Redefining Wealth with Patrice Washington

REWIND: Reflecting on the Foundation of Redefining Wealth (Part 2)

Redefining Wealth: The People, Work + Money Pillars
This week, we’re doing another rewind here at Redefining Wealth. If you missed us last week, go back and have a listen because this week’s episode builds on the three pillars we covered last week. 
At Redefining Wealth, we believe becoming wealthy has 100% nothing to do with money – IT has 100% to do with your mindset toward money. What is in your mind, as well as what happens in every aspect of your life plays a part in your financial goals. 
If you’re living in a cluttered space, most likely your finances will reflect that. If you’re not fulfilled in the work you do, your finances will reflect that, too. It’s a vicious cycle, but one you can break if you’re willing to do the mindset work that goes with it. 
So many of us were raised to chase money, but chasing money is not enough. I’m living proof of that. I’ve made a lot of money and then lost it all in the Great Recession. Through that experience though, I’ve learned it’s not about the money. This week we review how and why it’s about tapping into the other areas of your life and making sure those moments are just as fulfilling and in line with your vision.
“The more you become fulfilled in other areas of your life, the easier time you’ll have with money.” 
People Pillar
So often I get asked how I went from sleeping on my brother’s couch to giving expert money advice on the Steve Harvey show. 
The short answer: It was never about chasing the money. It was not by knowing every item on my credit report. It was about understanding the six pillars, especially the people pillar, and knowing that relationships matter. 
“Relationships are a key part to building wealth – you need allies and advocates to connect you to opportunities.” 
Surprisingly many people don’t value relationships. They don’t make wise decisions when it comes to how they interact with people. I’ve been in these relationships before, especially in business. 
For instance, I’ve hired someone who I thought was great to work with. However, that person ended up disregarding timelines, the contract and failing to acknowledge the breakdown. All of these things ultimately damaged our relationship. 
I believe in the golden rule – treat people how you want to be treated. You don’t reach out to someone ONLY when you want something, and when there is breakdown, you don’t run and hide, you talk to them and figure out a way forward together. 
“If we thought more deeply about our relationships, it would change our conversations, attitudes and the way we do business.” 
Work Pillar
This pillar is all about living out your life’s purpose, which I see as the key to wealth.
For me, I’ve always gone well beyond the normal budgeting and couponing conversation. If you look at Real Money Answers for Every Woman, you’ll notice in the book – before I ever talk about a budget or a savings account – I talk about mindset and creating wealthy habits, and the importance of giving yourself permission to earn more money.  
I know when I lost everything, it wasn’t about cutting coupons or using reward cards. It was about using the gifts and talents I’d been born with to produce wealth.
