How to be happy & prosperous
by Anne Hartley

Do you think you are a positive person yet you never seem to have enough money? There is one foolproof way to check how positive you really are and that is to look at your life, because your life is always a reflection of what you believe.

Try this simple exercise. Just imagine you long for a luxury sports car, say a Porsche. Stop and think for a minute about how you would treat it.

Now, look at your present car. Do you treat it like a Porsche or a rubbish dump? Is It cleaned and polished, or unwashed and unloved?

Stop and think again. How do you treat money? Do you shove it into your wallet any old way or throw it into a drawer? When a shop assistant gives you change do you shove it out of sight as quickly as possible? Do you know how much money you have in your wallet? How does this amount make you feel?

The way we treat possessions and the way we dress tells the world what we think about ourselves.

It is extremely difficult to feel and act prosperously if you live in a slum. A slum is not necessarily a derelict neighbourhood; an untidy room can fit the description. Clear away the clutter now, in preparation for the things that you want.

You will also need to clear away the clutter in your mind. You can do this by examining your conditioning – the beliefs and patterns of behaviour established in early childhood. Often we utter phrases heard and repeated as children, without fully comprehending their significance and impact on our lives.

Do these sound familiar? Money doesn’t grow on trees…We can’t afford it…Champagne tastes on a beer income…Money is the root of all evil…You can’t win…The rich get richer, the poor get poorer…You live beyond your means…You’re hopeless with money…Money burns a hole in your pocket…It’s greedy to want more then your share…You can’t trust anyone…Money doesn’t bring you happiness.

Negative reinforcement from parents, teaches, and friends makes our weaknesses worse. It’s easy to start blaming others for what we are, but we are also part of the process. Listen to what you say to your children, friend, husband and associates: all of us have negative programs that, unwittingly, we pass on to others.

The mind is the most incredible tool but it can work for, or against us. The subconscious mind has no reasoning power and will accept anything – especially emotions – as fact, if it is repeated often enough. Everything that has ever happened to you is remembered.

Negative subconscious beliefs and memories create havoc with our financial affairs. If, as a child, you were told ‘we can’t afford it’, there is a strong likelihood that you have carried the belief with you into adult life, whether or not it holds any truth. This belief needs to be changed at the subconscious level.

This is covered in more depth in my ebook Financially Free http://www.hartlifecoaching.com.au/shop.php

When we are not talking to others, we talk constantly to ourselves. This is such a natural process that we generally do not notice the phrases that circulate in our minds. This self-talk is vitally important. When business started booming for me, I was excited and astounded at how easily it happened and kept repeating “I don’t believe it”, until one day I heard myself saying it.

Have you ever said ‘It’s too good to be true’ or ‘You can’t have it all’? We all use negative phrases and it is essential to be aware of those expressions and, where appropriate, to replace them with more positive ones.

One friend of mine constantly called her daughter ‘poor little thing’ and did not realise it until I pointed it out. Another always said ‘Money goes out faster than it comes in’ and almost everyone I know, myself included, has at some stage said ‘We can’t afford it’.

Some people say these negative expressions are true, that they really can’t afford it, but I challenge this. Nine times out of ten, you choose to spend money or something else. If you pay a bill instead of going out to dinner, that’s a choice. Often parents tell children they can’t afford something, but they wouldn’t have given them what they asked for anyway. Think carefully before you utter this excuse.

Successful people talk positively to themselves. Instead of saying ‘stupid!’ when something goes wrong, they say ‘I’ll do better next time’.

Our subconscious mind acts like a sponge, soaking up everything it hears without judgement. No wonder so many people experience financial difficulties. Often the throwaway remarks made in casual conversation will betray our real thoughts. For years I simply let these comments wash over me until I decided that my silence did not change anything. Now I usually respond with ‘You can win’, or, ‘You can have it all’. Why not try it? http://www.hartlifecoaching.com.au/courses.shtml

Anne Hartley went from being a single mother on a pension to be a successful author and business owner. She shares her knowledge through her courses, books, and life coach training.

Anne Hartley may be contacted at http://www.hartlifecoaching.com.au or anne@hartlifecoaching.com.au