Hello Dear Ones -
I discovered another short story I wrote when I first began my wealth coaching career. Please share your feedback - I am using you as my beta readers to improve my storytelling.
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As I was sitting in my favorite coffee shop, enjoying my vanilla latte, I looked around. It was a busy morning and people were working on their computers, talking on their phones or chatting with friends. The baristas were busy making everyone happy and the steam from the espresso machine made a satisfying whoosh that accented the energy.
It was a good morning to be alive.
I read over my notes about Julie, my client, as I waited for her. She was late, but that wasn’t unusual. Her scattered focus was one item we worked on during our coaching sessions.
But Julie’s issue was much more explosive.
As she walked into the cozy space, I could feel her agitation. As she put down her purse and got settled, she began our session. “I can’t believe it! I thought I was okay this month, but I just got a notice from the IRS that I owe more taxes.”
I didn’t react to her statement and waited for her to notice. We spent a silent minute looking at each other until she nodded and said, “I need to calm down, don’t I?”
I smiled and nodded. “Julie, do you remember what I shared during our first session?”
She laughed and said, “That I have a screwed-up relationship with money?”
“No, that’s not true. You are like so many women who have learned to see money through the lens of fear.”
Julie looked off into the distance as she nodded. Her energy had settled and she was no longer breathing in fear. The noise in the coffee shop seemed to have dulled, and we were sitting inside a cocoon of love and acceptance. When she turned to me and said, “I am ready,” I knew we could move forward.
“What story did you create about the notice you received?”
She sighed. “That I screwed up my self-employment payment.”
“What else?”
“That I’m a loser and I should go back to a job, instead of being self-employed.”
“What else?”
She sighed even louder. “We could keep going like this all day. I have so many layers of stories that we’ll use up the entire hour!” Her frustration at uncovering her beliefs raised an invisible barrier between us. I knew we were about to reach a hidden fear–one that she didn’t want to face. That fear was the fuel behind the wall she had just created and the conflict she experienced in her relationship with money.
I stood up and take my empty cup back to the counter.
As I was sitting down again, I asked, “What is your greatest fear about money?”
She answered without thinking. “That I won’t have enough.”
“Thank you for recognizing your fear. I know that was hard.” I looked into her eyes, sending waves of love and acceptance.
Tears formed in her eyes, which she tried to stop. She sobbed as I coached her to allow and accept the fear moving through her body. I reminded her she was greater than the fear, and although it was painful right now, she would be free in a few minutes.
The storm ebbed away, and Julie wiped her eyes. “That was a BIG release,” she laughed, almost to herself.
“I want to acknowledge your courage to stay with that process.”
“Thank you.” Julie paused and then asked, “What now?”
I rubbed my hands together. “This is the fun part! You have allowed the energy of fear–not enough–to move through your body. It’s time to forgive, release, and substitute.”
She closed her eyes and breathed intentionally. We had moved through this process before and she knew the steps to follow. I allowed her space to be with herself and focused my energy on being loving, supportive, and encouraging.
After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and turned to me. Her energy was clear and open, and she was ready for the next step.
“What would you like to tell yourself now?”
Julie nodded. “The phrase that popped into my mind was, ‘I am enough.’ Could it be that simple?”
It was my time to laugh. “That is a direct message from your authentic self. You were born enough, but someone taught you otherwise. It’s a journey that everyone goes through.” I paused for emphasis and added, “Use that phrase as a mantra. The word ‘mantra’ means ‘mind training.’ Your subconscious mind will accept that you are enough as you train your thoughts to reflect the energy of ‘enoughness.’”
She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and began repeating the mantra to herself. Her face relaxed and her shoulders dropped as her hands opened to receive. If I could see her heart’s energy, I know it would be wide open and vibrating with love.
It was time to end our session. I waited for her to return and complimented her again on her progress. I couldn’t help asking one more question to make sure that her self-identity had shifted.
“From the energy and space of ‘I am enough,’ how do you feel about the notice from the IRS?”
Julie grinned and laughed, quite the contrast from her earlier reaction. “It will all work out for my highest good.”
I smiled. “You have been listening! Keep repeating the mantra and that it will work out for your highest good. Then listen for the solution your authentic self gives you.”
She nodded and smiled. “Thank you. You saved me.”
I shook my head. “You saved yourself. You know the answer to the situation, but you couldn’t hear it because of fear. Once you felt the fear, allowed it to move through your body, and you forgave and released it, the way to move forward cleared.”
“Until next time.”
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Thank you for reading this short story all the way to the end. If you have a troubled relationship with money and would like to chat, please book a free session on my calendar. My heart is devoted to helping women rise and elevate their relationship with money!
To your prosperity,
Kathryn
“That I’m a loser and I should go back to a job, instead of being self-employed.” - wow, how many times I've said this to myself. I've definitely experienced a similar journey with debt, and I love the way you approached and coached her through this Kathryn, from my perception it was with a gentleness that wasn't about 'fixing' her situation or trying to put a band on it, but instead accepting it, working through the fear around it and creating a new perspective, a new set of eyes to see the situation in a new way, and this is so much more powerful! Thank you for sharing this inspiring story. 😊
The mantra, 'I am enough,' resonates deeply and it can be used as mind training is wise. Thank you for sharing this story Kathryn.