Journey to Financial Freedom Life Changes

How can you change your behavior or help a person who wants to change their behavior? Regardless of the type of behavioral change – budgeting, getting a job, addiction, etc., certain basics must occur if the change is going to last.

You and a mentor, life coach or trusted person should discuss the following a number of times. Through verbalizing ideas you will better know what and how to accomplish life changes which you want. Both you and the person you are discussing this with should list what each of you expects to get out of this discussion and specify the approximate time commitment you will make. It will take time to verbalize what you have learned in each class and how you want to apply the principles and techniques, but the time spent doing this with someone else will be of exceptional value.

Below are four steps which you will be developing and working on at the same time for the rest of your life. Results will soon be seen. By the 3rd class you will have learned and many of you will have laid down some of the basics and begin to experience significant change. With these new base principles in place, changes can become permanent. Otherwise, within months a person will revert back to their past behaviors as their base principles have not changed. With hundreds of repetitions of the new habits, they will then become your “automatic” way of life.

Awareness emerges in its own way and own time. It cannot be rushed, but can be greatly helped along through study and application of the base principles and techniques learned in the Journey to Financial Freedom class. This class is a time for each person to become more aware of their life and then decide to move forward.

Circle showing levels of environment Step One – prepare your “environment” for change. Take to heart and apply to your life a “world view” in which you know that you own nothing but are responsible for much. Begin thinking and living as a steward rather than an owner.

Understand that God is the owner and we are His stewards, caretakers, managers.
Develop a daily prayer and Bible reading relationship with the Owner so you know His plans for your life. Serenity, submission to God’s will and forgiveness must be in place if you are going to move forward in life.
Couples learn communication techniques based on money and goals and become one in thinking.

Changing your world view changes your beliefs which changes your values and finally allows you to change your behaviors. Changes then last, but it is not a quick fix. Many try to shortcut the need to change “world view” and get no lasting results for themselves or, if helping someone, they only enable them to continue in their old ways.

Step Two – What “beliefs” and “values” might hold you back from making the necessary changes/progress in your life so you become all that God made you to be?

Past – poverty and serious forms of trauma (including serious illnesses and accidents, separation and loss through divorce, neglect, witnessing or experiencing significant violence and abuses). Often grief and shame are associated with our past.
1. Become aware, see, know and take ownership of your problems and past so you know what you “believe” and “value” and what you want to change (“behaviors”) to help you move forward.
2. Begin working from the “known” to the “unknown”. This is not “all or nothing” but rather a progression and is accomplished with new information and additional relationships.
Understand what relationship with others is –
1. It develops and strengthens your “secure attachment”
  1. Result is a sense of security, resiliency to stress, ability to balance our emotions and more.
  2. It “makes sense of our life”.
2. Circle of influence – where am I lacking?
  1. A few intimate – maybe children, spouse and parents
  2. Friends – 8 to 12 close friends who you communicate deeper with than associates.
  3. Associates – many peers you know and relate with through where you live, work, school, church and volunteer activities.
  4. Personnel – those who you know because they provide a service or help to you.
  5. Be aware of those who are “outside” your circle of influence and their potential negative influence – for example, a separated spouse, child’s teacher who may say something about your child which you don’t want to hear – but which you do need to hear, estranged relatives, former friends or associates whose lifestyles are a negative influence on you, etc.
3. List the names of people who are in your circle of influence – by category.
4. How can you further populate your circle of influence?
  1. The best proven way is to begin volunteering at a local Christian church - preferably near where you live so travel is short and easy. Volunteering elsewhere is often the second best way.
  2. If you have children, get them involved in the church’s activities and attend weekly worship.
  3. Join appropriate groups – 12 Step Program, Mothers of Preschoolers, etc.
  4. Identify services and resources available - Early childhood development resources, taxpayer resources, volunteer resources, etc. As you get to know others through volunteering you may find additional resources. You also will have become a valuable resource to others through your volunteering.
  5. As you begin interacting with new people, they will bring to you a different perspective, background, network and ability to apply solutions to life. You will develop new friends and associates. You will be giving as well as receiving. You will be accomplishing a life goal laid out in Matthew 25:31-46

Step Three – Keeping people in your circle of influence and moving forward with life change.

Know what “pros and cons”, “cause and effect”, “order and disorder”, etc. mean and how they work in your life and how important they are in decision making. Make written “pros and cons” and “cause and effect” lists before making decisions.
Commit to “standards”
1. Committed Ways of Being - sanction our presence, extend honor and respect, be accountable, pay attention to what has heart and meaning, speak your truth, hold confidentiality as a sacred container and come from a place of curiosity. (additional description of this is at end of this document)
2. Skill improvement – parenting, organizational and household, building long lasting relationships and job/career
  1. Know “the world’s/Satan’s” deceptions and through additional information (classes, reading, etc.) make them God centered areas of your life.
    1. Finances – Journey to Financial Freedom class
    2. Restore God as the creator – learn the scientific facts which disprove evolution. I.E. helium rather than radioisotope dating is accurate, the Ice Age was from about 3200-1500 BC, etc.
    3. Sexual conduct – become Biblical based
    4. Work – learn the types of work you most enjoy and become a diligent worker
  2. Learn skills – on time and ready, complete and accurate, reliable and trustworthy, etc. The Journey to Financial Freedom class and its homework provide a structured way to begin developing these skills.

Step Four – Sharing this with others. “Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.” 1Timothy 6:18

God’s works of mercy
Forgiveness, serenity, submission to God’s will
Trust your intuition and act
People are watching your daily actions – are they God glorifying? What are you teaching your children indirectly?
“but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts; while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you - yet with humility and fear,” 1 Peter 3:15
Teach your children through example, reading, praying together, while shopping, etc. that God is owner and they are good stewards. Help them develop their daily, personal relationship with Him.