When you’re not excited or fired up by the work you’re doing, then you’re looking for ways to fill the void, and to me, this lack of fulfillment is the number one reason people mismanage money. In other words, they’re unfulfilled and they think buying things or using their money on x, y and z is going to provide the fulfillment they need, but it never does. 
When you’re working in your purpose, you bring a sense of enthusiasm and energy to your work. You want to operate in excellence. You want to be known for greatness. It naturally puts you in a space where you attract more because people want to work with you and they want to bring opportunities your way – that does not happen to someone who is working merely to get by. 
Money Pillar 
You know by now that I’m not a fan of chasing money, that’s true. What I am a fan of is attracting the prosperity you desire, and I think when you bring all of these pillars together, it becomes more of an attraction thing than a running-after-and-chasing thing. 
My sweet spot has been showing people how to make and manage their money masterfully. That’s what I’m good at. I can talk to you about budgets and debt elimination, but if you don’t have some of these pillars mastered, you’ll never do what needs to be done because you won’t have the right mindset. You won’t have the right behaviors yet. 
People often ask me, “What’s the greatest lesson I can know about money?” And I say, “It’s not about savings or your 401k, it’s that what you respect will become what you perfect.”
In other words, we’ve been conditioned to jump into a relationship with money without ever being trained on how to properly acknowledge and respect money. 
Think about it. What you have with money is a relationship, and any relationship that’s rooted in acknowledgment and appreciation, is bound to be healthier. It’s bound to be healthier than a relationship where there’s no communication or a lack of interest. 
“You have to check in and show respect in order to have the best relationship you can with your money.” 
So, how do you do this? Block time on your calendar each week or each month to check in with your money. Look at what’s coming in, what’s going out and find areas where you can do better. 
Reserving the time to have that conversation nurtures the relationship and gets you on better ground with your money.
These last two weeks, we’ve looked at all aspects of the six pillars because I’m convinced this journey is not only about money. The successes we have with money and wealth are based on our well-being and happiness in all the other areas of our life. 
Did you find this rewind helpful? Which pillar are you committed to working on first?
PEOPLE Pillar Faves
Charreah Jackson: Go Hard AND Go Home
Boundaries Are Necessities
Sheri Riley: The Value of Being Present
WORK Pillar Faves:
Finish Strong: Determine What's Important Now
Lyn Talbert: Why Making Time for You Is Mandatory
Mikki Taylor: You Can Keep Your Makeover
MONEY Pillar Faves:
Dr. Dennis Kimbro: Wealth is a Choice
Dr. Daniel Crosby: The Best Thing You Can Do is Nothing
Dr. Brad Klontz: The Truth About Savings
And if you’re specifically struggling with a pillar and need additional support, go
to www.patricewashington.com/watch and choose a pillar in the dropdown.
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads 
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media: 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

