Life’s Too Short to Spend It Worrying About Money

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

How much time each hour, day, week, month and year do you spend worrying about your financial problems, or stressing as a result of them?

Do you accomplish anything by spending so much time so negatively?

Recently, when I was being interviewed for a magazine article on financial therapy, the writer asked me when it was too late for someone to try to change his or her financial behavior.  I was honestly shocked by that question because I know it is never too late to take back control of your money in order to regain control of your life!

Confucius said “The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago; the second best time is today.”  The same is true for each person’s journey to sustainable, long-term financial behavioral change.  Today is the day to begin.

However, what I most wish is that no one had the need to “start over.”  Why can’t we as a society:

• Have greater insight into the relationship between emotional stability and financial circumstances?
• Make teaching financial literacy a bigger priority in our schools?
• Provide greater consumer protection to all Americans?
• Be more respectful of those whose personal journeys brought them to financial ruin?
• Have more compassion for those with less?
• Do more to help parents’ role model and teach healthy financial behavior to their children?

Have we as a society really failed to learn the numerous  relevant lessons from the current financial crisis?  How much more obvious doe the importance to create financial education programs and opportunities early on in life need to be?

While the lack of widespread access on a more macro level is frustrating and disappointing, so is the failure of more individuals, on the micro level, to address their financial problems and to avoid the collateral problems of foreclosure, homelessness, depression, anxiety, divorce, hopelessness, etc.

If you have financial problems are you dealing with them, or are you avoiding them?  If you, avoiding them, do you know why you have chosen that path, rather than one which could stop the endless worry and stress which financial problems cause?

What needs to happen in your life for you to choose to become more money-wise?  If you need help, or have questions on how to begin your own personal journey to a more emotionally and financially stable future, we are here to help.  Reeta

Tags: financial change, financial education, Financial Literacy, financial problems, financial social work, Financial worry
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What is Sustainable Long-term Financial Behavioral Change; Why Does It Matter?

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

April is Financial Literacy Month which is an excellent opportunity for everyone and anyone who works with clients, in any financial capacity, to create opportunities to teach, write and speak about any of the countless financial topics which so many Americans need to learn more about.

It is exciting to see how many groups, professions and organizations have scheduled workshops and webinars on money management topics.  At the Center for Financial Social Work we’ve schedule three very different and important webinars (see details below.)

All of these educational opportunities have value and merit, however, knowledge is only one component of sustainable, long-term financial behavioral change, so it is critical to understand and to address the other elements needed by men and women committed to creating more emotionally and financially stable futures. 

The model we have developed incorporates on-going education, motivation and support because taking greater responsibility for your money, for your life and for building a better personal and financial future is a choice which is made on a daily, if not hourly basis – one which needs constant attention and nurturing.

Financial stability is a far more personal, emotional and individual choice than it is a financial, intellectual, educational or academic pursuit which makes it clear that fostering change is a fragile but crucial process worthy of time, effort and attention.

The change process is a delicate one which begins with the recognition and acceptance for the need to change.  Once recognition is acknowledged, commitment becomes the key to success.  Unfortunately, commitment can be a very vague, large and fragile concept, without the tools and skills with which to cultivate it.

Embracing change is where and how the journey to a more money-wise future begins.  Each person arrives at recognition individually and uniquely, and once there approaches it equally distinctively, but all need a roadmap (on-going education, motivation and support) to help them to navigate forward.

As the 2010 Financial Literacy Month begins, I am hoping to join together with financial professionals of every ilk to develop alliances and programs which help men and women to take control of their money and to gain control of their lives.  My goal is to make every day one focused on financial literacy, for anyone who makes the choice to create sustainable, long-term financial behavioral change.

If today is the day you decide to make the choice to change, contact us for a “Commitment Pledge”  at reeta@financialsocialwork.com.

If you are a professional who wants do more for people with financial problems, issues or challenges, contact us to see how we can work better together.  Reeta

Center for Financial Social Work

FREE April 2010 Financial Literacy Webinars 

All begin at 2 PM ET

April 14, 2010:  Emotional Spending:  What It Is and What to Do About It

Join us to learn the signs of emotional spending, how to identify emotional spending triggers and most importantly, how to substitute healthier financial behavior personally, or with clients.

Reeta Wolfsohn, CMSW, the founder of the Financial Social Work discipline and the creator of Online Financial Therapy Support Groups will be the presenter.

April 21, 2010:  Money Speaks:  Are You Listening?

Learn how to tap into the thoughts and beliefs you have about money and its purpose in your life.  During this interactive session you will learn how to shift your money mindset to support financial health while having fun.   

Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, LMHC, CPCC will be the presenter.  Kathleen helps people master their money mindsets to create health and wealth in their lives.  She is an internationally published author, national speaker and award winning coach. 

 April 27, 2010:  Could Mastering Debt Management Bring New Meaning and Purpose to Your Life?

This session will explore the integration of traditional money management with principles of the simplicity movement and sustainable living practices, eco-therapy and socially responsible investing.

Robert Filocco, LPC, CFSW and Financial Planner will be the presenter.

Tags: commitment to change, financial behavioral change, Financial Literacy, financial literacy month, financial social work
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