Creating a financial plan is gobbledygook wrapped in gibberish to a right brainer. I cannot confess how many times I’ve called a financial institution and prefaced my call with an apology and a warning that they are dealing with a creative person, so they will need lots of patience.

Of course the goal is to be debt free, have an emergency fund, a retirement fund, investments, property(ies) and spend less than you earn, oh yeah, and don’t forget to pay yourself and donate a percentage to charitable causes. Did I get it all? It should have been imperative to learn healthy financial management in school. Sadly, it’s a life skill could save lives, literally. Going dark for a minute. Financial issues contribute to a high number of suicide deaths each year. We learn our money management skills from our upbringing. If our guardians had poor money management or used limiting terms such as; “we can’t afford that,” “what do you think I’m made of money,” or “money doesn’t grow on tree.” If you’ve heard any of those statements growing up and developed healthy financial habits, then you should be very proud of yourself. You broke a generational cycle that could have plagued your descendants.

The most important first step in creating financial wellness is to understand your relationship with money.

• How it makes you feel, what does your inner voice say when the topic of money arises in conversations and how does money impact your life on a daily basis?

• What words surrounding money did you hear as a child? Are your behaviors with money self-sabotaging or did you make a hard pact with yourself as a young person to create wealth and never worry about money?

• Do you see money as an energetic exchange?

Writing out these answers will help to work through any residual mental money issues. The answers that come out on paper may surprise you and most likely expose some areas that need fine tuning on your financial planning. Financial wellness is a work in progress regardless of how much you currently have or not. Find gratitude for everything you posses in this very moment and know that your quality of life is not defined by your bank statements and upward facing arrows. It’s rich in the love you have for your family and friends and the memories created. Yes, money makes life easier, however, if you’re happy, you’re happy rich or poor.

MORE GOOD STUFF:

• Financials for Creatives is a financial coaching website I found that deserves further exploring. I love how Jenny gears her financial coaching toward the creative entrepreneur.

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 available 24 hours.