Loving Money

Here is my most current perspective, that I share with a curious mind that is completely open to different ideas.

I believe that the predominant dynamics of the ways we engage with money are biased by fear, by patterns of scarcity. This is completely understandable. These patterns have been rooted in harsh realities, where we needed to hoard resources for our survival, where our belonging to a tribe depended on material wealth. These patterns have had their gifts and been relevant in moments of human history. The question is - what are new ways to engage with money that are possible, safe, and loving, today?

I don’t have a perfect answer, however, I would like to share the ideas I am playing with, to invite a collective inquiry and co-creation. I would love to receive your thoughts and questions, as I believe that our collective interwoven wisdom has the potential to produce solutions to new loving ways of engaging with money in our world.

I recognise that I currently believe that I need money to tend to the essential needs of myself and my family. This may not be true, as there are other ways to meet essential needs, but it is my current belief.

I recognise that I would like to support my family by bringing money into our household. I would like for my partner to feel supported, for us to tend to our family’s financial needs together.

I recognise that I desire money. When I authentically desire something I would like to have the money (the creative energy) to enable my desire.

So this is me saying that currently - I appreciate money, I need money and I want money.

With this recognition as a foundation, here are some ideas that I am playing with:

1. Honoring the Full Spectrum
   
   I recognise that there is a part of me that needs to feel safe. She needs a guarantee that my needs, and the needs of my loved ones will be met. 
   
   I also recognise that there is another part of me rooted in trust and abundance, who naturally and unconditionally gives, knowing that my needs are always met.
   
   I am attempting to create space for, and deeply honor, these two extremes within myself, and the full spectrum in between. To do this, I offer a basket of services with different models around money. Some services have a fixed price, some have a sliding scale price (where the recipient chooses what they can pay), some are offered without any expectation to receive money (or anything else).
   
   All are offered with a heart of love and sincerity.
   
   

2. Giving with Authenticity
   
   I recognise that within the dynamics of a transaction - where I am being paid in exchange for a service, fear can kick in. Sometimes the motivation to deliver, has a subtle energy of obligation to it. Sometimes there is a fear that the quality isn’t up to the mark and I will be rejected or I will lose the source of income.
   
   I am observing and releasing these fears, while in parallel rooting deeply in love and authenticity as I give.
   
   

3. Receiving with Gratitude (without Entitlement)
   
   I recognise that when I ‘give’ to someone, within transactional context where dynamics of exchange have been agreed upon, I have a sense of entitlement around ‘receiving’. 
   
   I am practicing receiving with (1) a heart of humility and reverence for our interdependence (2) celebration for how this money will energize my life (3) deep gratitude for the precious opportunity to give.
   
   

4. Pricing based on Needs & Authentic Desires & Not Market Scarcity
   
   The price of my services are not based on how ‘scarce my services are’. My prices are instead based on the amount of money that is required in a given moment to honor the needs and authentic desires of myself and my family.
   
   As a family, we get very clear on our outflows for a period of time, and then work backwards to determine our required inflows, and price our services based on this.
   
   So we are not simply operating in the logic of ‘more money is better’, but being real about what we need, what we desire, what this costs, what we can offer, and finally what people are able and happy to contribute.
   
   

5. Honoring a Balanced Lifestyle
   
   I prioritize a balanced lifestyle, which means I am not working 40 hours a week to generate the money to meet our budget.
   
   I honor time for all of life’s priorities - vitality, relationships, creative expression, learning, emotional well being, and spiritual deepening.
   
   Also, within the time I dedicate to being in service, some of it generates income, while some of it is service offered for free to (1) open my heart, and deepen my trust in life, as I practice giving unconditionally (2) open the hearts of people around me as they experience receiving unconditionally (3) explore emerging promising ideas that don’t yet have an income stream.

I’m sharing all of this with you in the spirit of transparency and authenticity, and also as an invitation to join me in this inquiry - how might we lovingly engage with money? Write to me to share your thoughts, ideas, questions! I sincerely would love to hear from you.

If you feel inspired to support my experiments in engaging lovingly with money, and wish to pour money into my life, in the spirit of unconditional giving, you are most welcome to. I receive your loving money with humility, gratitude, and reverence for interdependence.