I'm thinking a lot this year about thriving. How do we thrive in a world in the grip of madmen? How do we thrive on a planet undergoing dramatic climate change? How do we thrive in the waning days of the carbon-based economy? I'm also thinking a lot about fear. How do our fears keep us from thriving? Do they help us to thrive? What can we learn about ourselves by examining our fears?
Both of these issues -- thriving and fear -- are wound up in the issue of money and, more specifically, in the issue of debt. My brilliant friend Katrina Messenger, who cooks THE best greens that anyone has ever eaten, has posted an article on debt, part of a series she's been doing on the psychology of money in the Western world; Katrina kindly allowed me to collaborate with her on this article. Check it out and let me know what you think!
What are your fears about debt? How much of your debt is related to your fears? In what specific ways would you thrive if you were debt-free?
4 comments:
Wow, Hecate, I just stopped in because I was wondering about the dark moon burning, but then I read your post. You are a witch and we're traveling together tonight: I also always liked giraffes for some reason (and only recently found out that they don't speak).
Anyway, my fear of debt and what major life changes I'm might make to protect myself and my girls has been heavy on my mind this week...
Dear Ina,
Check out Katrina's article.
Tonight is the dark moon. Write down the things you want to banish on a piece of paper. Burn it while you mediate on the things you want to have take the place of what you've banished.
Five years ago my downward spiral ended in losing my job, up to my ears in debt and falling apart mentally, physically and emotionally.
Fortunately, I was able to qualify for SSDI and have spent the last few years becoming functional again.
One of the healing roads was to declare bankruptcy. I regret it, but it has enabled me to start afresh. By the time I declared bankruptcy, I had become used to not using credit cards.
Gradually, I made many small transitions to enable me to live within the amount I receive each month. I stopped buying books (I have a library of 200 cookbooks and about 500 more books of all types), which just about killed me. But now I check out books from the library and manage to read all the bestsellers before they come out in paperback. I even check out cookbooks and realize I never really needed all the cookbooks I had accumulated to begin with (who could ever cook that many recipes!).
I used to compulsively eat out, but now manage to actually cook many of the recipes I always wanted to and save money by eating at home.
I've discovered creative outlets that workaholism never allowed time for: collage, artwork, jewelry-making and poetry. I have connections to people I never imagined I'd have; I used to spend much of my time isolated and depressed.
Recently, I notice everyday that I feel blessed to be relatively free from stress and depression. Something about finding these creative outlets has enabled me to feel a sense of expansiveness and quiet satisfaction instead of a constant hunger I used to feel looking for the next purchase to fill the gaping hole of dissatisfaction with my life.
I hope it lasts. I don't know if it will. But at least I can say that I know what happiness feels like after many years of depression and anxiety and fear. And none of it had to do with acquiring more possessions. In fact, I'm gradually reducing and simplifying my possessions on a weekly basis.
Forgive the lengthy comment - it gives me great pleasure to be able to relate the above.
My financial fears comes from the thought that I may not be able to control my money, and instead let it control me. I've seen one or two relatives succumb to weakness, letting the money fly out of their wallets before it even gets a chance to land on their palms. I've had one relative actually fall into major debt, and another declare bankruptcy. It wasn't an easy thing to witness, but their experiences have taught me much about my own attitude towards my finances. The one who went bankrupt is slowly getting back on her feet, and we're supporting her all the way. It's this part that's most crucial, I think.
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