This post is part of a series of posts that begins with an introduction titled “Develop a New Relationship with Money”, followed by “Mastering Money from the Inside Out - Step 1 of 5?

Step 2 - Understand your current money programming: You won’t be able to enhance your financial picture if you don’t exhume some deep-seated subconscious programming or learned behavior that surrounds money.  Just like you were taught you have to “earn money”, you may have been exposed to lots of other negative programming that got lodged in your subconscious without your permission.  If you apply a whole list of positive affirmations concerning money (”money comes to me easily”) and yet nothing ever changes, I encourage you to look deeper and unearth everything you’ve witnessed in your life that left a negative feeling associated with money.  Journaling can expedite this process.

Consider this example:  A small child we will call Gwen, grows up in a house were the subject of money is a constant source of concern and arguing.  Bill paying day was the worst day of the month in Gwen’s house.  Her mohter worried about money obsessively and her father, in an effort to save her mother from unnecessary worry, didn’t talk about his money issues.  At one point, he was so deep in debt that there were bill collectors coming to the door.  Gwen’s mother was mortified and now developed a sense of mistrust.  The arguing got worse.

Having witnessed this type of experience throughout her childhood, Gwen was programmed to believe that money was a source of arguments, money caused mistrust, money caused marital problems, paying bills was stressful, and bill collectors are unreasonable and untrustworthy and downright scary!  When Gwen became an adult, bill paying day was the worst day of the month in her house too!  She hated that scene when she was a child, yet here it was being repeated in her own marriage, as she and her husband fought and stressed over the bills.  Gwen’s marriage eventually ends and she is back on her own.  She lands a fantastic job, making a lot of money so paying bills shouldn’t have fel stressful at all, and yet she always noticed this uncomfortable pit in her stomach on “bill paying day” no matter how large her bank account was.  She became irritable and intimidated when having to call vendors to discuss a bill (like her cable provider or credit card company); always suspecting they would try to scam her or cheat her or just treat her badly.

One day she had an “ah-ha” moment and realized that her relationship with money didn’t have to be stressful or scary.  She decided to reprogram the way she related to money.  The more relaxed, trusting and appreciative she became in regards to taking in and sending out money, the more money she seemed to attract and save.  Now she looks at her bills differently.  She tanks the electric bill when it comes; thrilled that she pays such a small price to have this modern convenience.  Through gratitude, she is rewarded with more income in a variety of ways (some that defy all reasoning).

When she has to call on a vendor, she envisions that the customer service rep on the other side of the call is completely on her side and looking out for her best interest.  And because she has reprogrammed her mind to believe that she will only receive the very best service at the very best price - that has become her reality.  Amazingly, she receives many discounts, credits and free services as a result of this thinking.  And she has even made friends out of some local utility company customer service reps.  Reprogramming…it’s worth your time and can make a huge difference in your capacity to experience prosperity.

Stay tuned for Step 3 in the next post!