset, calculated risk taking, delegation, ambition.
4. Level 4 encompasses the innovators, the movers and shakers of the world, the philanthropists. They’re able to use their wealth to improve the existence of many and to leave a deep impact on the world. Think Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg.

No matter what social class you grew up in, moving out of your given prosperity comfort zone, too far out of those familiar ideas and patterns around money, will be challenging if you aim too high too fast.

You can level up, but it needs to be done in a gentle, gradual way. By shifting your focus gradually and giving your nervous system time to adjust, you’ll begin to integrate new thought patterns around finances will move your reality in the direction you want to go.

Thanks for listening!

 

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Links from today’s episode:

• Episode 4 -- We learned about comfort zone
• Episode 1 -- We learned about the reticular activating system

 

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