REWIND: Reflecting on the Foundation of Redefining Wealth (Part 1)

We celebrated our 100th episode a couple of weeks ago, and I thought now would be the perfect time to re-introduce the six pillars of Redefining Wealth. So, we’re doing a rewind to refresh your memory of what I mean when I say “redefining wealth.” Also, if ’you’re new here, Welcome! This episode will help you gain an in-depth understanding of what you can expect from the Redefining Wealth community. 
Before we dive in, I have a question for you:
Did you know the original definition of wealth had nothing to do with money?
Wealth, in its true origins, focused on an individual’s well-being, meaning it was about overall life happiness and fulfillment.
And when I created Redefining Wealth, I did so in the spirit of the original meaning of “wealth”:
“Wealth in our eyes is not about money and material possessions. It’s about well-being.”
In the Redefining Wealth community, we seek to find well-being and fulfillment in many areas of our lives. Now, we recognize that if we don’t get clarity around those areas then sadly, we will always have challenges with money.
In today’s episode, we’re going to cover the pillars that relate to well-being – the fit, space and faith pillars. And then next week, we’ll look at the wealth-building pillars.
This episode is brought to you by Holistic Healing with Amy. If you need to talk to an expert about which foods can help you progress in the FIT Pillar and change your health once and for all, schedule a free call with Amy soon!
Fit Pillar
“Your health is your wealth.” 
I know, I know, when you hear “fit” you might immediately think of the “gym.” But the fit pillar is SO much more than that – it’s working out on a whole new level.
Think about it like this, if you’re an entrepreneur or you work a 9-5, you’re earning money every day. Are you earning money so you can simply spend it on prescriptions that you can’t pronounce? Or, are you earning money so you can spend it on health issues that are threatening your life? NO!
You see, each of us is called into this world to do something special with our lives. And in order to do that, we need a body that is capable of executing our vision and purpose in life. If we don’t protect our body how we should, we weaken our ability to fulfill our vision, at least in its full capacity. 
Are you thinking about your life? Not just in terms of the goals you want to accomplish, but in a way that forces you to reflect on whether you’re physically capable of seeing this thing to the end? And when you hit your goals and see your visions come to fruition, are you able to walk in it, live in it, enjoy it? Or are you going to be in a hospital somewhere?
“We all have a vision. The problem is, we’re not preparing our body – physically or mentally – to see that vision all the way through.” 
Space Pillar
You’ve heard that time is money, right? It’s true and the Space Pillar is all about setting up a life that supports maximizing your time.
Think of it this way, how many people do you know who operate from a space or environment that is cluttered and messy. There’s so many and what they don’t realize is that by living in that clutter, they end up wasting time and therefore lose out on money because of the lack of clarity their space produces.
According to Newsweek, the average American wastes 55 minutes a day looking for things they own but can’t find. “55 minutes a day.” That’s 12 days a year. I bet you could do a lot in those 12 days if you had them back. Take a vacation. Read a few books. Lie on a beach and forget your troubles. Or, pamper yourself till you think you’ve hit heaven.
Forbes, too, says the typical executive wastes 150 hours searching for lost information. That’s almost an entire month lost when they could have spent those hours making money or going to the gym or taking cooking classes.
“Clutter is the physical manifestation of confusion in the mind.” 
For me, every time I swim in confusion, I take a step back and examine the physical area around me. I ask, "where is the clutter?" I do this because I know my wealth correlates with my ability to clear confusion from my life. What this means is, if YOU want the freedom to create, think and manifest what you want out of life, you must first clear away the clutter.
Faith Pillar
I would not be America’s Money Maven. I would not be a bestselling author. I would not be a media personality. I would not be sitting here in my home studio completely restored from where I was in 2009 – if it were not for my faith.
The whole lesson behind the faith pillar is about believing in something greater than the world around you. It’s about realizing there’s something bigger at work and that in general, things don’t happen to you, they happen for you. 
In fact, when I think about my life, all the greatest lessons I’ve learned have come from some type of challenge or failure. It’s like Winston Churchill says, “Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
And for me, my faith is my enthusiasm. It’s the belief that there is something greater. That there is a bigger purpose at work and that nothing is ever happening to me, but it’s happening for me.  
“Life is only 20% of what happens to us and 80% of how we choose to respond to what happens.”  
My faith is the primary reason I don’t chase money. Instead, I chase purpose. When you’re not in alignment with something greater – with faith – it can be tough to see a life that doesn’t require chasing money. I know because you feel like everything will be better when you have money, and then it’s not. What you need is purpose.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this rewind of the Fit, Space + Faith pillars. Here’s three favorite episodes from each pillar, so that you don’t have to dig and dig to find more:
FIT Pillar Faves
Dr. Thema: Stop Suffering in Silence
The Power of No Comparison
Brandi Harvey: Your Roots Create Your Results
SPACE Pillar Faves:
Egypt Sherrod: Simplicity Drives Success
Are You In a Money Making Space?
The Blessing of Downsizing
FAITH Pillar Faves:
Elijah Frazier: You Can Turn This Around
Greatness Requires You to Expect Resistance
Marshawn Evans Daniels: It's Time to Believe Bigger
And if you’re specifically struggling with a pillar and need additional support, go to www.patricewashington.com/watch and choose a pillar in the dropdown.
LINKS: 
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads 
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media: 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

