The Currencies of Life

Money.

What comes to mind as you read that word? What emotions are stirred? What feeling do you get in your body?

If you’re like most people, just seeing the word money sparks a reaction.

Money is an interesting thing. In many ways, it’s essential to live (in our country, anyway) and yet it’s seen by most as so much more than a necessity. It’s coveted, desired, hoarded, given away, lost, gained, traded, and exchanged. For it, we human beings stay in deadening jobs and equally deadening relationships, and we do things that defy every bit of what our souls long for.

The funny thing is, money is a form of currency.

We tend to view money as the form of currency, when in fact it’s one of many.

Energy, time, knowledge, and even gratitude are all forms of currency that can be exchanged, traded, and spent in a way that aligns with who we are and what’s important to us.

When we begin to see money as just one of many forms of currency, we can begin spending and receiving these different currencies in a way that reflects our values.

So here’s what I invite you to do:

• Make a list of all the currencies that you use in your daily life in one column on a sheet of paper.
• Then, on the right side, list the value that each of these currencies relates to for you personally.

For example, my list looks like this:

Time	Freedom, Impact, and Flow
Money
Energy
Knowledge	Expansion, Growth, and Impact
Skills
Talents
Generosity	Love and Meaningful Relationships
Gratitude
Kindness
Presence

Then, over the course of the next week, pay attention to how you’re exchanging each of the currencies on your list and how they may or may not reflect your values.

Notice when you feel best about spending one of your forms of currency, and also when you notice a sense of misalignment around your spending.

Consider updating your list each time you notice a feeling (physical or emotional) related to spending one of your above forms of currency.

For example, your friend asks you for a ride (again), this time to a destination 45 minutes away. As usual, she doesn’t offer to pay you back for gas money. You find yourself agreeing but feel a pit in your stomach as you do.

Or, you spend your morning shopping online for a wedding present for one of your closest friends. She is one of the most generous people you know and has been a huge supporter for you as you’ve recently transitioned to a new career. Your heart actually beats with excitement for her as you select her presents online.

Notice that the situations above likely required similar forms of currency and touched on similar values – but that the feeling surrounding each of the ‘expenses’ was likely very different. Pay attention to those feelings, and begin to notice trends that emerge.

As we begin to pay attention to the currencies that make up our lives and the values that they honor, we can start to become much more deliberate about spending in a way that honors our values.

Honoring our values in our day-to-day living eventually leads to honoring our values throughout our lives. 

What about you? What are the currencies that make up your life, and how do they relate to your values? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

To honoring all the forms of currency in our lives,

Sarah