Staying Centered Amidst Financial Uncertainty

“A human being is part of a whole, called by us the “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” – Albert Einstein

A Higher Path to Financial Security

Although there is a growing belief that the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression is nearly over, the closest thing to an official pronouncement of the end of the recession came in a statement from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, August 12 that it sees the economy as “leveling out” following its long decline. But the Fed still cautioned that “economic activity is likely to remain weak for a time.” And the central bank also expressed concerns about ongoing job losses, lower household wealth, tight credit and sluggish income growth.

Given that significant financial uncertainty remains, how do we stay centered amidst the doubt? In other words, how do we allow ourselves to be guided by Our Source (God, The Force, Higher Consciousness…) not just financially, but in everything we do — at work, at home and in our communities?

1. Relax & Connect to your Higher Self. Any mindfulness practice such as meditation or breathing helps enormously. If we are anxious, we will typically respond from our ego, in an attempt to gain control or prove something. On the other hand, when we relax and get quiet we open ourselves up to our higher Self and divine guidance. This frequently happens for me during my morning meditation.

For example, let’s say I have an upcoming meeting with a client all planned out and it sounds great (from my ego’s perspective) in order to get me the recognition I want and to prove my value. However, in my meditation, I get that I am supposed to do something else – ask a question that leads us into the unknown together. I do that instead and the meeting goes much better than expected, even though it “seemed” much riskier. And, I feel good about myself because I served the client by following the guidance of The Source instead of my ego.

2. Be in inquiry regarding your highest choice. We are challenged daily to make good choices in all aspects of our lives, and our ego-based response is always to go for our best interest, or what we think is our best interest.  But what is really in our best interest? …That which is for the highest good of all, including me.

Recognizing that we can only thrive when we are all thriving, when contemplating any decision, large or small – from what to buy to where to live – we take a moment, clear our minds, connect and ask: “Is it for the highest good of all, including me, to (do x, buy y, move to z)?” This practice helps free us from our ego-based response and further supports our relaxation. And, the more we do this, the better we get at it.

3. Take action on the answer. Once we receive the answer, we need to act upon it or we risk blocking the flow. How many times have we heard a message from our  Source (in whichever ways it comes to us: some of us hear words, others see something, still others just have a “knowing”) and ignored it? And, how many times has it then it came back to bite us in the you-know-what? We have a choice in every moment to act or react. When we act on what we hear ourselves guided to do, it strengthens us and it strengthens the collective.

4. See each moment as a transformational moment.  We’ve been trained and educated to think that the fulfillment of “the goal”, whatever that goal may be, is the end point for us: winning the game, landing the deal, meeting our financial targets, buying the house, etc. However, we only have this moment. And, the value in this moment is that it provides us with the opportunity to learn and transform. If we resist the transformation, we are in pain or in stress. If we accept it, it leads to the next transformational moment, and the next, and the next.

What is it that this moment, this financial uncertaintty, is teaching us and asking us to transform? Answering this question for yourself may be just the catalyst you need for financial transformation personally and for the globe.

Todd Benton is a consultant and coach who helps business owners, executives, managers and individual contributors fulfill their potential in business without compromising their well-being, personal goals and aspirations. Todd is also the Executive Director of The Stream, a non-profit spiritual community and teaching and learning organization. Todd’s business can be found on the web at www.bentoncg.com.

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