Here, Now, This: How mindfulness makes you money

Why you simply cannot be mindful and overspend

Why do we always seem to be somewhere other than where we actually are? People are on their phones in every restaurant. TV’s are blaring constantly. Ear buds are wedged into our ears. Have you ever tried to just stay in the moment even for a few minutes at a time?

Indeed, my days and hours are nearly always filled to capacity, but that brain of mine never seems to shut down. I am constantly thinking, planning, organizing and ready to skip to what’s ahead.

Like the other night — I was in the midst of a very nice, romantic kiss and I suddenly broke away and blurted out “…unless we can use your uncle’s truck and do it that way!” I had figured out a way to clear out of my shed instead of being present and enjoying the moment. Fortunately my kissing partner took another run at the situation and received a more satisfying response.

My wise friend and mentor Patricia Healey recently asked a class of business women to concentrate on just three little words: “Here. Now. This.” The exercise was about breathing, feeling the chair under our bums…hearing the sounds of each other’s breathing.

“Here. Now. This.”

It took almost 30 minutes before everyone would finally turn off their devices and focus. Then, and only then, did she proceed with the workshop.

Non-presence hurts us

Non-presence is a big issue for all of us, and it is having far-reaching consequences. Not only are our relationships (and our kissing!) affected, our health suffers, and we are losing power in every part of our lives. We are losing the important ability to focus. And with focus comes rational thought and clarity.

What would happen if you went through the grocery aisles actually thinking about what you were putting in your cart? What if you really listened in that class? Or talked to a stranger at the bus stop instead of blocking off human contact with your latest playlist?

What if you sat in a spending decision long enough to process your feelings; long enough to analyze your needs and look at the repercussions of buying (or not buying) something?

When mindfulness and money meet

When I taught the class “Cash Flow Connection” last year, I had a stunning revelation. It turns out that even people with longstanding patterns of debt could not be both mindful and overspend. It was a radical discovery. This group of women reported that, when they slowed down and leaned into the purchasing moment, they mostly made decisions to not buy something. When they sat and thought things through with steady breathing, they did not even have the desire to spend. I was blown away!

“It turns out that even people with longstanding patterns of debt could not be both mindful and overspend.”

Mindfulness is not just a sentimental new age-y notion. It is a quality of being that leads to sounder thinking processes. This can only lead to more peace-filled, productive behaviour.

So next time you feel you need some new shoes or an extra glass of wine, stop and do some breathing. Repeat the words, “Here. Now. This.” And honor what comes up for you. You may be surprised at the wise woman within you who has been waiting for your attention. And you may be even more astounded by how much better you feel, and how much richer you become.

This is why I’m leading a workshop on Money Mindfulness at Hollyhock on Cortes Island this August. Breaking out of old habits of distraction is the first step to peace of mind. Four dedicated days to focus on mindfulness and the flow of money in our lives not only creates new perspective, it fosters new commitments to financial wellness.

Let’s talk mindfulness: What are your best practices for staying in the moment? Have you ever used mindfulness to help make a purchase decision?