UPDATE: The Blessing of Downsizing

Last summer, my husband Gerald and I did an episode on the blessing of downsizing, and now, a year later, I want to give you an update. When we started downsizing, there was a lot of struggle, a lot to figure out, but one of the things that kept us going was knowing there was something purposeful about downsizing.
For those of you who are new to Redefining Wealth, Welcome! Redefining Wealth is a community that recognizes wealth is so much more than money and material possessions. In this episode, we’re going to give a quick summary of where we were last year and then dive into where we are now and what lessons we’ve learned along our downsizing journey.
This episode is brought to you by our complimentary Purpose Chasers community. Want to share your aha moments with a group of like-minded purpose chasers from all over the world? Visit iamapurposechaser.com and join NOW.
Summer 2018
This time last year, we were in the middle of downsizing. My husband, daughter and I were living in Southern California in a 6,000 plus square foot house and not occupying half of it. There was so much of the house we weren’t using, yet we were still paying to clean and maintain – it didn’t make sense.
So, as a family, we went through a voluntary downsize.
“Our goal was to cut our expenses by 60% and then reinvest the money into things that mattered to us.”
Logically, we knew downsizing was the best thing we could do, but once we started packing and moving, there were a lot of emotions that affected all of us. 
During this I remember Gerald said, “We’re not decluttering. We’re detoxing.” That was like a lightbulb moment because decluttering is one thing, but detoxing can be very uncomfortable. For us, we had to stick with it even though it was uncomfortable and painful.
I compare our detoxing to a season of pruning. It’s a season where you’re removing the things that no longer serve you. And with pruning, there’s a purpose to doing it – to help you (or a tree) grow stronger.
And so, that’s what we did. We went through this voluntary pruning and while the last 12 months have been painful at times, they have also been purposeful.
Here’s a bit of what’s changed for us personally and professionally:
We were able to purchase two apartment buildings here in Georgia
We started a transportation company and bought our first 18-wheeler
We bought a home in a wonderful neighborhood (also, shout out to Egypt Sherrod [https://www.instagram.com/egyptsherrod/] who was our realtor and helped us find our incredible home)
I was able to bring on new team members for my business
I launched my Mastery + Momentum Mastermind, the Purpose to Platform, and the Purpose Chasers Community
Redefining Wealth has almost reached a million downloads
Gerald finished his book, Don’t Just Start a Business, Build an Empire
 I believe these things couldn’t have happened if we allowed ourselves to continue to hold onto dead weight. In other words, if we’d continued to wrap our arms around those things that looked good from the outside, but didn’t feel good on the inside, then we would not be in the place we are now.
And regardless of where we are now, I want you to know that every transition and transaction comes with work. There will be painful moments. There will be uncomfortable moments. But the key is in remembering why you’re doing it.
Summer 2019 – 12 Months Later
When we started 2019, our word for the year was “release.” Without even knowing all the releasing that was going to happen to us. We’ve released relationships, conversations and material things.
“It’s been a learning process. I’ve learned more from these unforeseen scenarios than I have from any book.” – Gerald
For Gerald, working through the process of downsizing and releasing has been tough at times. And it’s challenged his faith. We went through a lot moving from a 6,000 plus square foot house to an apartment, then to a hotel room and finally to a house again. 
All the trials and tribulations that happened with each move, from people taking advantage of us to our space being cramped, have pushed our faith and forced us to lean on each other.
“As much as I want to lean on God, I also need somebody physical that I can talk to and communicate with when things get challenging.” – Gerald
One of the biggest challenges we had was with our movers. These movers took advantage and by the time all was said and done, we’d paid 3x the amount they’d initially quoted us. And that increase in cost came up after they already had our stuff.
That’s when I started to do some research and discovered this happens often. Families have lost all of their possessions because in route movers have doubled, tripled, quadrupled the price and people can’t pay so the moving company will claim possession of their stuff. I couldn’t believe this was actually a thing, but it happens every day to people nationwide.
As for us, we have faith, but we also save correctly so when things do happen, we’re prepared and can push through even though it’s a challenge. And we’re so fortunate we chose to downsize and cut our expenses, almost in preparation for what was to come.
What if we hadn’t downsized? Or if we had let other people’s perceptions of our downsize stop us from downsizing? 
Downsizing material possessions is no different than downsizing relationships. What happens is this:
We like to romanticize a relationship or an object based on what it used to be and not whether it is currently serving us – and that’s a problem. 
Releasing people, releasing beliefs and releasing things – we’ve done all of that in the last 12 months and we’ve realized through it all that it has deepened our bond as a family. Gerald and I are working together again, we’ve deepened our connection with our daughter and we know that we’d not be where we are today if we hadn’t downsized.
There’s a lot that’s happened in the last 12 months and we do still wholeheartedly believe this: 
Downsizing is a necessary part of maximizing. 
Now, I’d love to hear from you. Have you thought of downsizing? Have you already done it? If so, how has it gone for you and what lessons have you learned?
 
