These 10 Daily Practices Will Change Your Relationship with Money Forever

I share why I'm happy despite being financially challenged at 50 and reveal the 10 daily mindset practices that keep me positive while working toward abundance. My journey shows how happiness doesn't depend on your bank account but on your perspective and the thoughts you choose each day.

Chapters

• 0:10 Introduction to Paradise Perspectives
• 0:39 Broke at 50: A Personal Truth
• 3:14 10 Ways to Change Your Money Mindset
• 5:26 Breaking Bad Money Habits
• 9:49 Creating Positive Money Relationships
• 21:30 Closing Thoughts and Challenge

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:10

Welcome to Paradise Perspectives, the podcast for women over 40 who are ready to move past fear, embrace change and create a life they love. From a Caribbean perspective, we keep it real here, we keep it honest and unfiltered, and we talk about growth, healing and the magic of travel, because stepping outside of your comfort zone, whether it's in life or anywhere else, is where the real transformation happens. Now let's get into today's episode. Hey, it's your island friend Rizal with another episode of Paradise Perspectives. If you tuned in last week, you undoubtedly remember the topic of that episode, when I revealed something that is deeply personal. I admitted to you and the world that I am broke at 50. And then now you might be like why is this a big deal? Well, it's an age that most of us thought we would have our shit figured out by now. Right, and you may be in your 40s, if you're listening. You're in your 30s, in your 50s, 60s, 70s, it doesn't matter. Once you are past your 20s and you find yourself in a situation where your financial security is not what you would want it to be, then you automatically or we automatically have the tendency to start believing that we're doing something wrong, because at this age we should have our shit figured out. Have our shit figured out. There is also a lot of shame around being in this position, but I have always been very open with my audience and I'm not about to stop sharing my truth now. By sharing that I'm broke, no matter how it makes me look in the eyes of others. I hoped to make someone else who might be in a similar situation see that they are not alone, and you know what happened. A lot of you actually reached out by commenting on the YouTube video and sending me emails and messages on social media, and that felt really good, just because knowing that you are not fighting the fight against financial scarcity alone really helps give you a boost to keep going. There's a sense of strength that you get when you know that there are others on the front line with you.

Speaker 1: 2:33

Still, there was something I may not have been clear on, though, and that is that, while I am financially in a disadvantage at this moment, thanks to the big pivot I did in my brand last year, I am still very happy, and my life is a life I love waking up to in the mornings, so the title of last week's episode should have actually been I'm broke at 50 and I'm happy. Now you're thinking, rizal, how could you possibly be happy and broke at the same time? Darling, it has everything to do with my mindset. So in this episode, I want to share with you the 10 things I did and I'm still doing today on a daily, to keep me in this positive mindset, because, believe me when I tell you that without it, you might as well give up right now on give up on ever getting out of this financial pit that you find yourself in. Here's another truth for you. This is where a lot of you are going to check out. While you were all there to hear me share that I'm fighting this fight with you and that I'm in the same boat and that you now feel better because somebody else is in that same financial situation. The truth is that a lot of you will be getting out of this boat at this point, right here, and you're going to start swimming back to shore where it's comfortable. And you know why. That is Because it takes work to change your mindset, just like it takes work to go from broke to financial stability. So, if you are still listening and you are willing and able to do the hard things necessary to grow and to become financially stable, then keep on listening. If you're not, then please, by all means, there's no hard feelings. Just check out right now. Jump out of the boat, start swimming back to shore, because this is not for you. But if you are still here, here you go, take a paddle, start paddling. My friend, say goodbye to the island of brokenness, because right now, on the horizon, I can see the island of abundance. So take from this list that I'm about to share with you now. Take from it what you feel you can apply to your daily life, and leave what doesn't feel good to you. Okay, I'm not about to force anybody to do it exactly like how I'm doing it, because my broke is not your broke and my life is not your life. My situation is not your situation, so everybody must be able to do what they are able and willing to do. Okay, so here we go.

Speaker 1: 5:14

This is the audio from the follow-up video that I posted on my YouTube channel last Sunday. Take a listen. So we are going to change our money mindset. Are you ready? All right, let's go.

Speaker 1: 5:33

First thing we are going to do is we are going to really watch what we say. We are no longer going to say a couple of phrases. First one I can't. That goes out the window. We're no longer saying that. And the second one is I'm broke. We are no longer going to tell ourselves that because we're not broke, we're abundant. All right, I don't know if you are right now. You're thinking, probably I'm the Lulu, I don't care. Seriously, we're not broke. Let me explain to you why. The reason for this is that the more times you tell yourself I can't do something or I am broke, you, the more evidence you are going to see that supports that claim. So we're not gonna say that anymore. All right, because yes, you can and yes, you will, and I'm not broke, I'm abundant. That's what we're gonna tell ourselves. The first, first step I'm not broke, I'm abundant, and instead of I can't, yes I can and yes I will.

