Do You Define Yourself By Your Credit Score?
By Pamela Stewart, Thu Dec 8th

Do you define yourself by your credit score?

The other day I was conducting a telephone seminar on how totake back the power in your career for a group of employees in anon-profit organization that was undergoing rapid change. We hadjust walked through an exercise about creating a vision of yourideal work, without the constraints of silly things likereality. I asked if there were any questions and got one from avery bright employee named Patrick.

"This is a great exercise for some people, but I can't evenbegin to define a vision of my perfect work."

I asked Patrick why it was so hard.

"I have lots of student loan debt and some credit card debt. Whocould I possibly get interested to fund my dreams? I don't wantto ask my parents to lend me money since they have done enoughalready."

What was NOT said on the phone was more powerful than what wassaid. Patrick is a smart, capable, caring and perceptive youngman who is already doing great things with his life. But he hadconvinced himself that since he was in a tough financialsituation, he didn't have permission to even imagine what aperfect life would look like.

Since when did your credit score become the required pass to abetter life?

The financial part of your life is one area where there is apublic, accessible record of all your past behaviours anddecisions, good and bad. Every move you make financially iscarefully tracked and recorded. And as a society, we place ahuge weight on this score, since to us it suggests a level ofmaturity, responsibility and, I would argue, moral superiority.

Let me tell you straight: your credit score is not a reflectionof your worth as a human being.

So stop placing the emotional weight on what you did wrong,which often leads to more destructive behaviour, and startloving yourself!

How do you build a positive relationship with money?

* Recognize that money is a powerful energy that has to berespected. If you feel like money is scarce, it will become thatway. When you receive it, be grateful and do not close your eyesand spend it on things that are not healthy for you. Keep yourwallet clean and your bills neatly ordered.

* Look straight in the eye of your financial situation. Add upall of your credit card, home, auto or personal loan debt. Writethe number down and look at it intently. Figure out your currentmonthly or annual salary and make a plan to slowly but steadilypay down your debt. Get copies of your credit report and

notethe specific things that contributed to a negative score. Trackyour expenses on a monthly basis and become familiar with yourspending patterns.

* When your bills come, immediately open the envelope and lookat the amount and date due. Throw away any filler paper that isincluded and keep your current bills in a basket right by theplace where you pay bills. You will add to fear and denial ifyou let your bills sit unopened in a big pile of messy papers.

* Automate your banking. I found that many people with moneyproblems have a hard time balancing their checkbooks. If youhave online banking, you can see transactions on a daily basis,and can better manage your cash flow.

* Focus on prosperity and abundance, not dollars. What you wantis abundance in your life in all areas; love, compassion, fun,energy, relationships and health. Money is just the means to anend; it is not the end itself.

* Pay attention to the words that you say about money.Prosperity is attracted to a spirit of humility and gratitude.Look at the difference in these words:

I don't know how I am ever going to pay my bills versus Howcould I make money to pay my bills?

I am so sick of paying out so much money every month versus I amthankful that I have the money to pay bills that put a roof overmy head, keep me warm, fed and clothed

I will never have enough money versus I am thankful for myhealth, my family, my home (or insert any other thing in yourlife you are grateful for)

* Give some money away. Now this probably seems like a crazysuggestion. If you are short on money, why in the world wouldyou want to give any away? It doesn't matter if you give $1 or$100. The important thing is to give it away and expect nothingin return. Relish in the feeling of giving and how good it feelsto let money go to a good cause.

Being financially responsible is not about living up to anyone'sstandard of perfection. It is about respecting and valuingyourself, protecting your interests and leaving many doors openfor you to do whatever it is you want to do: travel, buy a home,provide for your children, or start a business. A good creditscore is a great thing when you approach it from the rightperspective.

© 2005 Pamela Stewart. All rights reserved.

About the author:Pamela Stewart is a seasoned corporate consultant with a newmission in life: help corporate warriors to become thrivingentrepreneurs! To receive a free workbook "Shortcuts to Rekindlethe Fire in Your Career" and get other valuable tools, go tohttp://www.ganas.com/freestuff. Read Pam's blog athttp://www.escapefromcubliclenation.com