The title of this article is significant for two reasons.
Firstly, because it defines the type of box that so many
of us find ourselves in, and second, because the idea of
“stepping” demands action. Thinking outside of the
“financial box” is simply not enough, although in the
beginning it is probably precisely the thing to do. Sound
confusing? It is really more straightforward than you
might think.
First of all, what is the “financial box”? It is the financial
stereotype that has surrounded the image of the artist/
actor (and many other people) for decades. It is the line
of thinking that brings about images of the starving artist
or the actress working nights as a waitress to make ends
meet. It is what keeps most of us struggling with money
our entire lives.
Now, why isn’t it enough simply to think outside of the
“financial box”? Because you need to take action.
Without that nothing will change, and no one else will do
it for you. No matter how much help you receive from
others, you are still the one who has to make final
decisions, you are the one who needs to decide how to
invest your money, and you are the one who needs to
organize your business so that you come out on top.
However, as mentioned earlier, in order to step outside
of the “financial box” you will most likely need to begin
by thinking outside it. The majority of us likely made the
decision to become artists when we were young, even
when we were still children, and unless we were
fortunate enough to have extremely supportive parents
we were probably given very negative financial
messages from the beginning around this choice.
Messages like: “How will you support yourself”, “Artists
don’t make any money” and the all time classic “You
ought to get a good education and just find a real job”.
The problem is that when children, or anyone for that
matter, hear a message often enough, they begin to
believe it is true. And, as children, we were hearing
these messages from the authority figures in our lives.
What our parents say to us often as children stays with
us when we are adults, so that even if our minds know
differently, our hearts do not.
This means that we need to begin by changing some of
these negative messages. There is an exercise centered
on money that we frequently ask participants do during
our seminars. Here’s how it goes: we have the
participants call out any negative statements or
messages they know of that center on money (and we
never have any problem filling the page). These are
messages such as: “Making money is hard”, “We can’t
afford that”, “Money doesn’t grow on trees”, and “People
who focus on making money are greedy”.
Next, we ask students to call out empowering, positive
statements about money. There is always complete
silence.
Now it is your turn. Whenever you remove a negative
thought or message, you need to put something in its
place. This week, try this exercise on your own. List
five negative thoughts or statements you make or have
internalized about money. Then list five empowering
statements you could use in their place, e.g. “I have to
work extremely hard if I want to make money,” vs.
“Money flows easily into my life”. After writing these
statements down, say them aloud. Then look in a mirror
and say only the positive statements. Make the positive
statements affirmations. The positive statements may
feel completely unnatural, and they may not even be
true at the present time, but say them anyway. Say
them every day, and especially when you catch yourself
making one of the negative statements. I find it useful to
say: “That thought is trying to trick me, and make me
unhappy. I dismiss it”, and then instantly repeat the
positive counter.
Change begins with us, and it takes a conscious effort to
make that change. When you start this exercise,
remember that you are alone, and that there is no one
watching you. You will still no doubt feel ridiculous but,
if you persevere, you will slowly change the recordings
you have in your mind from when you were a child.
Once you begin to alter this internal programming, you
will be able to take action and move from thinking
outside the “financial box” to stepping outside it. Then
you will begin to see major changes in your financial
reality, and then you will start to be free.