Speaker 1: 6:27

Number two in this list is we are going to stop comparing ourselves to others, because how many times haven't you really felt good about your financial situation or about, maybe, a new dress you bought that you felt really, really good about, and then you go out to a party and somebody else is wearing the exact same dress and you think they look better in that dress all of a sudden, that beautiful dress. You bought it, you felt so good and you now feel like this. And that's the same when you go around comparing your situation with somebody else at your own age or in your own age group that might be making more money than you, the moment you start comparing yourself to somebody else and their situation, you are putting them in charge of who you are and what you want to be. So we're no longer comparing ourselves to anybody else and we're no longer comparing our financial situation to anybody else's either. Because when I say that I'm not making enough money, my enough money is not your enough money, and that's okay. Things that I can afford, you may well not be able to afford, and vice versa. So your money situation is your money situation. So we are going to focus on us, on me. Okay, you're going to be selfish here. We're going to focus only on us.

Speaker 1: 7:51

When you are in a situation when you are not or you think you're not making enough money, there's a lot of stress and anxiety that comes with it. You are in a constant stressful and anxious way. Those are all the emotions that you constantly have. Worrying about tomorrow is not going to help you today. So we are no longer worrying about tomorrow. We can only control what we can do right, right now. So worrying and stressing about what might happen tomorrow, it doesn't help you and, in fact, there's no point, because you cannot control anything that happens in the future. You cannot control what happened in the past either. So the only moment that we are going to focus on is the now. Okay, what can you do right now?

Speaker 1: 8:46

Number four we are going to remove the distractions in our life, and that is something that I myself started doing not too long ago, when I cancelled my Netflix subscription, which was, oh, I was so addicted to Netflix. Every time I got a chance, when I was feeling overwhelmed, when I was feeling like, oh, my situation is not gonna change anymore, anyway, it's too late it's all of those like negative thoughts and feelings and emotions. Whenever I was really going in that downward spiral and I'm not feeling good about not making enough and all of that, and constantly stressing and being anxious about it I would get so overwhelmed. So what I would do is I would look for distractions. I would get so overwhelmed, so what I would do is I would look for distractions Doom, scrolling on social media, watching one TikTok video after the next Binge, watching on Netflix. So I'm removing the distractions. So if you have work to do and you already have a vision of how you are going to make more money, then you need to get rid of the distractions. You need to get rid of the district distractions. You need to get rid of them. So cancel that subscription. If you need to completely get out of social media, then do so, but also the distraction of your phone itself. So if you are in work mode, then be in work mode. Put that phone aside and don't focus on it until you take a break of five minutes in between.

Speaker 1: 10:11

Number five on this list is your morning habit. When you want to get more focused on work or whatever it is that you need to do, which, in this case, is make money in some way or another or make more of it. You need to be more focused. So a morning habit can be really, really conducive to that. I have a morning habit that I start early in the morning. I start at 6am and in your case listen I live by myself, so I have all that luxury to have a slow morning In your case, maybe you have small kids or your situation doesn't allow you to have it, but whatever morning habit that you can implement right now, then go ahead and do it. I really need my meditation in the morning. My meditation is what keeps me grounded and gives me a clear head in order to be able to focus on the positive things and the things that I want to do that day. I also journal. I journal about situation, but I also journal mostly about the positive things that I see around me and how I have some great ideas that I want to expand on. I also journal about how grateful I am for what I already have. This is going to come again in a later point in this list.

Speaker 1: 11:29

Morning habits, so so important. Another thing that I like to do in the morning is after I've done my meditation and I've done affirmations and I've done all of the positive intention that I set for the day ahead, I tell myself this is going to be an amazing day. This is going to be so much successful, and it's going to be not only successful, but I'm gonna. I'm going to really nail it today. I'm going to do so well. You're gonna set those intentions. Those intentions are so important. Besides that, what is also important is writing down your goals for that day and now. These goals are the small goals. I'm not talking about the million dollars that you want to make at the end of the year. I'm talking about the smaller goals, all of those smaller goals that you want to really nail at the end of the day.

Speaker 1: 12:23

I even put on there. Make breakfast, I put on there. Make lunch I put on there. Eat dinner, I put on there shower. You know all of those things I put in there too. And put on there. Eat dinner, I put on there, uh, shower. You know all of those things I put in there too. And you know why? Because there is such a satisfaction and such a a boost in confidence, really, when you can go done, done, done. That gives you such a powerful feeling like I have really done it. And if you've made your list and you can go at the end of the day you've seen that you have checked every single box that you have accomplished, done. It gives you such a good feeling and a boost in energy to continue the next day and the next and the next.

