what are you worth?

When I first worked in investment banking, I shared an office with a fellow accountant called Gerard.

One day, Gerard came in announcing that he was moving onto a new job. In so doing, he was doubling his salary (never mind the rest of his package). The job was not hugely different to his existing role. The rest of us marvelled at how courageous Gerard was to even apply for a role that was twice the level of his existing salary.

What I didn’t know then was that Gerard knew something the rest of us didn’t – his own value.

He knew how good he was at what he did, how valuable his strengths, skills and experience would be to a prospective employer. So he basically asked for it and got it.

I’m sure I must have been at least as good as he was! But unlike Gerard, I didn’t know my worth at the time.

So it is with many of us. We find it hard to even know our strengths, and when someone points it out, we make little of it. We think that if it comes easily to us, then it can’t be of value.

Sometimes we intellectually know the value of our skills and experience – there are easy benchmarks when you look at comparable rates for jobs in the papers – and still, we can’t imagine getting paid more than what we’re already getting. So we don’t go for the job.

Similarly, if you’re in business for yourself, do you ask for what you feel you are really worth, or do the figures get stuck in your throat? Do you go for the assignment that you would like but you don’t because you feel you’re not quite good enough for it?

You see, what you ask for and what you get, are in direct proportion to the level of your financial set-point, and that set-point is a result of your conscious and unconscious thoughts (beliefs and stories) about not just the subject of money, but also what you think and feel you are worth.

What DO you feel you deserve?

For example, do you save up the best china, the best towels, the best linen for your guests? Do you hoard them for "that special occasion"? Or do you deserve it now?

When you go shopping, do you feel good about spending on yourself? Or do you feel guilty? If you’re feeling guilty, is it because you feel bad about spending the money itself (another topic) or do you feel bad about the idea of spending on yourself? When you buy a gift, would you spend as much on yourself as you would your best friend?

In the Abundance Reminders Game, participants are encouraged to spend virtual money on themselves in ever-increasing amounts. Some people find that they have resistance to the idea of spending on themselves. Others are fine with the idea, until they reach the larger amounts of money when they find it hard.

While the activity in the game is on spending, what the game reveals is where your financial set-point is, and the extent to which you are letting money (and abundance and all things good) into your life.

How much are you willing to receive? Where is YOUR set-point?

Gerard’s was obviously higher than mine!

Until you change your set-point, you will stay at your current level of abundance, no matter how hard you try. You will continue to self- sabotage your efforts towards financial success. You may have a goal to be a million dollar consultant but if your set-point is fixed at £40,000 per year, you have a mismatch. You’ve got to dig deeper, and change that set-point.

Action Points

Take this exercise from the Millionaire Thinking for Women Seminar.

1. Write down the most amount of money that you ever received in your life (it could have been a gift, income, prize etc)

2. Now multiply that number by three.

3. How does that number feel to you? Does it feel good? Does it feel possible? Does it feel like a positive expectation? Notice what beliefs and thoughts arise.

4. Identify any limiting and unsupportive thoughts and beliefs. Notice also how, when you say this thought or belief to yourself, it feels less than good.

5. Now find a statement to replace that belief or thought, which when you say it to yourself, you feel a sense of lightness and of, "Yes! This feels good to me!"

6. Affirm that to yourself out loud every day.

Now for your Personal Balance Sheet.

7. Learn your true value. Make a list of all your strengths and gifts (if you can’t quite "remember", ask a few people you trust to give you some feedback)

8. Start acknowledging yourself. Accept those compliments! Start giving yourself some too!

9. Affirm your worth every day.

10. Play the Abundance Reminders Game.

"Dear Veronica If I learned something about this playing game it is: Money is only energy, it is available to assist us on our journey of life with joy. By having fun and being, much abundance comes. Take each day at a time, slowly, placing positive intent in all that you do. Love unconditionally, empower all beings, nurture, care, listen and respect all beings, especially yourself. Enjoy the journey Blessings of Oneness Christine"

You'll find a link to the Abundance Reminders Game below.

Quote

"Poor is the man who does not know his own intrinsic worth and tends to measure everything by relative value. A man of financial wealth who values himself by his financial net worth is poorer than a poor man who values himself by his intrinsic self worth." - Sidney Madwed

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