My wife and I lead a Financial Peace University small group at our home on Friday nights. So each week I send out an update email to everyone in our group. This week I thought I would share the content of that email with you. Hopefully it will be an encouragement.
Hey Everybody,
It was great to have everyone there last Friday. I know that for some of you the progress seems slow, but I can tell that things are changing. Here is a brief synopsis of how change happens in people’s lives.
1. Thinking – The battle for change is fought in the mind. For some of you, FPU was a new and drastic way of thinking about money. This change in thinking takes time. It is the same for all of us: Resist (I don’t need to change), Question (is this really the best way?), and Embrace (this moves us to Action).
2. Actions – The actions associated with FPU are budgeting forms, cash budgets, cutting up credit cards, paying off debt, sacrificing non-essentials, and saving for the long-term. These actions are trial and error. You do well at first but then you fall off the wagon. At first the actions are a result of strong will power and discipline. You know it’s right to do but it doesn’t feel good.
3. Emotions – Lastly your emotions will start to help you in the process instead of resist you. Do you remember the first time you made the decision not to purchase something that you normally would? It’s painful! You think, “What’s the harm in buying that Starbucks, McDonald’s value meal, new clothes, electronic gadget, etc…” But after awhile you begin to train your emotions and before you know it, those things won’t have the appeal or pull they used to have. Now your emotions will begin to tell you that you can do more with less, that money/food/clothes/whatever cannot make you happy, and that you saving money is not only wise but feels good too.
So I say all of that to say this…DON’T QUIT NOW! Keep it up. It will pay off.
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