Healthy Money Attitudes

This week was awesome! I was wowed by so many of the videos and readings. I've had a really rough few days, and I've been struggling a lot with not feeling happy enough ... which prepared me to be very humbled as I learned that I need to stop looking for greener grass when my life is already awesome. There's a reason I'm going through everything that I am. My favorite quote from the readings?

"Those who have experienced serious adversity earlier in life may be the luckiest. They seem to have more focus, more clarity, and more humility. Research shows the best time to face adversity is in your late teens and twenties. Don’t overprotect your children from the lessons adversity brings.” ("Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness")

That is me, right now. I am lucky to be experiencing everything I am right now because it's preparing me for the many years ahead. I'm learning how to suffer right now because it's allowing me to become who I need to be in the years ahead. That is great. It's really difficult, but it's great.

I learned a lot about the importance of priorities, which we've covered in previous weeks as well. I was impressed by two mini cases that we studied and how well they fit into our previous learning and all of the experiences I've been having lately. I know that I need to put my family and my relationships above myself, above my goals, above my work, and especially above my fears. I've spent the last few days reacting instead of acting, so now is the time to act. I found myself reading the personal constitution that I wrote for myself and leaning on the principles that I chose as my priorities. This class is helping me in life so much.

We read a wonderful talk/lecture/devotional called "Attitude on Money" by Stephen W. Gibson, and I was floored by his contradiction of beliefs that I didn't even know I had. He teaches that God wants us to prosper, and that being poor doesn't necessarily make us better or more humble in His eyes. He wants us to do well so we can serve others. He doesn't want us to suffer. I had no idea I had such a negative view of money until I read this talk.

We were asked to answer these three questions after reading the article:

What is your attitude toward money?

I grew up with a father who had very strange attitudes about money, so when I became an adult, I decided to allow myself some freedom. I often treat myself and spend money on silly things because I can and I want to enjoy the freedom of being able to. I'm careful not to make this a destructive habit, but instead a healthy way of reinventing the 'filters' I've had over my eyes all of these years. I try to put money away for savings, but to also spend enough that more can come back to me. I believe money needs to leave me in order to come back.
How can your view of money affect the way you live?

You can either limit yourself by penny-pinching or learn to enjoy giving a little. God wants us to prosper, but he doesn't want us to stress. He wants us to be mindful, but not overly pessimistic or selfish. He doesn't want us to hoard our resources when we have the opportunity to give. The way we view money is a huge part of the way we view life and the people around us. If we worry about it too much, it will become an idol, and it will prevent us from seeing, loving, and serving others.
What rules are recommended for prospering?

Seek the Lord and have hope in Him. Keep the commandments. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant. Take advantage of chances for learning. (Education is the Key to Opportunity.) Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated. Do not send away those in need.