A Practice to Diffuse Financial Stress

“Enough” isn’t an amount of money, writes Spencer Sherman—it’s a liberating belief we can choose for ourselves.

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Are you feeling the effects of this pandemic on your finances? Join the club. The loss of employment or income, the need to financially support family members or friends, the fear of money matters getting worse, and even the shame of having plenty while others suffer—all of these things cause stress. While money has always been a source of instability, in our lifetimes we have never experienced this level of uncertainty and stress. And that is why you might never have a better opportunity to cultivate a mind that is more resilient to the ups and downs: of money, and all things that come and go throughout our life.

Let’s start with an awareness of our cultural conditioning around money: that is, we tend to want more and to expect all things measurable (like money) to increase. Although we’re taught that these expectations are normal and reasonable, obviously, it isn’t so. This is our momentous opportunity to examine these beliefs and let them go.

Instead of pining for more, perhaps we can feel that we have enough. I’ve often said “enough” is the dirtiest word in the English language.  Have you ever said that you have enough money, time, etc?…