Good Debt, Bad Debt? It’s All in the Relationship!

Ways to Change Your Relationship with Debt

You have heard me speak about the need for greater intimacy in your relationship with money, if you are to create a life of abundance. In this article, I specifically include your relationship with debt, which is often tainted due to popular shaming and scare messages.

Most financial experts admonish us to become debt-free as soon as possible, and that carrying debt is a drain on our energy and overall success in life. We are urged to tighten our belts and cut back wherever possible.

On the other hand, many of the money and success gurus recommend flying first class and spending rather extravagantly to step into a mindset of abundance.

I agree that carrying a very large amount of debt with no plan to pay it off can create a paralyzing sense of fear and scarcity. I also agree that allowing for luxuries in our lives is healthy, and that a constant mindset of restriction is antithetical to cultivating a true sense of wealth.

As with all things, debt can be created for both good and bad reasons, and it requires some willingness to be honest with ourselves, as well as merciful, when we take a good look at this topic in our lives. Clearly, debting to gamble and making risky investments is not going to move anyone in the direction of true prosperity. Often, we must incur debt to move ahead, however, as in the case of education, or even a car which is needed to be able to work.

In the entrepreneurial world, investing in training, coaching, and programs that teach you how to grow your mindset and your business are essential to success. In fact, the resistance to invest in the needed support is one of the biggest reasons why people fail to make their dream of creating a business a reality, and why business owners fail to thrive.

When we incur debt, we can either focus on the fact that we owe money to the bank or credit card company, and carry a feeling of scarcity or even shame that we have had to borrow, or we can cultivate a sense of deep gratitude for the money loaned. If we have borrowed to learn or to add to our business, we can choose to focus on the profit that we will generate from that loan, and begin to feel the abundance in that very moment.

Having a clear and specific plan to pay off debt needs to be a part of incurring it. Karmically, paying back money owned is part of any overall abundance plan. If you are struggling with that, there are many programs available to support you in creating a sustainable plan.

Something you can do right now:

If you are carrying debt or any discomfort around owing money, first of all, stop judging yourself for your present circumstances. If this is what has had to happen for you to learn something important, then accept the situation, and your part in it from the broader perspective of your Soul. Nothing is random and everything is an opportunity to grow.

Take a moment to write down how you imagine you will feel once you are debt-free. What qualities will be present in your life that are not present now. Usually, these will be along the lines of greater freedom, peace of mind, or sense of self-worth.

Now, focus on that feeling you have described. Really take a look at it. If you have associated it with being debt-free, and see it out in an imaginary future when you will no longer owe money, you are restricting the flow of abundance in your life.
Is it peace of mind? That comes from within, so you can tap into that right now.

Is it a sense of freedom? That is a quality of your spirit, and is something you feel from the inside out, and has nothing to do with whether you own money or not.

Whatever that quality is, shifting your mindset to call that quality forth now is the inside work of becoming debt-free.

A person with peace of mind, regardless of their financial circumstances, is more likely to make better choices regarding money and debt.