A vendor selling jewellery at a charity bazaar raising money for the National Association of the Deaf. Picture: BT file
Sunday, November 14, 2010
I HAVE lost money.
I felt anguish, anxiety, agony and frustration all rolled into one when I realised the extent of my loss.
It was a long process for me to understand my inner software about money. There have been many economic opportunities that passed my door, which made me rethink my programming about money.
My mission is to free myself from wrong perceptions about money because I believe 90 per cent of money problems come from mind problems.
One of my issues when it comes to money is a sense I do not really want to be rich as unconsciously, I feel that 'money is the root of all evil'. In fact, I believe money begets greed, upheaval, stinginess and love for materialism.
Another issue not only for me but other married women is relying on our husbands to take charge of money matters. Yes, in some cases it saves us from money headaches. On the other hand, it can make us financially illiterate. We end up not knowing how money works and grows.
I believe in the saying, "be grateful for what you have" and in not being greedy. As a result, I insist on taking a stroll down the money lane instead of running to wealth.
Another issue concerns what my mother had drummed into me, "You cannot share what you do not have." But this raises the question: How do we now commit to be wealthy so that we can help more people and make their lives better and happier? I promise myself to face all these issues and hopefully solve them.
The bottom line is I want to align my financial life with my spiritual vision. I do not believe in solely gaining material wealth, without gaining spiritual wealth at the same time. I know that in order to move on, the next level is to understand the co-relation between the powers of money and spirit, so they work in tandem, shifting economic systems to serve the greater good rather than to benefit the few.
I hope this answers my prayers, determine solutions to my financial woes because this is not just about organising finances better, nor is it about the ways to contribute more for the good of others it is really about the way we look at money to shift our personal perspective from a material base to a spiritual base, from consumption to generosity, from bettering our own world to bettering everyone's world.
The idea of seeing money through a spiritual lens is compelling and meaningful to me. Women, money and spirituality will be the three driving pillars in this journey of change and transformation.
Let's make a personal and strong commitment together, to understand our personal financial facts and go deeper into our soul and uncover our feelings that these facts bring up.
As we seek to align these facts and feelings, we connect with our core desires and intentions. To do this, I always ask myself, "Where does my financial life intersect with my spiritual life? Do I ever connect the use of money to my soul?
My responses to these questions have been mixed, therein lies the need to write, to connect the dots, to make the links, to develop a clear understanding of how the power of money illustrates and magnifies my individual core values and spirituality.
It is really about my unfinished business with money and until then, like most women, I am in a constant financial dilemma of looking at where money comes from, where it is right now, where it goes, and how and why it leaves you.
Let's follow the money trail through reading and doing some simple exercises. Take a moment to follow the money.
First, follow the money with attention to detail. Then follow the trail where your money goes in the wider world as well. Start to think about questions such as "Where does your money go?" "Who benefits from your money?", "What does money mean to you?", "What is the ultimate message of money for you?"
Bring these questions into your soul and reflect, connect with your spiritual self, spiritual practice and growing consciousness about money.
Follow your money through the messages you have received, through your own personal history, and through your chequebook and bank statements until you follow the money right out your front door, into your career, your business and your life activities, and all the way into your dreams, about what you really want in your life, about what you really want to do with your gifts and talents.
Just expand yourself and your world and feel at the deepest levels the purpose in your life.
I invite you to prepare yourself for the exciting adventure of exploring your own personal beliefs and behaviours on money.
We take control of our finances, so do not waste it or give up control of our money. And we do it because of the peace and tranquility that come with living a life that is both meaningful and inspiring.
There will be questions to reflect: Am I a generous person? How do I give to myself? How do I give my money and possessions to others? How much are my economic transactions influenced by my values? How much are they motivated by habits? Do I work for the money? Is money very important to me? Am I always careful with money?
You may want to seek the guidance of your spiritual mentor in order to access your own spiritual core self. As Muslims, set aside 10 to 15 minutes after each obligatory prayer to quiet and calm ourselves, to reflect, to allow inspiration in, to pray and seek guidance from the Almighty Allah SWT, to align our financial beliefs with our spiritual values. Aim high to be wealthy in the true sense of the word.
