Feeling Stuck? Ask Yourself This Compelling Question

Written by Barbara Huson

I’ve been feeling stuck for a while now. Like I need to make a change, do something different, but what?

This feeling started about 5 years ago. I lost interest in my work, which took me by surprise. I loved what I did, but suddenly my heart wasn’t in it. I kept wondering: what else can I do?

I had no desire to change careers. I definitely wasn’t ready to retire. So I decided to write another book. The research was fun. The writing was challenging but fascinating. The book, Rewire for Wealth, published last year, has done quite well.

And yet, here I am—still restless…still dissatisfied…still feeling stuck. This time, there’s no book in me. So I’ve been praying hard: God, show me what to do!

The Unhealthy Dependency on Self-Imposed Deadlines

Written by Barbara Huson

I’m making myself crazy. I’ve been doing it for months. Ever since I decided I was ready birth to my next body of work. In a fit of over-zealous optimism, I gave myself till spring to create a brand-new class, complete with a workbook.

Well, spring is quickly coming to a close. Neither the class or the workbook is near completion. Not even close. I’ve been beating myself up—unmercifully—for missing my deadline.

I’m a big believer in setting deadlines. They’re terrific tools for staying on track. But, I’m recognizing, there’s a major downside to made-up deadlines.

The trouble comes when I don’t meet them. Rather than rethink the timing, I scold myself severely for screwing up.

Power is Scary. Let’s Change That!

Written by Barbara Huson

I’ve long known that women’s difficulties with money have little to do with money per se and everything to do with their fear of power.

In a 2012 study, “Women and the Paradox of Power,” 38% of respondents said they’d rather be well-liked than powerful. As if the two were mutually exclusive.

Our confusion around power should come as no surprise. Historically, girls haven’t been groomed, expected, or encouraged to be successful, powerful adults.

If anything, we were raised to be the power behind the throne, often punished for even aspiring higher.

I’m convinced, beneath our dislike of or discomfort with power, lurks a deeper, more ominous concern—the dire consequences we might suffer if we become truly powerful.

Have the Headlines Got You Spooked?

Written by Barbara Huson

Let me introduce you to Huson’s Law of a Lousy Economy. It goes like this: no matter how tough times are, there’ll always be people who are prospering. Why not you?

I discovered this law after I wrote Secrets of Six-Figure Women, at the height of the dot com boom. But when the bubble finally burst, I called each woman back to see how they were faring

Even as the economy was tanking, many of their careers were thriving. They were finding new jobs, negotiating raises, winning promotions, doubling (even tripling) their client base, making more money than ever before.

“Just because it’s a down time,” said a woman whose coaching business was up 40 percent, “You don’t have to go down with it. There’s lots of opportunity. You’ve just got to find it.”

Getting Past Guilt

Written by Barbara Huson

There’s an old joke: What do you call a woman who feels no guilt? A man. You may laugh. But sadly it’s true. Studies have confirmed that indeed women suffer significantly more guilt than men.

Guilt, simply put, is feeling as if you’ve done something wrong or bad. Every time you deviate from the norm, from what you ‘should’ do, your Ego goes berserk, using guilt, like a whip, to keep you in check, warning of dreadful consequences if you disobey its rules.

Guilt is self-destructive, immobilizing, a short cut to unhappiness, a hindrance to healing. You know you’re acting from guilt whenever you hear yourself saying I should….

As my dear friend and songwriter, Athena Burke, always says, “Anything that comes after ‘I should’ is a lie.” Our Ego’s lie.

The Inner Work of Wealth

Written by Barbara Huson

There came a moment when I finally knew: I had to get smart about money. A massive tax bill was my incentive. Yes, I was terrified. But 3 daughters depending on me gave me no choice.

I went to classes, read books, yet nothing made sense. I felt immobilized. Nowhere in those books or classes could I find a solution for my paralysis. Then I took matters in my own hands.

I finally stopped focusing on the practical mechanics of money and started plumbing the deepest recesses of my psyche. I went into therapy, wrote in my journal, dove into personal growth.

At some point, I became aware of a familiar voice in my head telling me how stupid I was. Instead of ignoring it, as I usually did, I began a dialogue with that voice, asking it where it came from and what it wanted.

Healing the Imposter Syndrome

Written by Barbara Huson

There was one thing I never expected, in my interviews for my book, Secrets of Six-Figure Women. How many highly successful woman felt like frauds, afraid others would find out.

At the time, I credited their success to their courage, constantly doing what they were afraid to do..

Now, after having written my latest book based on brain research, I realize I need to add a critical caveat: But Don’t Forget to Rewire

Neuroscience gave me an explanation—and antidote—for the Imposter Syndrome, an insidious condition afflicting millions of women.

Despite their impressive accomplishments, they hadn’t prepared themselves mentally as they pushed themselves vocationally.

What do Dollars & Donuts Have in Common?

Written by Barbara Huson

I’ve long noticed an interesting fact. Women who have problems with money often have problems with food.

Then I read Geneen Roth’s extraordinary book, Women, Food and God, a New York Time’s bestseller. I’ve never met Geneen personally. But I instantly knew she was a kindred spirit.

Geneen insists that food is never the problem. Just as I’ve always known problems with money are never about money.

Rather, says Geneen, overeating is “a doorway to your true nature,” echoing my conviction that financial problems are a doorway to your true power.

Her book is based on her own unhealthy relationship with food and her experience teaching others what she learned during her weekend retreats. Just like my books are based on overcoming my own devastating dealings with money and helping others do the same.

Having a Hard Time Saving and Investing? Let Me Make It Super Easy!!!

Written by Barbara Huson

After my divorce from the gambling husband and after I paid the outrageous tax bills, my nest egg was almost depleted. But I had a few properties that paid rent every month.

One of the first things I did, when that rent came in, before I spent a cent, I immediately put a portion of it into savings. Otherwise, I knew I’d spend it all.

And I did it automatically. It was so simple. I filled out a form and the bank automatically transferred money from my checking account to savings. The amount was small at first, but it added up quickly. I didn’t even have to think about it.

Automating gave me discipline without having to work at it. It’s easy to say that you’ll move money monthly into savings. In practice, however, it just doesn’t happen. You forget. You overspend, You have a hundred excuses.

But by automating, you don’t miss what you don’t see. This was the beginning of my creating really good financial habits—habits I still practice today.

Another (Better) Way to View Market Volatility

Written by Barbara Huson

The market’s looking pretty scary these days, right? But honestly, it’s not the turbulence that will get you in trouble. It’s your emotional reaction to it.

Studies show that most investors, regardless of gender, tend to act on emotion, instead of rational thinking, when making financial decisions.

When markets take a tumble, our emotions, especially fear, take over, and we abandon ship, suffering losses.

The emotional reaction also happens in reverse. When the market is on a big run, there’s a tendency to take on too much risk and follow the herd, like so many did during the dot com and real estate booms.

May I suggest another way to view this volatility? Heed the advice of my favorite Wall Street Journal columnist, Jason Zweig: Be thankful that stocks are going down.

Rewiring

Feeling Stuck? Ask Yourself This Compelling Question

The Unhealthy Dependency on Self-Imposed Deadlines

Power is Scary. Let’s Change That!

Have the Headlines Got You Spooked?

Getting Past Guilt

The Inner Work of Wealth

Healing the Imposter Syndrome

What do Dollars & Donuts Have in Common?

Having a Hard Time Saving and Investing? Let Me Make It Super Easy!!!

Another (Better) Way to View Market Volatility

Meet Barbara Huson

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