What do you believe about money? Do you believe that there’s enough? Do you attach your self-worth to it? Do you think it’ll bring your heart’s desire? Are you friends with money or is it an enemy?

Having more money isn’t enough. We need to learn how to deserve and enjoy the money that we have. Often I hear people say this about money:

I can’t save money.

I don’t earn enough.

My credit rating is bad.

Money slips through my fingers.

Everything is so expensive.

Why does everyone else have money?

I can’t pay my bills.

Bankruptcy is around the corner.

I can’t save for my retirement.

I can’t let go of my money.

How many of these statements sound like you? If you’ve checked off three or more, it’s time to work on your money issues! Large amounts of money don’t guarantee prosperity. People who have a lot of money can be engulfed in poverty consciousness. They can be more fearful about not having money than someone who lives on the streets. The ability to enjoy their money and to live in a world of abundance may elude them. Socrates, the great philosopher, once said that “contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.”

As I’ve said many times, prosperity consciousness is not dependent on money; your flow is dependent upon your prosperity consciousness.

Let’s examine your feelings about money. Answer the following questions as best you can:

1. What’s my biggest fear about money?
2. What did I learn about money as a child?
3. What were my parents’ thoughts about money?
4. How were finances handled in my family?
5. How do I handle money now?
6. Do I feel worthy of having and enjoying money?
7. What would I like to change about my money consciousness?

Our pursuit of money must contribute to the quality of our lives. If it doesn’t—that is, if we hate what we do in order to get money, then money will be useless. Prosperity involves the quality of our lives as well as any amount of money that we possess.

Prosperity isn’t defined by money alone; it encompasses time, love, success, joy, comfort, beauty, and wisdom. For example, you can be poor with respect to your time. If you feel rushed, pressured, and harried, then your time is steeped in poverty. But, if you feel you have all the time you need to finish any job, then your time is prosperous.

What about success? Do you feel that it’s beyond your reach and completely unattainable? Or do you feel that you can be a success in your own right? If you do, then you’re rich with success. Know that whatever your beliefs are, they can be changed in this moment. The power that created you has given you the power to create your own experiences. You can change!

Here are some of my favorite prosperity affirmations:

• My income is constantly increasing.
• My credit rating is getting better all the time.
• I spend money wisely.
• I always have as much as I need.
• I have as much money as I can accept.
• I bless all of my bills. I pay them on time.
• I am financially solvent.
• I am providing for my retirement.
• I enjoy every penny that I spend.
• I give myself permission to be prosperous.

And so it is!