The author is general manager of consulting firm A&A Management and Training Services. She used to be president of Brunei's Women Business Council.
I felt anguish, anxiety, agony and frustration all rolled into one when I realised the extent of my loss.
It was a long process for me to understand my inner software about money. There have been many economic opportunities that passed my door, which made me rethink my programming about money.
My mission is to free myself from wrong perceptions about money because I believe 90 per cent of money problems come from mind problems.
One of my issues when it comes to money is a sense I do not really want to be rich as unconsciously, I feel that 'money is the root of all evil'. In fact, I believe money begets greed, upheaval, stinginess and love for materialism.
Another issue not only for me but other married women is relying on our husbands to take charge of money matters. Yes, in some cases it saves us from money headaches. On the other hand, it can make us financially illiterate. We end up not knowing how money works and grows.
I believe in the saying, "be grateful for what you have" and in not being greedy. As a result, I insist on taking a stroll down the money lane instead of running to wealth.
Another issue concerns what my mother had drummed into me, "You cannot share what you do not have." But this raises the question: How do we now commit to be wealthy so that we can help more people and make their lives better and happier? I promise myself to face all these issues and hopefully solve them.
The bottom line is I want to align my financial life with my spiritual vision. I do not believe in solely gaining material wealth, without gaining spiritual wealth at the same time. I know that in order to move on, the next level is to understand the co-relation between the powers of money and spirit, so they work in tandem, shifting economic systems to serve the greater good rather than to benefit the few.
I hope this answers my prayers, determine solutions to my financial woes because this is not just about organising finances better, nor is it about the ways to contribute more for the good of others it is really about the way we look at money to shift our personal perspective from a material base to a spiritual base, from consumption to generosity, from bettering our own world to bettering everyone's world.
The idea of seeing money through a spiritual lens is compelling and meaningful to me. Women, money and spirituality will be the three driving pillars in this journey of change and transformation.
Let's make a personal and strong commitment together, to understand our personal financial facts and go deeper into our soul and uncover our feelings that these facts bring up.
As we seek to align these facts and feelings, we connect with our core desires and intentions. To do this, I always ask myself, "Where does my financial life intersect with my spiritual life? Do I ever connect the use of money to my soul?
My responses to these questions have been mixed, therein lies the need to write, to connect the dots, to make the links, to develop a clear understanding of how the power of money illustrates and magnifies my individual core values and spirituality.
It is really about my unfinished business with money and until then, like most women, I am in a constant financial dilemma of looking at where money comes from, where it is right now, where it goes, and how and why it leaves you.
Let's follow the money trail through reading and doing some simple exercises. Take a moment to follow the money.
First, follow the money with attention to detail. Then follow the trail where your money goes in the wider world as well. Start to think about questions such as "Where does your money go?" "Who benefits from your money?", "What does money mean to you?", "What is the ultimate message of money for you?"
Bring these questions into your soul and reflect, connect with your spiritual self, spiritual practice and growing consciousness about money.
Follow your money through the messages you have received, through your own personal history, and through your chequebook and bank statements until you follow the money right out your front door, into your career, your business and your life activities, and all the way into your dreams, about what you really want in your life, about what you really want to do with your gifts and talents.
Just expand yourself and your world and feel at the deepest levels the purpose in your life.
I invite you to prepare yourself for the exciting adventure of exploring your own personal beliefs and behaviours on money.
We take control of our finances, so do not waste it or give up control of our money. And we do it because of the peace and tranquility that come with living a life that is both meaningful and inspiring.
There will be questions to reflect: Am I a generous person? How do I give to myself? How do I give my money and possessions to others? How much are my economic transactions influenced by my values? How much are they motivated by habits? Do I work for the money? Is money very important to me? Am I always careful with money?
You may want to seek the guidance of your spiritual mentor in order to access your own spiritual core self. As Muslims, set aside 10 to 15 minutes after each obligatory prayer to quiet and calm ourselves, to reflect, to allow inspiration in, to pray and seek guidance from the Almighty Allah SWT, to align our financial beliefs with our spiritual values. Aim high to be wealthy in the true sense of the word.
The author is general manager of consulting firm A&A Management and Training Services. She used to be president of Brunei's Women Business Council.
courtesy of--The Brunei Times
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