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
