What does ‘wealthy’ look like to you?

What’s it really like behind the scenes?

Well, this conversation is just that – a sneak peek into a conversation and training in our graduate class called Expand Your Vision. So enjoy, and I would love to hear your thoughts on this as well by just replying to this email.

“Regardless of what your vision is…writing a book, launching a business, starting a nonprofit, going on a mission trip or even your own personal development to grow professionally, relationally and spiritually, it will take money.”

Women are woefully under-equipped since it has only been in the last 50 years that the Equal Pay Act in 1963 and Equal Credit Act in 1974 were put in place that most women have even been able to generate wealth. Advancements have happened, but statistically, we are still at a disadvantage with disproportionate pay, longer life spans, and weaker negotiation skills. (I have lots of stats to back this up for another time.) But we are not here to look at all the reasons we cannot live out our visions, but all the reasons we can.

One of them definitely involves the fact that we can learn how to make and manage wealth. Now I know I am hitting a nerve for some, particularly the spiritual among us. But I invite you to look at how even Jesus’ mission needed funding too. From birth, the three magi’s treasure funded Mary and Joseph possibly, all the way through their safe exile into Egypt, to the many men and women who financially supported Jesus’ mission with the 12, to Joseph of Arimethea who paid for Jesus’ tomb upon His death. Even the savior needed money to accomplish His vision.

So we cannot stick our heads in the sand and claim ignorance and incompetence and expect to advance our God-given visions.

Included below is an exercise we are doing in one of our classes. It is a starting point to remove what many have confessed to as “fear of being wealthy.”

I invite you to join us if money ever gets in the way of your vision.

Q: Who here is afraid of being wealthy? Why? If it scares you, or you subconsciously resist it or resent it, you will always struggle because it is a necessary skill (making and managing wealth) in our world today.

Q: What would ‘wealthy’ look like to you? How would it feel?

Visualize what you are looking for in being wealthy:

• Plenty to pay your bills every month?
• Investments paying you monthly?
• Savings available for any emergency or investments?
• Buying a new car in cash?
• Tipping generously?
• Budget for dresses or travel or events you’ve wanted to have?
• A fund for benevolence you get to distribute monthly?
• Any health challenges are taken care of without hesitation?
• Contentment to live a simple life with plenty? (Paul learned contentment in plenty and in want.) What is it?

What does ‘wealthy’ look like to you?

Let’s get past the big beach house which is beautiful but far off and not yet clear enough and tangible enough for some of us to really believe it. The key is faith and believing. What can you start to believe?

What would wealthy look like to you?

Get clear, get specific, and get a vision so the idea of it becomes a much more natural, less scary, and reachable goal rather than a fear-invoking, but elusive wish.

Try it and see what comes up for you.

Remember, be a student and not a judge of yourself. 

To your great wealth!