Speaker 1: 13:05

So it's important to set your goals for the day. Don't make them too big, because otherwise. It's important to set your goals for the day. Don't make them too big, because otherwise it's going to be impossible to be able to check it at the end of the day. So all the small goals make a list of it and have it on your desk, or take it with you to work. Whatever it is that you do. Have it there so that you can go. Don't make it too long either. Make it something that you can go, don't make it too long, either. Make it something that you can feasibly do for that day. Number six all of those things that you want to do and that you know that you need to do in order to get out of the financial situation that you are in right now. We are going to no longer procrastinate, because that's the thing that happens a lot of time. No longer procrastinate, because that's the thing that happens a lot of time.

Speaker 1: 13:52

Procrastination is a form of stress. It also happens a lot of times when you just feel a little overwhelmed and then so you get distracted very easily and you just put it off. You keep putting it off, you keep putting it off, or you just don't feel confident enough. Fear can be another driving force behind procrastination. At least it is in my book and I know that I used to be the biggest procrastinator ever. So whatever I really wanted to do and if you really want to do it and how you know that it is something that you need to go for is because it keeps coming up for you. You feel such a feeling of euphoria almost when you know that you are going to do the thing that is going to help you out of the situation that you no longer want to be in. So procrastination then comes up when you're stressed, when you're overwhelmed, when you are not sure of how to achieve that certain goal. So this is why we are no longer going to procrastinate, because procrastination is a disrespect to you. You are actually disrespecting yourself by procrastinating and not doing the thing that you need to do. I know it is very scary, especially if there's something that you need to do in order to get yourself into a better financial situation. In order to get yourself into a better financial situation is new. I get that it's scary, but the only way to do this is just to step outside of your comfort zone, because that is where you grow. That is where you are going to start saying goodbye to your old self, the one that's procrastinating, the one that's afraid, the one that is stressed and anxious and hello to financial freedom at the end of your day, when you are done with the day and you have checked all of those boxes.

Speaker 1: 15:37

The next thing on the list that we are going to do and I just mentioned it a little bit before is gratitude, and gratitude is so, so important. Why is gratitude so important for sale? Well, I'm glad you asked that question. Let me tell you all about it. Gratitude is important. Why is gratitude so important for? So? Well, I'm glad you asked that question. Let me tell you all about it.

Speaker 1: 15:52

Gratitude is important because, without gratitude, you are always going to feel in that you're always going to be in that negative feeling of lack, not having enough, not being enough, not being worthy enough, not having enough. Okay, you're always going to feel like you don't have it and you're going to concentrate more on the lack than what you already have. Focus on the good that you already have in your life. If you have five dollars in your pocket, be grateful for that five dollars. If it's five hundred dollars, be grateful for that five hundred dollars. If it's more, be grateful for that five hundred dollars, if it's more, be grateful that you have more, but also be grateful for the other things in your life. Maybe you have a job. If you have a job good for you that's something to be grateful for. If you work for yourself or you're about to start your own business, be grateful that you have the mental uh, how do you say that the creativity to actually go for realizing your dream.

Speaker 1: 16:51

Be grateful for life. Be grateful for the view that you have in the morning. Be grateful for your kids. Be grateful for your pets. Be grateful for all that is good in your life. Be grateful for health. We always forget that without this and without health, we can't achieve our dreams anyway. So be grateful and better.

Speaker 1: 17:14

Yet, write down every night before you go to bed. Write down 10 things, just 10 things, and believe me, 10 things is nothing. You can come up with that like you can come up with it. Like that, write down 10 things you're grateful for for that day. Okay, and you're going to see how you're going to shift your mindset from a negative and now only focusing on the positive. That's what's going to happen, I promise, because I do this and, honey, it doesn't matter what situation I'm in.

Speaker 1: 17:44

I might have been saying that I'm broke, which I'm no longer saying, by the way. I am abundant, darling, and I really am, because I see all of the good around me. I have a cat that I love. I have a husband I that I really love, that loves me in return. I have friends, I have family, I have an incredible view for my apartment. I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for this life that I have built, and you're gonna see how you're gonna wake up in the morning feeling so much better about your situation, but also looking forward to creating more. Because here's the thing, my friend you cannot create in a negative mindset, you, and nothing good comes out of that. You need to be positive, you need to stay positive, and gratitude is a good way of doing just that.

Speaker 1: 18:38

Reading about you know how to not only change your mindset, but also on how to make money and things like that is also important. So read more. Now that we've eliminated those distractions, now that I'm no longer binge watching all of the shows on netflix, I can now pick up a book before I go to bed and actually read. Reading also expands your knowledge, so that gives you a little bit more to work with when you are trying to get out of the broke state that you were in.

Speaker 1: 19:13

Here's another thing that a lot of people forget you know how powerful you are. You know how creative you are. You have no idea darling, but you are super powerful. You really are. You know why? Because you control your thoughts. If you don't believe me, just think about this. Think about this red elephant. It's a red elephant. Think about the red elephant right now. Can you see the red elephant? Okay, now in your mind? Tell yourself it's not red, it's pink. You can do that in your thoughts. You can really change your thoughts.

