If Words Were Money...
by Stephanie Graham

If every time you opened your mouth and talked, it was like writing a check, whipping out the credit card or laying down hard cold cash....how would you invest your verbal currency?

And what impact would it have on your language if you were asked to tally up your expenses. Only to discover that most of what you talk about and how you talk about it, was like putting $100 dollar bills through a paper shredder?

So let's take a look at your investment options and where you might be missing out on opportunities to increase your wealth as an "energetic banker."

NOTE: Although all of the following choices are optional and many times appropriate for short term invested time and energy, they are not recommended for long term investments in which a high return is expected.

1. Complaining and whining (especially to those who are not directly involved in the problem and therefore the possible solution as well).
2. Blaming others for the circumstances of your life, business, health, wealth (or lack of), where and how you live. Blaming can range from mild finger pointing to outright rage at "life".
3. Paying constant lip service to an idea, dream or journey (usually over and over again to your friends, family and colleagues) you are going to take "someday" but never taking action.
4. Carrying around your wounds (with a victim/poor me attitude) like a monkey with his hand stuck in the hole of a barrel and not "able" to get himself free because his hand is closed in a fist around a banana (your story) inside the barrel.
5. The Mantra "I can't because...." This is a big one and it is something that has affected us all in every area of our lives. This can be the toughest one to let go of and transform into a more productive investment.

No matter who we are, where we live, nor our station in life, all of us are familiar with the above examples of limitation, perception of lack, and fear of what's possible.

The above "investments" can be costly! Over time they can cost us our friendships, possible career advancement, a marriage, our bank accounts, and worst of all our own sense of purpose and passion for life and our unique role for the short time period we are here.

So take a moment to now think of yourself as an "Energetic Banker."

If you were given $100.00 of energy to run each day and let's say that all of the investments mentioned above cost a certain amount.

Complaining and whining = $40.00

Blaming = $75.00

Never Taking Action = $150.00

Victim/Poor Me Attitude = $80.00

I Can't Because = $200.00

TOTAL COST: $545.00

As you can see, right off the bat, you are IN DEBT! And by "in debt" I mean that you are spending a huge amount of your life's energy by dumping on yourself and other people with poor thinking and self defeating language.

Pretty soon people quit taking you seriously or they can't stand to be around you anymore, because to them...YOU have now become the bad investment with no return. And in all relationships the return is about positive mind set, support, love, encouragement, faith, hope and trust.

And "energetic debt" can show up in a variety of ways. From feeling drained and not up to caring about (or for) the daily tasks at hand to serious chronic health issues due to long term stress and strain on the system.

Yet there are other investments available with major life ehancing returns, and with a little planning, discipline and focus...you will be wealthy before you know it with enormous opportunities knocking at your door.

1. 1. Have the courage and maturity to sit down with the person or people involved to openly discuss both the issue (no matter how difficult) and the creative solution or resolution that will benefit both parties.
2. Take full responsibility for your choices and decisions in everything you do...from business to health to who you spend time with on a daily basis.
3. Step up to the plate and take just one action each day toward your dream or tackle a difficult task that has been piling up in the corner of your mind (tax records anyone?). Make the phone call, book the appointment. Find out what it would take to accomplish a particular goal in detail...the financial expense, or time involved in training and education and then get moving!
4. Take a stand against your victim attitude, and rein in your life, realizing that all of our problems are relative and NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE. Accept and embrace that "things" do happen...things we don't like, or understand, or feel were unfair. But they happen just the same and it is up to us how we respond after the event has occurred.
5. Turn "I Can't Because.." into "I CAN and I AM!" This can be the most powerful statement you can make to yourself. Make this your mantra as you go through your day and watch as your energy rises, creativity increases, and your ability to share with and support others becomes more and more available to you.

The investments listed above may seem simple, and in actuality they ARE simple. Yet shifting the "chips" from the limiting and lousy to powerful and positive can and will have a tremendous impact on the outcome of not only your daily life, but your journey's "end" as well.

Pretty soon instead of being "in debt" you'll find you have more than enough energy to go around and can begin to share with others the enormous energy reserves you have stored up, due to DAILY investments on your own behalf!

This is where the fun begins!

- People, places and things begin to show up in waves like never before. It may start small at first but when you really get the hang of the "I CAN and I AM" way of life, people will WANT you on their team!

- When you start treating yourself with respect and having fun despite the odds, you will stand out and people will be attracted to your energy, body language, and the strength in your voice in how you talk about your life.

YOU BECOME A POWERFUL INVESTMENT to everyone you meet and a magnet for abundance, love and grand adventures that you couldn't possibly have imagined before this shift began!

So take stock of your investment portfolio and get a feel for where you have been spending most of your "verbal currency" and begin to turn it around little by little on day by day basis.

The "returns" are huge and undeniable, so get started today!

© Stephanie Graham 2008

Note: We recommend "The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield to get you on the right track and carry you all the way through this process!