Healing Your Money-Mind with Creative Questions

This is a guest post By Pam Guthrie.

Did you know that by changing how you think about money you can have a huge impact on your financial well-being? Creative Questions are a simple, profound tool that can make a big difference for you.

We all use creative questions all the time, mostly completely unaware of them. A creative question is, simply put, a question with a result built in. Unfortunately, most of our creative questions have results we actually don’t want. By becoming aware of what creative questions we are using and replacing them with good Creative Questions we can start getting the financial results we want.

Some years back I was talking with a friend about how changing my thoughts about money had improved my financial circumstances. He said, “That doesn’t work! I think about money all the time!” I asked him, “Do you think about having money, or not having money?” “Oh,” he replied. “I guess I am getting what I think about.” That’s it in a nutshell.

Most of us have learned to think about money as something we don’t have enough of, and as a result, that’s what we get – not enough money.

“Why is it so hard to pay my bills?” “Why can’t I pay off my credit card?” “Why is it so difficult to make my mortgage?” “Why is there never anything left over?” These are great examples of the kinds of questions that keep us stuck in a relationship with money that leaves us feeling stressed, unhappy and full of lack. By flipping these questions, we break through our attitude of lack and begin to create for ourselves a sense of abundance and prosperity. This shift changes the way we “filter” the world, and we can see opportunities and resources that we previously were blind to.

Notice how you feel when you ask yourself the question, “Why is it so easy to pay my bills?” Feels pretty good, doesn’t it. Some people may have big objections to a question like that. Then try, “Why could it be so easy for me to pay my bills?” One of the jobs of our subconscious minds is to find answers for the result-based questions we ask. Focusing on what we lack will bring to mind what we lack. When we bring our attention to our resourcefulness, our creativity, and our ability to choose, we find that our world has suddenly shifted to one of abundance and opportunity.

So how do we do that? First, get really clear with your financial goals. Get specific. “I want to be rich,” is too vague – compared to what? –according to whom? “I want a savings account with two months salary in it” is better, but still pretty vague. “I want a savings account with $15, 000 in it” is better and putting a by-when date is the best. “I have my own savings account with $15, 000 in it by my birthday.” Now, that’s a well-defined goal.

When you have set your clear goal, one that feels attainable, with specifics like what, where and when, but not how, turn it into a Creative Question. Ask yourself, “Why do I have my own savings account with $15, 000 in it by my birthday?” Ask yourself, “What makes me have my own savings account with $15, 000 in it by my birthday?” And ask yourself “How do I have my own savings account with $15, 000 in it by my birthday?” You see, when it comes to money there are lots of ways it can come to you. Salaries are one, but so are gift, winnings, benefits, bequests, and many more. Start asking your friends if they have ever had money come to them in an unusual way. Keep it ethical, but otherwise leave the limits of the “how” out of the picture.

Once you have your questions, use them. Write them on cards and carry them with you. Post them at your work station. Write them on your bathroom mirror. Put them where you will see them all the time.

Practice them by writing them, and use your name. “Why do I, Pam, have $15,000 in my own savings account by my birthday?” You don’t need answers to appear in your mind, but if they do, write them down, too. Change the pronoun, “Why does she, Pam, have her own savings account
with $15, 000 in it by her birthday?”

Notice when the disturbing thoughts come up and replace them with your question. Be aware of the sneaky ways those thoughts can get you. Words like lack, owe, debt, or phrases like can’t afford, can’t pay, costs too much are good to look for. Is it true that you can’t afford something, or is the truth beneath the words that you’d rather spend your money in a different way? Is something too much, or do you think it’s not worth the asking price? We often respond to money issues with
habitual behavior that don’t serve us well. When we pay attention to those habits, shine the light of choice on them, so to speak, we can change our behavior for the better. Do I really want a new pair of shoes, new power tool, new MP3 download, or would I rather have that money to put in my savings account?

As you change your thinking about money, and your relationship with money, you will find it easier to follow the great advice out there for achieving your financial goals. You may even find that you enjoy paying your bills and building your nest egg. “Why do I love my relationship with money?”

Pam Guthrie has been in the healing biz for more than 30 years. She has been using Creative Questions for the last six of those with amazing results. www.sunagape.com