Inflation: A Reason to Worry….Or A Call to Action?

Written by Barbara Huson

Even the wealthiest worry about money. Their biggest fear: Inflation.

Inflation is, indeed, a ravenous creature that devours our cash like a caterpillar on a leaf—slowly, methodically, little bits at a time.

For years, however, inflation has stayed quite low. But that’s rapidly changing. Inflation has hit its highest rate in more than 40 years. And it’s expected to keep escalating.

Is it time to start worrying? Heavens NO! The worst response to climbing costs (or most anything else for that matter) is to go into fear, which tends to have a paralyzing effect.

Instead, look at rising inflation as a resounding call to action…no matter how much or how little money you have.

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 Link Between Wealth and Power

Written by Barbara Huson

I once heard it explained that when you have more money than you need, that’s wealth. When you use your money to make a difference, that’s power. In my experience, wealth and power are inextricably intertwined.

Once a woman becomes financially secure, her motivation shifts from making more money to leaving a legacy, to giving back to others in ways that fill her with meaning and pleasure, while imbuing her with the power and the ability to make an impact.

I am convinced that successful women offer our greatest hope for healing the planet. And I believe you are meant to be one of them—if you aren’t already.

So I ask you: What will your legacy be? This question cuts right to the core of why you’re here and the mark you wish to make after you’re gone. Your desired legacy serves as an internal compass, guiding your daily decisions in the direction of your optimal future.

Please…Stop Settling for Less When You Deserve More!

Written by Barbara Huson

Let me ask you a question. When are you going to stop settling for less and start opting for more?

And, believe me, this isn’t just about money. When you decide to raise your sights financially, something profound will occur.

You’ll not only increase your income, but you’ll unearth your true essence. That’s what happened for me and I’ve repeatedly heard the same from others.

The successful woman I’ve interviewed often spoke more animatedly about their private awakening than their financial advancement, about breaking through the boundaries that had limited not only their livelihood, but their entire existence.

Numerous psychologists have told me that the amount people earn indicates how they feel about themselves, like a mirror reflecting back their level of self-worth.

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.

Is Money Your Drug of Choice?

Written by Barbara Huson

How often do we use money like Novocain, spending freely to numb the pain in our lives or the pressures at work? But instead of making things better, it just gets us deeper into trouble.

Yet we justify our shopping sprees with thoughts like, “I’m going through a divorce. I deserve this,” or “I hate my job. At least I can enjoy my life.”

What gets us into trouble isn’t the spending, but our self-deception. It’s called denial. And denial can generate considerable debt.

Getting out of denial is a prerequisite for prosperity. Credit card debt is insidious, but not insurmountable.

Making minimum payments can take 30 years or more to pay off (because 75 percent of what you pay goes toward the accumulating interest).

The Secret to Financial Success…in Only Five Words

Written by Barbara Huson

One day, I was glancing at the Wall Street Journal, when 5 words leapt off the page—”The survival of the focused.”

I knew those five words carried a powerful message. A message High Earners understand very well. But one Underearners have failed to grasp.

Financial Success belongs to the focused.

Without focus, it’s easy to get sidetracked by multiple distractions fighting for your attention. But with focus, conflicting objectives cease to control you, making it easier (and less stressful) to take decisive action without second guessing.

A Sure-Fire Way to Increase Your Self Worth

Written by Barbara Huson

I always asked High Earners: “Are you doing what you’re doing for the money?” No, they insisted, quite vehemently. They were driven by the passion, by the challenge, by the recognition. But not money.

Yet, in the next breath, they all said the same thing. “But I damn well want to be well compensated…because I know I’m worth it!”

Where did their strong sense of self-worth come from, I initially wondered? As a chronic underearner, I wanted what they had. The answer soon became stunningly clear.

They had a simple strategy. Whenever they were asked to do something, whenever an opportunity arose, if their reaction wasn’t a strong ‘Hell Yes!’ it was clearly a “Hell No!”

These women each told me that, initially, they were afraid to speak up and tell the truth. But they forced themselves to ask for what they wanted, just as they said ‘no’ to what they didn’t want.

This simple (but scary) act was the secret to their financial success. Here’s why:

Asking for more is an act of self-love.
Saying no is a statement of self-respect.
Refusing to settle is a show of self-esteem.
And walking away is a sign of self-trust.

Whenever you stand up for what you want, whenever you refuse to take less than you deserve, your life will begin to change, sometimes dramatically.

You’ll also notice a shift in how you feel about yourself. Speaking up becomes not something you should do, but something you have to do – because you know in your heart you’re worth it.

Where do you need to start speaking up? Tell me about it in the comments below.

How much Risk Can You Handle?

Written by Barbara Huson

With soaring inflation soaring and turbulent markets, it’s a good time to discuss an important concept: Risk tolerance.

You’ve probably heard those words bandied about when talk turns to investing. But do you know what they mean?

Risk tolerance is generally defined as the ability to stomach large swings in the value of your investment portfolio. The market, by nature, is very volatile. It’s vital to understand your level of tolerance for risk in order to make prudent decisions.

Here are 3 factors to help you figure out how much risk you can tolerate:

The first factor is time. When will you need the money? Generally, you can take a lot more risk if you’ve got 10-years or more. Money you need in the next 3-5 years should be in cash. You don’t want to be forced to sell if the market is down.

The second factor is cash reserves. How much cash do you have on hand? If all your money is fully invested, with no extra cash to cover unexpected expenses, that would be a problem. Either you must sell at a loss or go into debt.

The third factor is sleep. How much volatility can you stand before you start stressing out, unable to sleep at night? We all know what happens if we don’t get enough shut-eye. Everything suffers!

Those factors are crucial considerations. But keep in mind. Your biggest risk is not protecting yourself against inflation.

Stuffing your entire savings under the mattress is like living in a house full of termites. Even if nothing seems awry, you’ll doubtlessly be dealing with costly damages down the line.

What do you feel your risk tolerance is? Has it changed in the current market situation? Tell me what you think below.

Women & Power

Inflation: A Reason to Worry….Or A Call to Action?

Getting Past Guilt

The Link Between Wealth and Power

Please…Stop Settling for Less When You Deserve More!

The Inner Work of Wealth

Healing the Imposter Syndrome

Is Money Your Drug of Choice?

The Secret to Financial Success…in Only Five Words

A Sure-Fire Way to Increase Your Self Worth

How much Risk Can You Handle?

Meet Barbara Huson

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