LINKS: 
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com 
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media: 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth 
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

100th Episode: How to Know When Your Season Is Up

I can’t believe this is already our 100th episode. It feels like yesterday that I reluctantly stumbled into the world of podcasting. And now, nearly two years later, here we are.
If you’re new here and looking for hardcore advice on things like budgeting and investing, this is not that type of money podcast. You see, Redefining Wealth is about getting you prepared for those types of podcasts – the money ones I mean. It’s about helping you understand that wealth is so much more than just money and material possessions.
“There’s much more to wealth than chasing money. At Redefining Wealth, we unpack and explore all the different ways money connects to our lives.”
This episode is brought to you by Radical Success Certification Program. If you’re an emerging life coach or experienced coach who feels stuck, check out this proven, A-Z coaching framework by Doreen Rainey.  You don’t want to just become a coach, you want to run a thriving coaching business and she can show you how. Learn more and apply at RadicalSuccessCertification.com. 
Knowing When Your Season Is Up
To celebrate our 100th episode, I want to take you back to just before I launched Redefining Wealth. 
I was in a great place. My career was going great. For the most part I was fulfilled with what I was doing. I was making good money, doing good work, helping and serving people, and yet, the truth is, my season was up. 
“What if your season has long expired and you’re extending it out of fear, complacency or delusion?” 
Now, I’ll be honest, Redefining Wealth was not something I’d planned on doing. The idea of starting a podcast had crossed my mind a couple of times, but it always seemed like too much work.
And there was also a fear that people might not get or want it. After all, I had been known as a personal finance expert for years, and while I still incorporate the term wealth, I rarely talk about those hardcore money topics anymore.
I lacked confidence. I also thought I lacked the credibility to go deeper into the money topic – to look at how money connects to all the other areas of our lives. But here’s what I learned: It doesn’t matter how credible you are on paper, what matters is how you feel.
A Season Doesn’t Have to Be Bad to Mean It’s Time for a Change
Sometimes we think that a situation has to be awful in order for us to move on.  But here’s the thing, purpose evolves and I don’t believe any of us are meant to do the exact same thing in the exact same way our entire lives.
“We’re meant to evolve and if we don’t move when our season is up, then we go bankrupt emotionally, mentally, spiritually, financially.”  
For me, I was in a space where I was content. I was America’s Money Maven. I had a weekly segment for years on the Steve Harvey Morning Show. I was doing other shows like Dr. Oz and being featured by publications like Cosmopolitan, the New York Post and Essence Magazine. I had a good name as a money expert. Why would I change all of that?
How to Know When Your Season Is Up
First of all, I experienced what I call the boulder effect.
It started out as a pebble, as it always does. For me, well it looked like me getting annoyed going on all of these talk shows and talking about budgets and credit reports when I knew that money and wealth was much more than those things.
I kept thinking, “If they ask me one more thing about a budget, I’m going to snap!” Money is not about a template, it’s about your behaviors. It’s about your mindset. It’s so much bigger than a budget, and yet, I’d go, get on the couch, smile and do what I was brought there to do.
Then came the rock. My website got hacked. Not hacked in the sense that it redirected to a naughty site or something like that, but hacked in the sense that the hacker went in and deleted files and content, and changed the language. It was bad, and even though the hosting company restored the site, it was a shell of what it had been – so much of my content was gone.
Then came the boulder. I received a letter stating that Real Money Answers, my entire brand, was infringing on someone else’s copyright. What?! I didn’t understand and from what I knew, I’d had Real Money Answers trademarked for quite a while. What I learned through this process, however, was that my attorney had dropped the ball, and I didn’t actually have Real Money Answers trademarked. 
It was like one nightmare after another, and I knew it was time for a change.
What Began as a Dream Turned into a Chore
Another way I knew my season was up was that opportunities that once felt like a dream had turned into a chore. They didn’t excite me anymore.
Perhaps one of my friends describes this best, “You know what it is?” she said. “I’ve tried to romanticize the fact that this thing started as a dream so that I could survive a toxic environment.”
Ding, ding, ding. I know exactly what she means.
As an entrepreneur, if you have consistent contracts or clients, you can chain yourself to something and start to believe that IT is your source. In all actuality though, you’re trying to force it to remain or to be the source because you want to romanticize the opportunity based on how it started out.
“Not everything that starts out one way will end the same way, and not because the environment changes, but because we change.” 
The truth is we can make anything look, feel or seem like a dream opportunity if we have an agenda. That’s the space I was in before finally accepting the call to let go and start Redefining Wealth.
“Purpose evolves and you have the right to say goodbye to one season and hello to another – that is part of the journey.” 
If I can leave you with anything, it’s to be honest and real with yourself. If you’re in the midst of a boulder effect or if you know that what began as a dream has turned into a chore, I want you to know it’s okay to surrender and accept that the season is up.
Lastly, I want to add that one of my clients, Danielle Joseph, has a whole program on seasons and she further explains how you can go from one season to the next in different areas of your life at different times. If you’re interested in learning more about how to know when your season is up, check her out. https://iamdaniellejoseph.com/about 
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com. 
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Geremy Dixon: The Distraction of Unforgiveness

