Most of us would describe ourselves as life-long learners – eternally curious, open to new ideas, always reading, studying, adding knowledge and gaining wisdom…

But underneath all that learning lies belief. Our beliefs marinate in our mind and season our new thoughts.

When was the last time you stepped back to think about how your beliefs affect your finances and wealth?

What you believe absolutely affects your thoughts and feelings. Thoughts lead to Feelings lead to Actions lead to Results. So what you believe WILL affect what and how you save, spend and share.

Which means, every now and then, it’s good to challenge your beliefs, assessing what’s still true and releasing what’s not true anymore.

I interviewed Kathie Donovan, Happiness Expert, author, celebrated public speaker,

coach and broadcaster for my September series on Money & Happiness, as we celebrated the anniversary of I’m a Millionaire! So Now What? (listen & subscribe here).  

When it comes to finding happiness, Kathie understands there’s a place for unlearning.

“I'm always trying to help people, as I say, unlearn something that they thought was true because all of us have some kind of a conditioned thought and belief planted in our brain that becomes part of our default thinking that just is not true. And for many, many, many people, it's that they're not enough. We hear that in our head: I'm not enough. I couldn't do that. I'm afraid of that. And when we unlearn that conditioned thought and belief and replace it with something that's awake, something that is true: Yes, I'm afraid, but I want to learn something, then the door opens and we can take a step through and see what's possible.”

As I look back on my promise to double the number of Canadian self-made millionaires by 2030, I know I need to revisit the topic of Money Mindset in addition to offering up practical strategies for growing wealth.

We need to catch ourselves thinking, feeling and acting on beliefs – many of which were formed in our youth while listening to conversations around the dinner table and watching our grandparents and parents act around and react to money and people with money. (I wrote more about Money Memories in this blog.

It may be time to question, again: What does wealth mean to you?

Does it conjure up empowering scenarios or negative thoughts?

Does it look like greed and selfishness or does it look like impact and influence?

Are you ready to, and able to, be unapologetically wealthy?

Those beliefs will affect your own thoughts, actions and results until or unless you gather evidence to contradict them. Kathie agrees:

“Until we disrupt those conditioned thoughts and beliefs that hold us back from living the life we want, we really can't operate with courage. And only we can disrupt our thought patterns. Nobody else can do that. Somebody can inspire us, but we're the ones who are ultimately responsible for the results we get by focusing our thoughts wherever we choose to focus them.”

On the Practical Strategies side, I’ve been focused on refining my Roadmap to Real Riches and the specific steps you can use to build real wealth. Because I believe that money in the bank = impact in the world. Money is a tool that gives us choices, an energy or current that we can tap into at any time.

This week, I challenge you to reframe your definition of wealth – if that definition conjures up negative thoughts that limit you and your freedoms. Or share your definition – if it’s empowering and opens doors to opportunity. Like Kathie’s:

“People who are truly successful entrepreneurs understand that wealth is not defined by what's in your bank account. Wealth is that you have time, that you have love, that you have friendship, that you have joy. Those are the touch points that I feel really make successful people.”

As always, I’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch with me via email here.

Or, if you’d like to know more about the Roadmap to Real Riches, and you’re looking for a fresh perspective on wealth and happiness, visit colleenoconnellcampbell.com – specifically the Real Riches Roadmap tab to apply for your Prosperity Discovery Session.