Is it true?
Is it true?
This is a very simple yet very profound question. If you find yourself wondering, questioning or doubting something, I encourage you to force a pause and ask yourself, “is it true?”
Take these hesitations for example:
I’m so not good with money...
She definitely does not like my dress!
He won’t go on a social distance date with me...
I will never be able to retire!
Perhaps they sound eerily familiar. Or perhaps not. Even if these aren’t the title tracks of your mind’s soundtrack these days, you get the point. We all have some type of hesitancies running around our heads.
Yet, when you stop the negative talk long enough to ask yourself if these thoughts are genuine, you might realize you actually have no proof that they are indeed accurate.
Am I really not good with money?
Actually, since I set an alarm on my phone reminding me to pay my monthly credit card bill, I haven’t had a late payment!
Does she really not like my dress?
Okay, okay, fine…I have no idea if this is true. She can only see half of it on Zoom anyway.
Is it true that he won’t go on a social distance date with me?
Hmm….I haven’t even asked this question so I can’t be sure that I know the answer.
Ah, is that seriously true that I’ll never be able to retire?
Wait a minute, I worked with a CFP® to construct a personalized financial plan that outlined scenarios for me to retire at a few different ages. She gave me a pretty good sense of how much money I need to make those plans realities.
Look at that! With this exercise, we suspended doubt and replaced it with an open and light-hearted curiosity. And I’ll tell ya, even though my questions didn’t vanish, I’m feeling a smidge less stressed now!
Not sure about how this really works yet? It’s your turn:
When you think about money, what words come to mind? How does thinking about money make you feel?
Hmmm…..
Don’t filter. Just let the words and feelings show up. Jot them down if you want.
Now review what you wrote and ask, “is this true?” Let’s say you wrote down “scary.” Then you ask yourself “is it true that money is scary?” You might realize that money itself is not scary for you. Instead, it’s the idea that you might not have enough money to live the life you want that seems frightening. Perhaps you'll realize that having money doesn't feel scary at all!
Here we separate the concept of money from our opinions of money (and what we might be projecting on it). By becoming aware of your money beliefs and questioning what you hold to be true, you'll get to know your relationship with money even more.
Is it true?
Ask yourself this simple question anytime you’re feeling doubts. This goes beyond financial anxieties. This reflective inquiry is also a powerful way to stop assumptions and judgment straight in their tracks.
It’s an important question we should all ask ourselves. And during a time when our world needs more light to drive out darkness, it feels even more important today.