Monday, October 10, 2022
Do you know the one small investment that can make a big difference in your mental health?
It’s investing in lowering the financial stress in your life. Not surprising, it has high impact on your mental health. Even before the pandemic and resulting economic fallout, an American Psychological Association (APA) study found that 72% of Americans feel stressed about money at least some of the time. Financial stress can range from not having enough, to having enough but lacking financial health. This can lead to anxiety, anger, fear, frustration, bitterness, resentment - this is not how God wants you to live.
The first step is to get clear on your goals and how to get there. Dave Ramsey, financial guru who uses Biblically inspired financial principles, has a free assessment – Your Money. Your Plan. Your Journey to help get you started. The second step is to share the results and start taking the steps identified with others. Consider joining a Financial Peace University Group starting next week. (There’s an online option too!) You’ll be on the journey with others who want to experience financial freedom, and the benefits to your mental health are far greater than what you’ll gain financially.
For Parents:
Hope not only helps us look positively into our future, it can also serve as a major protective factor that helps us push back against intrusive thoughts or potentially dangerous ideation. Hope is not just passively wishing for something; it’s a teachable set of skills and a powerful resilience tool.
- Set goals and work towards them
- Practice gratitude
- Cultivate faith
A good reflection question is: How does gratitude for the good things in our life instill more hope in us and in our kids?