Are you a Problem-Keeper or an Answer-Seeker?

No one, regardless of class, profession, or location, can say that the current financial crisis is not having an impact on them. Yet, when I say to people that we need to repair our relationships with money first, they just look a bit uncomfortable and shrug their shoulders.

A while back, an ...No one, regardless of class, profession, or location, can say that the current financial crisis is not having an impact on them. Yet, when I say to people that we need to repair our relationships with money first, they just look a bit uncomfortable and shrug their shoulders.

A while back, an extensive article about me and the focus of my work called, "Help for the Financially Spent" was published in the Arizona Republic (the biggest newspaper in the Phoenix metro area, with a circulation at that time over 450,000). The article had illustrations, photos, testimonials, sidebars, and even a quiz. Most people would say that when you get a big publicity spread like this, the gates of business swing open, so I sat there eagerly awaiting my flood of calls!

Well, guess what happened? I only got about 25 calls. Of those 25, even though every single one of them admitted they had problems with some aspect of their relationship with money and promised to come to one of my classes, a grand total of TWO ever walked in the door looking for answers.

We can all admit that we avoid confronting problems, especially when it is something we aren’t sure how to fix. And for most people, money is such a personal thing we are uncomfortable opening up about concerns surrounding it. For the last ten years I have coached countless clients through some sort of problem with money. Though all my experience and after the newspaper incident, I have made a surprising discovery: most people do not want answers to their money matters, but would rather just keep coping with the problem.

You are someone who would rather deal with problems than get answers if you…

1. Do all you can to steer clear of thinking about it, telling yourself "Tomorrow will be better"

2. Spend sleepless nights, dread opening bills, or are afraid of asking for a raise – and think this is perfectly normal

3. Have repeatedly used money problems, maybe even pretending they are not your own, as a topic of conversation

4. Constantly resolve that you are going to turn things around, but something always comes up that you don’t actually do it

5. Are constantly scrambling to stay on top of financial emergencies

6. Find yourself feeling jealous of someone because of their financial situation

Most people who are living like this are not comfortable, happy, or secure, so does it really make sense to continue dealing with all this financial stress? There is a saying, "When you do the same thing over and over, you will get the same results over and over." The lesson for us is simple: as long as we continue thinking the same thoughts and repeating the same behaviors, we will continue having money issues. However, this is not an unbreakable cycle. The solution is just as simple: change the thoughts and behaviors that cause the problems, we'll get the answers.

You ready to get answers to your problems with money when you...

1. Take the time to listen to others so you can learn to relieve debt, increase your income, build your savings, and invest wisely

2. Learn to respect your relationship with money the same way you respect any other strong relationship you value

3. Realize that a budget is not a form of discipline and self-denial, but is a tool that gives you more choices and control over your use of money

4. Stop focusing on your problems or constantly complain about them. Try talking about your dreams instead!

5. Start taking action!

Another way to start taking action is to commit to the Mind Over Money Matters™ program, for more information visit www.VickieChampion.com.