As a former chemistry instructor, I still embrace ways to connect science into everyday situations as a facilitator. Brain research results show how much influence the mind has over the brain, body and heart. As I develop my ‘Financial Fortitude Now’ program, I am focusing on applying research strategies that can enable us to build mental muscle in managing our money. Scientific studies show the brain sends chemical messages to other parts of the body. The type of message sent from the mind to the brain will determine feelings and responses in digestion, respiration, circulation and any other regulatory systems. Depending on the nature of the message, the resulting action and bodily response can be a positive or negative. In the area of managing finances, our brain messages can and do impact the bottom line. Depending on how we respond to influences in our environment shapes our perspectives in being mindful or mindless. Our behavior as parents is the reality television our children watch every moment of their day. Therefore as role models for our children, how we act today plays a significant role in who they will be tomorrow. I know, I know parents you are probably saying, based on what I see from your children, tomorrow looks like it will most likely never happen. Those of us who have adult children and are willing to be very honest will admit that they do see themselves the good and not-so-good in their offspring.
All of the habits we have today we have learned from our parents, teachers and peers. From the moment, we are born we learn and practice interaction and processing skills until they become second nature to us. What we do today is reflection of our life long training. When we look at rigorous programs athletes or Navy seals go through, there are a number of things we can learn from them. No I am not proposing that we as parents engage in becoming professional athletes or sign up to be a Navy seals. However, there is a concept we can all embrace – developing an Olympian state of mind; as Rick Hanson points out in his book, “Buddha’s Brain.
During the coming year, I plan to use this forum to exchange ideas about how we can develop the mental muscle in aligning our heart, mind and body to create better financial foundation for ourselves and our families. To get started, let’s see where we may be right now. It is the end of January and those New Year’s resolutions may have faded away after you put away the holiday decorations and gifts. By this time, you have received credit card statements or bank statement reflecting your holiday purchases. Depending on whether you used cash or credit will determine whether you owe or do not owe any money for your holiday purchases. Check out this article to see what my dad taught me about getting ready for Christmas. In that spirit, please let me know what strategies you are using to prepare for end of year holidays 2014 or repaying any holiday debts. Next month, we will begin uncovering how to be the leader by delving into our daily actions around managing money. As my dad said there are 3 things you are doing with money – spending, making, or managing it and whatever you are doing the most will determine how much you have.
