During the holiday season there's lots of purchasing and spending. Which also makes it a good time to reflect on money.
I'm sure we've all heard the saying 'money talks.' Maybe we believe it, maybe we think 'that sucks,' maybe we call bullshit.
Depending on our relationship with money it can bring up some powerful emotions. Although money is simply something that is made up, our culture has given it a lot of power.
It can run and ruin our lives if we let it.
Personally, I've been doing a lot of work on my money mindset because I realized I got stuck in the story of 'there's not enough,' 'money is evil,' and 'I don't deserve it.' All of which are not true and only keep me on the struggle bus unable to truly do the work I want in the world.
Although I don't believe money solves our problems or creates happiness, I think it does give us leverage to create change. That is, when we put it toward things we believe in.
Money is an exchange. An exchange for energy, time, goods, service. It says, 'hey thanks, I value what you've just given me.'
It's easy in our consumer culture though to get caught up in thoughtless spending. Putting our money towards companies or causes that don't align with our values. In essence supporting them and saying, "I like what you do, keep doing it." Even when we don't.
Just like with our food though, it's not about being perfect. Especially not overnight. It's about bringing awareness to our choices and consciously making our decisions.
In some ways money does talk. It tells companies what we like and don't like. It shows what we think is important and what we value in life.
As I step into the new year one of the things I want to bring focus to for 2016 is how I'm spending my money. I don't mean how in terms of what sorts of things I'm buying, but what am I supporting.
If we all decided not to purchase from companies that exploit factory workers, that thoughtlessly use the earth's resources or that pollute, guess what? Companies would have to figure out a way to do something different. Most companies are for profit and so where the profit goes is where they put their efforts.
If we all chose not to support the industries that are tearing apart women's self esteem and are perpetuating the idea that we can never be enough...then they'd have to figure out another way for us to buy.
None of this happens over night and it most likely won't happen seamlessly, but that doesn't mean our decisions don't matter.
As we make money decisions, let's all remember that our money does talk and it votes. It votes for how we want our future to look. Even if it means only shifting one thing that you purchase to a company that is local, eco friendly or fair trade for now. It's worth it.