I recently attended a workshop for financial advisors that focused on helping our clients (and us) live “in alignment”. The definition of living in alignment is having your values, goals and financial behaviors all working together consistently.

What hinders our ability to live in alignment is simple: it’s our emotions. With money, it is especially easy to make decisions based on emotions as opposed to making decisions based on our goals and values. We see something we need (want) and our brain tells us to get it.

To live in alignment, we need to allow room for emotions to get out so logic can get in. Our first response will always be emotional, it is just the way our brain works. By slowing down our decision-making process, we allow our emotions to settle down so the critical thinking part of our brains can kick into gear.

So the next time you are making a decision of consequence, financial or otherwise, give your brain a chance to slow down. Allow your emotions to settle, assess your decision with a top down approach (starting with your values) and give logic a way in.

Let us know how it goes!