Speaker 1: 19:49

So the same thoughts that you have every morning when you wake up oh, I don't have money to get those really pretty things that everybody else has, and I don't have the money because I'm broke and I'm this and I'm that and every time you keep telling yourself those thoughts. What happens is that those thoughts are going to determine how you feel that day and, from how you feel, those are the actions that you're going to take. So if you are all in those dark thoughts of things are not going well and I hate my job and I don't like this life, and then you're going to feel really shitty about your situation. Guess what? You are not gonna do anything conducive to bettering your situation either. So and it doesn't cost you anything to just change your thoughts just wake up in the morning saying, hey, this is going to be an amazing day. I'm get to go in my car I actually have a car I'm gonna drive to my job, I'm gonna make some money, and then that money will help me to buy ice cream for my kids or for myself, I don't know. I'm just saying something, but you see where I'm going. When you're feeling positive, you're gonna have the positive emotions that you need to be more creative, to be more creative, to be more focused on your goals, etc. Etc. So, the power of your thoughts. Remember, your thoughts determine your emotions. Your emotions then determine your actions.

Speaker 1: 21:21

Now, number 10 on this list. Is this number 10 or is this number 11? I don't even know anymore because I'm just going with the flow here. Listen, number 10. Let's just call it number 10. Number 10 on this list is so important and that is your relationship with money. And you're saying what kind of relationship with money I have a relationship with money. Money don't like me. Money never comes to me.

Speaker 1: 21:42

Now, money, money's scared of me. I'm scared of money. I'm scared of making money. How many times haven't you heard, growing up, things like money don't grow on trees. We don't have that kind of money. And also, my absolute favorite people with money are evil. They are no good. But how many people do you know that actually are rich and actually do good things in this world? There's a lot of rich people out there that are doing amazing things for this world. And that's the thing. If you are no good when you're, when you're broke, and you are not gonna be any good when you get rich either. So if you're a good person, you don't need to be afraid of being rich, because you're gonna be the same good person when you get rich. So stop believing that money is evil. Money does you know? It's like all of those sayings that we heard so much of, that money is evil and no good comes from money. And da, da, da, da, da and all of that that is now has changed your belief and, more importantly, your relationship with money. So let's just stop having that bad relationship with money.

Speaker 1: 22:54

Treat money with kindness, say thank you for it when you do get it, even if it's just a dollar that you might have stumbled upon in somewhere in in between your cushions on your couch, or maybe it was in a pocket of a long forgotten pants be grateful for it, be kind to it. And you get to spend it on something, and it might be paying bills, but if that's where this money needs to go to, then that's where it goes to. You get to give the the let's say, the internet company. You get to give them money instead of hoarding that money and constantly keeping like that. If money was a friend, would you keep them in a closet, hidden or under your mattress? Would you keep them hidden from the world the whole time, constantly anxious of letting them go because they might not come back? No, so treat money the same way you would treat a really good friend.

Speaker 1: 23:56

Okay, money is Energy, and if you are putting all of that negative energy into money, then guess what? Then money is not gonna be kind to you either. So we need to change our relationship with money. Write money a love letter today. No, I'm not kidding, really, go ahead, write money a love letter. Tell it how much you appreciate it, tell it how much you like it when it comes around Write money a love letter.

Speaker 1: 24:26

It is so important to change your relationship with money, because money needs to be respected and you need to love money, and it's okay to say that you love money. That doesn't make you evil. So practice that. Today, I love money. It's so easy. That didn't make you evil, did it alright? So those were the 10 things that I wanted to share with you how I am changing my money mindset, and I'm changing my mindset into a more positive one, because that is where the power is. So what do you think? Do you accept the challenge? Are you ready to start working on your money? Mindset with me, good. Mindset with me Good.

Speaker 1: 25:08

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to this episode. I am so happy to have you in this boat with me, and I know me with my constantly telling you that we're in this boat together. But seriously, I believe that together we can row much faster, don't you? Now? I may be taking a break next week I'm not quite sure yet. I will see if I can squeeze in the third episode in this series, because the thing is, mindset is 80% of the work, but there is still that 20% that we need to take care of as well, and I have some tips on that for you as well.

Speaker 1: 25:43

If you found any value in this episode right here, and if, in case, you have not listened to the previous one, which is broke at 50, you might want to check that one out as well. Share this episode and the others with a friend who needs it and let me know by tagging me on instagram at the traveling island girl or send an email to hello at the traveling island girl. I am also so, so happy to hear any feedback that I can get from you, but also, if you have any questions and you want something to be clearer to you and you want me to clarify something for you, just reach out. I'm always here. My name is Rizal saying bye-bye for now. Thank you so much for listening.