Stepping into March is a good time for a bit of March Mindfulness…a bit of reflection and taking a closer look at things that might be a little scary. For some of us it might be things like finances, especially since taxes are quickly approaching for those of us in the States, uggg. Or reflecting on our mindset, including those shadowy bits of us that aren’t always very nice. And with that, March’s prompts for crafting an authentic year ahead is all about mindfulness – including the scary things we like to hide!
Budget Ahead
Oh yeah, it’s time to look at our finances. For some this is gravy, your good, you know your cash flow, you have an app for that, right? There are some with massive spreadsheets and have it dialed into the penny. Then there are some that have no clue what a budget is, barely making ends meet, and often living on a prayer. Trust me, I’ve been there.
Simply put, a budget is a financial plan identifying what comes in and what goes out. I’m not going to go into depth on budgets or how to go about it. But I am going to let you know that if you don’t know where you are or aren’t when it comes to money then you may be feeling a bit unsettled. I know its easy to sweep it under the carpet and to just not look, but the sooner you do the easier you will breathe. And this is for all of us who are on a financial wellness journey.
- There’s an app for that. Living in today’s world you can bet there’s an app or a website for your phone, tablet and computer that will make budgeting a snap. Here are the best 2020 apps from the Balance.
- Mint: Best Overall
- PocketGuard: Best to Keep From Overspending
- You Need a Budget: Best for Type-A Personalities
- Wally: Best for Just Budgeting
- Mvelopes: Best for Cash Style Budgeting
- Goodbudget: Best for Couples
- Simple: Best App Tied to a Bank Account
- Personal Capital: Best for Investors
- Be present. Here’s the deal; we aren’t perfect and our budgets aren’t either. Yep, the cat is out of the bag, there is no such thing as perfect. But stay with it as much as possible. When I started out a long, long time ago I made a promise to myself to save 10 percent of whatever came in for those emergencies that always come up or those fun days that were far and few but very expensive. I can’t tell you how much that 10 percent came in handy and saved the day. So what will you do to get started? I promise, it’s not as scary as you think and just may be life changing when you get ahead of your finances.
ACTION: Pick an app or grab your journal. Track your daily spending for one week. Are there any surprises? Did those daily coffees add up? Or maybe an online subscription came out that you had forgotten about?
Bonus points Can you take budgeting a bit further and track for a month? A year? Can you save some money for that special something?
Adventure
It’s time to do a bit of exploring. What do you want to do? Adventures can be grand and exciting or they can be stay-cation weekends delving into self care, figuring out a mindfulness plan. You pick. But for me I want to spend some time giving myself some love, even those shadows I have hanging around .
Mindfulness Plan
Here are three steps to mapping out a mindfulness plan to decrease stress and increase present moment joy.
- Body: Get moving. Pick a favorite activity and do it. Even a few minutes a day adds up to a healthier you.
- Mind: Learn something new. Your brain is a muscle which needs exercise too. This month try learning a few new language phrases or take a cooking class. You’ll stretch your brain as well as enhance your joy.
- Spirit: Spend a few minutes every morning in gratitude. A simple heartfelt “thank you” is enough to start the day off with pleasure.
ACTION: Make a mindfulness plan to decrease stress. This is a tough one but you get extra bonus points for showing up for yourself, recognizing and loving even those shadow sides of your beautiful self. And don’t forget to practice self care and lots and lots and lots of love.
Bonus points Can you take a journey into the haunted house of your mind and not run away? Embrace your shadows with love and know that none of us are perfect. And that’s ok!
Monthly Reads
How did last month’s read go? Is there a something that caught your attention that you cant stop thinking about? I’m re-reading A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson. Have you read it? What resonates with me is that no matter how messed up we think we are if we remember to turn our thoughts to LOVE miracles happen. What book or passage leaves you thinking? I’d love to hear from you.
ACTION: Review your list of12 books from last month in your journal . Pick a book that speaks to you. Read a bit at a time or all in one go. Give yourself bonus points for reading it by the end of the month.
Affirmations
Affirmations are a powerful way to improve your mindset, and studies have shown that they can increase our feelings of self-worth and who doesn’t want that? Checkout the free affirmation phone wallpapers (backgrounds) I put together to download just for 2020.
ACTION: Start by choosing two to three affirmations from the list below that resonate with you or write your own.
- I am a magnet for abundance.
- Money comes to me in unexpected ways.
- I choose to live a rich and full life.
- I give myself permission to prosper and grow.
- I am open and receptive to all the wealth life offers me.
- I embrace new avenues of income.
- I welcome an unlimited source of income and wealth in my life.
- I naturally attract good fortune.
- I am financially free.
- It’s safe for me to release what isn’t working.
Getting By With A little Help From Our Friends
- Dave Ramsey is a popular expert in money management.
- Nerd Wallet offers an assortment of budget spreadsheets if your more interested in tallying up those rows.
- A little more on mindfulness can be found here.
As always, I’m sending you lots of love and happiness your way. Let me know how your month goes and if you need a cheerleader reach out.