When you’re incapable of disconnecting yourself from past pain and trauma, it impedes your ability to walk in the success you desire. Think about it. How often do you allow the pain someone may have caused you in the past to come up again and again in the present? Geremy Dixon wastes no time jumping into this topic. Join me as I sit down with my very own pastor and discuss all the parts of forgiveness you didn’t know you needed.
In this episode, Geremy shares excerpts from his Unstuck Series – a 5-part series covering UnLoad, UnPlug, UnCover, UnShackle and UnSubscribe. This episode focuses particularly on UnShackle, as we dive into what it means to forgive and how critical forgiveness is to our own well-being and success.
This episode is brought to you by our complimentary Purpose Chasers Community. Connect with like-minded listeners of the Redefining Wealth Podcast who all desire to improve in the Six Pillars of Wealth.
 
About Geremy Dixon
Pastor Geremy has served as associate and now Lead Pastor for over 18 years at Center of Hope LA in Inglewood, CA. Known for his approachable demeanor and common-sense method to Kingdom living, he has the unique ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life. Pastor Geremy’s particular blend of humor, inspiration and sound biblical grounding has opened doors for him to be a guest facilitator and well-sought-after speaker at churches, conferences and conventions, both nationally and internationally. Articulate, passionate and driven he is one of the emerging voices proclaiming God’s desire to establish His Kingdom in the marketplace.
 
Actively Pursue Forgiveness
“As long as we’re not actively pursuing forgiveness, we’re standing at the gate of incarceration for everyone we’ve ever held in contempt.” – Pastor Geremy
Pastor Geremy says the way in which we legitimize past pain and trauma is by highlighting the fact that what took place necessitates some sort of punishment. We seem to believe that it necessitates some act that rights the wrong, and that we have to be the one to make sure the “wrongful” person has paid their debt to us in some way.
If we’re not careful though, as we seek to bring about justice in someone else’s life, we find ourselves having to stay until the proceedings are over or the sentence is served. So, now imagine having to live guarding the gate of someone who has a life sentence. Think about how often you’d think about the pain they caused on a minute-by-minute, day-by-day and year-by-year basis. Sadly, and painfully, it would always be right there.
And yet, there’s a world out there waiting for us and all that we have to offer, but when unforgiveness creeps in, our mind shifts from all that’s available to the pain and brokenness, and we can’t forgive, forget or move on.                                                                         
How many times has this happened to you?
 
Arrest/Pre-Arrest Investigation
“Before we can give forgiveness, we have to get clarity around whether what we’re offended about really happened.” – Pastor Geremy
Think of it how Pastor Geremy does and ask yourself these questions:
Did I see it myself?
Who are the people bringing it to my attention? Are they credible?
Is it a misunderstanding?
Do I assume certain people see me a certain way?
Do I feel offended not because something was wrong, but because I wanted it a different way?
For many people, we hold grudges with people who didn’t do anything to begin with. And in a lot of cases, we find out that unforgiveness is not necessary because there wasn’t really anything wrong to begin with.
That’s why it’s so important to investigate these past offenses and to clearly understand what took place. 
 
