Loose Change Didn’t Get Us To Switzerland

When Michael and I got married, our dream was to honeymoon in Switzerland.

We didn’t have much money, so we decided to save all of our change in Mason jars till the wedding and “Hopefully” we thought, “It will be enough to buy us plane tickets to Switzerland.”

We didn’t work hard or plan, we just dropped the change from our pockets into jars at the end of each day.

As we drove to Maine for our honeymoon some months later, I remember looking at Michael and laughing at our lofty but poorly thoughtout dream. For some reason, I just “hoped” the money in those jars would just multiply like the loaves and fishes.

In those days, I had the mindset that I didn’t have any money and probably would never have very much either. The people that did have money, in my opinion, should have shared their money with me, because I obviously needed it more than them.

I guess you could call it the “Robin Hood” mentality.

I recently heard a quote and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. “Whatever you think about increases.” “Surely,” I thought “That doesn’t include money or lack thereof.”

How about this one. “Money comes easily and frequently.” “What? Now someone is just messing with my head,” I thought.

And then I stopped and thought, “What if it is true?” “What if my attitude towards money and wealth (take it a step farther, even happiness or unity in my marriage) is a result of me constantly focusing on what I feel is lacking. Not what I already have?”

Am I bringing about less of everything because I am focusing on exactly that?

I decided to experiment. I should say, we decided to experiment. We decided to change how we viewed money. We decided to draw a line in the sand and work at thinking differently about money from that moment on.

The next week, some things happened that will be imprinted in my mind forever.

Strange things kept happening. We found money here and there and everywhere. Unexpected checks arrived in the mail and lots of new calls for lessons for our business to name a few. Money kept appearing to the point that we would just look at each other and shake our heads. We were astounded.

Coincidence? I don’t think so. In fact, I know it wasn’t, it was too obvious.

I always knew the Bible says not to worry about money, but I didn’t know how not to. After all, the stuff comes in pretty handy!

What I didn’t realize was that by worrying, I was actually constantly focusing what I didn’t want to be focused on, money! I focused on how I never had any. The lack of money was my focus, what I did not have. And what I did not have, oddly, increased.

I have since changed how I think about and pursue money. It no longer dangles on the end of a stick like a carrot staying just outside of my reach. I no longer feel that other people need to give me their money. And, I no longer buy lottery tickets in hopes that I will just “get lucky” and win a million dollars one day.

In fact, I think being given money in that way would make me sick.

I now take pride in working hard. I take pride in doing something with excellence and helping others. Somehow, the money comes now and I’m not obsessed with it anymore. I realize how easily it comes and goes and comes again.

In the future my trips to Switzerland will not be dependent on whether my change jar magically increases in worth.

Question: What is your take on money coming easily and frequently?