Thought for today: History is strewn with stories of people denying their need to change, resisting to the end. Dictators have fought to the last breath. Alcoholics sometimes need to lose everything to try recovery. What is it about denial that is so blinding? Embarrassment, spurred on by pride, keeps us in denial. It’s embarrassing to […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: Intuition is something we need to listen to – the “gut reactions” that come from our unconscious, pre-frontal cortex brains. How we integrate intuition has a lot to do with how successful we are. Emotional intelligence relies on intuition. We intuit a person’s needs, and reach consensus on an issue. Intuition is a spiritual connection to help us […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: As underearners, some of us find it hard to take vacations. The time off seems like a waste. It costs too much money and time. It feels extravagant. Some of us preferred vacations separated from family. Guilt, rooted in a childhood where time off was never enjoyed, sets today’s agenda. Circumstances leave us exhausted and unable […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: After the housing bubble burst, many homes were worth less than the money owed on them to the bank. In that market, many people sold at a loss, or simply walked away from their properties. DA helped us change the patterns of behavior that had led to unnecessary risk taking around money. Once we accepted the […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: A true compulsive debtor is powerless over the first credit card charge. There is never enough credit to satisfy the appetite. A member shares: “I work for a department store chain that offers an employee discount if we use the store’s credit card. I always purchased on the card but then accumulated interest and late penalties […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: Debtors tend to either be anorexic with spending, or over-indulging, or both. These extremes can leave them unsteady and miserable. Their chances are better if they envision their goals, and develop a clear Spending Plan and Action Plan. A member shares: “After years of rejection, I sometimes feel stuck in negative or depressed thinking,” […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: One of the signs of compulsive debting is “unwarranted inhibition and embarrassment” around normal discussions of money. A false sense of shame can inhibit our growth. We need to counteract these feelings by remembering to have dignity, however humble our finances. Our money is important to focus from time to time with an advisor. A member shares: […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: DA helps compulsive debtors get better. It does this when members help other members. DA also has service workers, who take care of administrative and legal requirements of operating a Non-Profit Organization. A member shares: “In DA, we have a clear division of labor. Members share their experience, strength and hope. We share our numbers with our Pressure […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: The word “pride” means “deep satisfaction in our own achievements, or those of others”. It can separate “us” from “them”, making “us” come out better and “them”, worse off. In this sense, “put down” pride is destructive, and the extent to which we entertain it, we destroy peace. A member shares: “I used to believe […]
Continue reading →Thought for today: Who says we can’t negotiate our own debts? People who mean well will sometimes encourage an “easier, softer way”, but they don’t have to live with the punch-drunk feelings left from exorbitant repayment plans. Others will caution against a bad credit rating, but do they know all the facts of our debting? […]
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