The Arraignment
This is where Pastor Geremy says the “wrongful” individual gets to hear exactly what they’re being charged with. 
If and when it’s possible and safe, it’s imperative for the process of forgiveness to be able to sit with the person who has offended or harmed you and have a conversation about how you feel.  
To do this effectively, you need to be clear on the real problem. Knowing this will help you articulate your feelings and understand why you are hurt. Then when you sit down with the other person, you can approach the conversation with strength and confidence. You can ask questions instead of placing blame, and you can create a space for dialogue.
“When we are offended and emotionally charged, we’ll pile on charges that are not even necessary.” – Pastor Geremy
 
Release on Own Recognizance
Here he says, you allow the person in question to be released while the case is being built. In other words, you suspend judgment.
For many of us, a situation will happen and we jump immediately to this happened and that happened, and start making assumptions, drawing conclusions and making judgments.
But what we should do instead is suspend judgment until we’ve had time to sort out the situation. Making a judgment before we’ve had a chance to look at the situation or to talk with the other person, makes the process so much harder to work through. 
 
Trial, aka “Conversation”
This is critical. Pastor Geremy says conversation can put you in a place of understanding and forgiveness. Many times, you’ll meet an individual who has lost their way or done something unbecoming, but when they begin to talk about their situation and talk about their world, your perspective changes.
I, too, can’t stress the importance of conversation enough. When I have the chance to sit with a person who has harmed or offended me, to hear their story helps me to understand and accept their own brokenness and hurt. This is crucial for being able to move to a place of understanding and forgiveness.
 
Sentencing is Always Forgiveness
The question you have to ask yourself here, he says, is: Is it release to reunification or a new normal? In other words, forgiveness is always the answer, but reunification is not always easy.
Sometimes you’ll realize that you can’t go back to the same behaviors or the same relationship you had before with the person, BUT you can still forgive them. You can forgive and say, “It will never be what it used to be, but we can figure out a path forward or decide to go our separate ways.” 
 
Restitution
“People who harm me cannot provide restitution to me. They cannot undo what was done. They don’t have the capacity.” – Pastor Geremy
He says to think about restitution like this. Let’s say a person steals something from you. They can (and should) return the item to you, but they can’t return the safety you felt before you were robbed.
The feeling of vulnerability and insecurity that you could have your possessions or even your person impacted at any moment by someone who has ill intentions is something that can only be restored by God. 
 
“Forgiveness is giving up the possibility of a better past.” – Patrice Washington
 
“Forgiveness is not the removal of the charge. It’s the refusal to sentence them to death.” – Pastor Geremy
 
Visit www.geremydixon.com to find out more about Pastor Geremy.
 
Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions
And with that, let’s dig into Geremy’s responses to our Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions.
 
Define Success:
“I am walking in absolute purpose according to God’s design, not my own.” 
 
Define Wealth in 3 Words or Less:
“Peace, purpose, risk.”
 
One Book that Has Redefined How You See Wealth:
“Unlocking Heaven by Kevin Dedmon”
 
Fill-in the Blanks … “My name is ___ and the truth about wealth is ___”:
“My name is Geremy and the truth about wealth is you have more of it than you recognize.”
 
LINKS:
 
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
 
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
 
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
 
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
 
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com.
 
Find me in Social Media:
 
