Throughout my maternity leave Marguerite and I have had weekly check-in calls. These calls were originally scheduled so that we could discuss client issues, emails, and client work while I was on leave. That certainly has happened, but something else happened during these calls that I wasn’t anticipating: we’ve gotten a chance to chat casually about financial topics that are on our minds. It is such a simple act and yet one that I hadn’t realized I desperately needed. I had been running Verdi Advising solo for several years before Marguerite joined the team in the beginning of 2020 and I am continuously thrilled by not being alone on this journey anymore. Pre-M (as I think of 2019 and before) I had to have these conversations with myself. Or my cat, who, while being an excellent listener, isn’t so great at the give and take of a conversation. All that is to say that last week we got started on a topic that gets us both really angry. 

Manifestation. 

I know, I know, it is a very popular term, especially in the crunchy, feel-good coaching instagram community of which we are peripherally a part. And books by Jen Sincero and others have made it even more popular. Don’t get me wrong, mindset is incredibly important. If you don’t believe that you are capable of something then it makes it very unlikely that you’ll actually do that thing. Money mindsets are often negative and can be extremely destructive. And, because money is a taboo subject in this country, these mindsets are often very deep seated, but not consciously explored. That is a powerful(ly bad) combination. Therefore, we often work with clients on mindset issues by exploring their origins and rewriting the narratives to better fit their goals and reality. In fact, those mindset issues are the first thing we tackle in the Verdi Money Club! 

It isn’t mindset that got us raving, it is this idea that if you just say your goals enough they’ll happen. It is the glossed over version of manifestation that is popular on social media -- the one liner, the mantra, the perfect insta picture. Yes, saying your goals over and over to yourself will likely help you reset a negative mindset, but if you don’t have the knowledge or skills that you need to actually achieve those goals then they won’t come true. No amount of chanting “I will make $5,000 today” will bring me that $5k. Moreover, manifestation can backfire. If someone tells you you can have $5k by saying it, and you say it, but you don't have it, studies show you're likely to be hard on yourself, as if your "low frequency vibration" is a personal failing. It is not.

Unfortunately, Marguerite and I see that belief come up all the time and we want to tell you it’s not your fault! Making changes in your money life is incredibly hard and manifestation seems like an easier route -- we get it! But, if you really want to make changes, whether to your spending habits, debt, credit, saving, or income, you will likely need a few things other than a mindset shift. You will likely need some new skills, an accountability system, and some knowledge to help you implement new actions. That’s why Marguerite and I do the work that we do -- both with 1:1 clients and in the Verdi Money Club. 

So, as we round out the year and you start thinking about 2021 goals, we encourage you to look at those money goals and ask yourself what supports you need. Maybe it is as simple as doing a little googling. Maybe you need to reach out to a friend who will help you stay on track. Maybe you need support from a coach or a group coaching community. Whatever it is, be kind to yourself, be honest with yourself, and we promise you’ll be way more likely to reach that $5k in a day goal than if you just repeated that phrase over and over in the mirror. 

XOXO