When it comes to being lucky with money, I didn’t believe I had it.
The highest amount of a lottery ticket I won was $10 USD.
I didn’t really gamble because I didn’t believe I’d win anything.
I believed I was the work-my-ass-off kind of person for every dollar that came my way.
I was never open to receiving money (or any kind of favor) from others.
Because, I didn’t like the feeling of owing something to somebody.
I didn’t even want to lean on my partner financially when she offered her support so I can quit my unsatisfying job. I dismissed it.
Receiving seems … weak and I didn’t let myself go there.
I knew I had money issues (and probably trust issues too). They’re deep rooted in my upbringing.
After I became a solopreneur, these money and trust issues were amplified.
Without the bi-weekly paychecks, my mood goes up and down with my income.
I can feel abundant one day and anxious the other.
Although these ups and downs are an important part of being human, I have a strong desire to improve my relationship with money.
I realized I was a slave to money. So many of my decisions were purely money decisions.
- I cringed when I needed to pay more than I expected (like most meals in the Bay Area 😬)
- Money often controls what I do and what I eat.
- I believed that I would only partner with certain people with the assumption of how much they can afford me.
I was unhappy. I want to have more fun and ease making and spending money.
“The only way out is IN” ~ Junot Díaz
I knew I needed to go deep inside myself to change who I am to create money effortlessly.
The first thing to let go off was my armor around money.
Instead of holding so tightly about how money comes to me, I learn to see money as a stream of river that flows through me. My hands and my heart become more open – open to give and receive.
- I say thank you whenever I pay for services.
- I donate whenever I receive money and appreciate my fortune.
- I focus on putting out my own positive energy to serve and believe it’ll come back to me multiplied.
Then, things start to happen in the most crazy ways. Below were two examples.
Free engagement photos, which usually costs thousands.
The engagement photo I used in my last post Love is the way was free of charge.
It happened because I responded to a photographer’s post in a Facebook hiking group page.
The post had 30+ comments and I happened to read through them all.
In one comment, a photographer was looking for a real couple to model for her so she could play with cherry blossoms.
I usually don’t respond to posts like this. Plus, one couple already responded.
But this time I thought – my partner and I didn’t have engagement photos anyways. Why not try it?
I thought she’s a starting photographer looking for models. I didn’t know if she’s legit. I simply responded to what’s in front of me.
It’s only after we arranged the shooting day, my partner found out her wedding photos price starts at $3k.
We did the shooting on a super cold day but we had the most fun that morning! 🥰
Coincidently, I learned that Kathryn, the photographer, was heading to Taiwan in two weeks. So I made a tourist map for her prior to her trip!
This was the first time I started to believe miracles were all around me!
Two free tickets to Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra symphony.
One day at 2pm, Ting and I got a text message from a friend asking if we would want to go to a symphony concert in Berkeley that night.
It was super last minute and we had a busy week. It wouldn’t work if it’s a day before or after. Yet, that night, we were available so we said YES.
It’s only when I looked at the details of the performance program, I was blown away – it’s from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra!
You see. I went to Vienna 5 years ago. I wanted to watch a performance at Vienna Music Society but I could not get any tickets. I ended up buying a ticket to their rehearsal where the musicians all wore jeans.
5 years later, out of nowhere, I received a free ticket to the concert where the entire crew flew here to perform for me.
How crazily amazing was that!
Needless to say, I had the most wonderful night.
Once I loosen my grip and stay open to receive, crazy good things like these continue to happen for me.
How about you?
What might you create with an open heart to receive?
Love, Wen
P.S. What do you really WANT right now? How can you get there with more fun and ease. If you are not clear, let’s talk!