Unleashing Abundance

Lynne Twist in her book Soul of Money describes three toxic myths that pervade our society and drive a culture scarcity. These myths are:

1) There's not enough
2) More is better
3) That's just the way it is

These myths (or widely held, yet false beliefs) especially around the subjects of #money and #time are toxic (or, poisonous) because once ingested they drive people to madness, and eventually death (spiritually, or otherwise).  I can share that it has taken considerable effort on my own part to "detox" from these perspectives around time and money.  And, from my coaching work with other fundraising leaders, I know that scarcity consciousness is alive and well in the very groups of individuals whose purpose is to embody abundance. 

Knowing this, your intrepid blogger will be co-leading a workshop for a group of fundraisers at the United Way in Toronto with my good friend, Janice Cunning.  Together, Janice and I will take the workshop participants on an emotional journey from scarcity (where most of us reside) to abundance (where many of us dare not venture).  By doing so, we intend to create a shift of consciousness that will unleash abundance--for the fundraisers and the donors with whom they interact.  Stay tuned to the weather channel, a tornado may be reported in Toronto this Friday.

In the meanwhile, I encourage you to play a little game called "Money Madness", outlined by Julia Cameron in her book, The Artists Way.  Quickly (don't think), fill in the blanks below and then reflect on your beliefs around money.


I'd have more money if______________________________

My father thought money was_________________________

My mother thought money was________________________

If I had more money, I'd______________________________

If I could afford it, I'd ________________________________

Money is_________________________________________

Money makes_____________________________________

Having money is not________________________________

To have more money I need to _______________________

When I have money I usually_________________________

People think money is_______________________________

If I weren't so cheap, I'd______________________________

What Is Money?

The root of all evil?  No.  A means of exchange.  Closer.  An expression of appreciation?  Bingo!

Over the past two years I have engaged in conversations about #money with a number of my coaching clients.  It appears to be a topic of universal interest these days.  In The Soul of Money Lynne Twist examines our attitudes toward money—earning it, spending it, and giving it away.  I recommend this book without reservation--especially for fundraisers.

My own heretical view expressed above is that money is an expression of appreciation.  When we earn it, someone else is expressing appreciation for our service.  When we spend it, we are expressing appreciation for the product or service we receive.  When we save/invest it, we say that our money "appreciates".  That is, those who use it pay us interest or dividends.

In fundraising, I recognize that donors may have multiple motives for giving.  I will assert here that the fundamental reason that donors give is because of the appreciation that they have for the organization they care about.  Incidentally, they also give because they appreciate the relationship that they have with their fundaiser.

So now that I have totally activated all of your negative saboteurs around money (these are the voices that are saying: "he's crazy", "that's not it", "it's way more complicated than that", and so on, and so on...), I ask you to conduct the following exercise.  For one week, or just one day, notice precisely how you spend your money.  Every dollar and cent.  Keep a record. And then sit back, and notice what you appreciate.