Hope in the midst of turmoil
April Fool’s Day is April 1st. And no, it’s no joke that I was in the hospital last week. Here’s a photo of my ID bracelet.
Then, on Friday, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and surrounding areas, tragically claiming over 1,000 lives and injuring thousands more.
Meanwhile, clients are reaching out, concerned about their investments, as the Dow closed over 700 points lower last week, and the S&P 500 appears headed for its worst quarter since 2022.
Of course, all of this unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing wars, political insanity, and widespread layoffs.
It’s undoubtedly a challenging time for many, myself included.
So, I get it.
However, I know that I will be OK, and so will you.
A client recently asked me how I could be so sure.
The answer is simple: I just know.
Deep in my core, I hold the unwavering belief that we will all navigate these challenges successfully.
Part of this belief comes from this Bible verse:
Matthew 6:25-26 New International Version (NIV)
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Beliefs are incredibly powerful.
If you believe you are “cursed” or that you’re not ever going to get out of the hole, then the world will reflect that belief back to you.
It’s not that you created the negative events, but rather how your belief system shapes your perception and the way you make decisions.
Your core values and beliefs act as a personal roadmap.
I witnessed this firsthand with a former TV colleague, whom we'll call Sam.
Sam was a kind person and capable producer.
However, Sam wasn’t happy with their weight and decided to gain more weight in order to qualify for gastric bypass.
Unfortunately, the surgery resulted in significant, unforeseen complications.
Afterwards, Sam had to take a lot of sick days, and very shortly, Sam was laid off.
This marked the beginning of a downward spiral.
Instead of taking care of themselves, Sam made the decision to get another surgery and then relentlessly posted on social media every “bad” thing that happened…
And I couldn’t believe how many “bad” things could happen to one person!
(Please be aware that the following details may be triggering for some readers. Proceed with caution.)
Sam experienced further complications from the second surgery. Their home was burglarized, their car was stolen, and their dog was kidnapped. After years of unemployment, Sam’s partner left them. A few years later, Sam relocated, entered a new relationship, and tragically, lost their baby.
There are probably a lot more that I don’t remember or didn’t see on social media, but another colleague had said, “Sam is a really good producer, but I wouldn’t hire them because, well, they’re just so negative!”
At the time, this comment shocked me. It was before I fully understood the power of energy. I couldn't comprehend how someone could be held responsible for such unfortunate events. However, by constantly broadcasting their misfortunes, Sam seemed to be trapped in a cycle of victimhood, reinforcing the belief that they were perpetually unlucky. Had I not witnessed this personally, I wouldn't have believed it. The negative energy generated more negativity, impacting Sam's future decisions. Sam didn't cause these events, but they remained trapped in a negative energy loop, reinforcing the belief that they were "cursed."
Unconscious beliefs, often inherited from our families, can dictate our reactions during stressful times. We revert to our primitive survival brain, operating from this unconscious space.
This can lead to unintended consequences.
Take me for example.
If I have not done a lot of work clearing out my inherited unconscious beliefs, fear and blame would take over. I would beat myself up and question anything I did to bring this bout upon myself.
(In fact, I’m pretty sure when my mother reads this, I will get a call from her in a panic. She will ask what I’ve done to get sick. Then, she will go online to research how to “get rid of it,” and then inundate me with screenshots of whatever she finds.)
However, I have done so much work on myself to clear out a lot of those generational fears and unconscious patterns. As a child, if I tripped and fell, and started crying, my parents would instantly jump on me and ask me what I did to cause whatever happened. They would also tell me to stop crying. I now allow myself to cry because it’s the way the body releases stored emotions, including anger, sadness, disappointment, and whatever else you don’t want to carry with you.
This brings me to my upcoming in-person retreat day. In my nearly seven years as a financial wellness coach, I've observed that clients who achieve the most significant results are those who actively embody their growth. While virtual sessions are effective, some experiences are best facilitated in person.
I've studied techniques that cultivate a profound sense of freedom within our bodies, enabling us to release what no longer serves us.
By addressing unconscious beliefs through embodied practices, we create lasting change. This retreat offers a transformative opportunity for rapid and impactful shifts.
If you’re interested in learning more about the retreat and to get details, please subscribe below.
With Love & Gratitude,
Besides finding out details about the retreat, I’m also going to share a lot about the practical financial know-hows this month because it’s Financial Literacy Month, so sign up below to get it all!