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
 
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
 
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
 
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
 
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

The Power of Mastery + Momentum

The doors to Mastery + Momentum are open for a bit longer, and I thought while we wait to start this amazing adventure it would be great to peel back the layers and share some key points with you. In this episode, we’ll look at why I created the Mastery + Momentum community, how you can apply the concept of Mastery + Momentum to your own life and what the program has done for the women we currently serve. 
Before we dive in, I want to celebrate these women. In the last six months, we’ve seen everything from raises, promotions and increased income to mended relationships, weight loss and saving more money than they’ve ever done before. These epic results come from a radical approach to goal setting and accountability, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
This episode is brought to you by my Mastery + Momentum 12-month Private Mastermind and Retreat Experience. If you’ve been craving sisterhood and community with not just like-minded women, but women who have the capacity to relate to your success, while understanding the struggles that come with it, I might have what you need! Learn more at MasteryandMomentum.com.
Mastery
If I asked you to define mastery, you’d probably say something like knowing everything possible about a particular subject or area. The truth is, however, you don’t have to know everything, but you do need to be at least proficient which is more in alignment with what mastery means. Notice: it doesn’t mean perfection.
For many of us, we never create enough time to become more proficient – more masterful – in the things that challenge, scare or are unknown to us. Instead, we stay comfortable. We keep the same company, hide out, play small and tell ourselves that, “That’s just who I am.” In other words, we settle. 
Now, I want you to take a moment and think about the greatest version of yourself. Who is she? What is she like?
When I see the greatest version of myself, I recognize that there’s work to do – some of it is scary and some of it I don’t even know how to start. But one thing I don’t do – I don’t stop. Instead, I center myself around people who are strong where I am weak, and I invest in learning so that I can become more proficient in areas that I’m not. 
“I don’t have to be perfect, but I can be more knowledgeable, more proficient.” 
In the Mastery + Momentum Mastermind, we use my 6 Pillars of Wealth to get honest about where we are. We look at the areas we need to work on most and who we need to become to reach our goals and more importantly maintain them. 
“If you don’t take the time to master your weaknesses, you’ll mask them with things that don’t matter and waste precious time and money.”
Momentum
Simply put, momentum is the driving force gained by the development of a process or course of events. In other words, when you get clear on the areas you need to work on and you begin building up your proficiency, momentum will create a chain-reaction of milestones – achievements obtained sooner, quicker and faster than you’ve ever experienced before. It’s like a landslide of winning.
For many people, they experience a win every three or five years. They’ll accomplish one thing and then sit on the sidelines again waiting for another opportunity. 
With consistent dedication to mastery, however, your momentum builds and that win that only happened once a year or once every five years, happens on the regular.
Meet Mastery + Momentum
To show you how powerful this concept of mastery and momentum can be, we invited a handful of women from my Mastermind to share their experiences with you. 
First up is Lezlie. Lezlie is a massage therapist from Detroit and when asked to share one win she’s had since starting the mastermind, she said, 
“I don’t want to be too broad in saying that every area of life has changed for the better, but honestly, it has.” – Lezlie 
Since being in the Mastery + Momentum community, Lezlie has lost 16 pounds. She’s straightened out relationships that had been gnawing at her. Her career is more fulfilling. And she’s managed to follow and maintain a daily routine.
Many of these incredible women have created exponential momentum by embracing new ideas of what self-care means. Here’s a look at how Maritza’s self-care changed:
“Self-care is about protecting your space. It’s about creating boundaries and taking care of yourself mentally and physically.” – Maritza
It’s also about carving out time in your day to make sure you’re doing what’s important to you. For Maritza, Mastery + Momentum has completely transformed her life. She now wakes up two hours earlier than she was before and uses that time to work out, pray or journal. 
“Had it not been for Mastery + Momentum, I’d still be living with a limited definition of what self-care means.” – Maritza
Some of the women like wife, mother and entrepreneur, Herdyne Mercier, came in committed to elevate one pillar and then something else happened.
As Herdyne discussed, the one pillar she wanted to elevate was the faith pillar. When she started in Mastery + Momentum, she was questioning whether or not God was hearing her prayers and wondering whether the dreams he’d deposited in her would manifest themselves. 
Over the course of Mastery + Momentum, Herdyne launched the LCSW Success program to help people pass the exam needed to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She also raised her prices and has gotten more exposure so she can walk in purpose and spread her own unique message.
That’s momentum. That’s her prayers being answered.
When we asked how being a part of the Mastery + Momentum community felt, here’s what April, an advocate for children and families in the education arena in NYC and Carla, a mom and marketing expert, had to say, 
“We have such love for one another. We support each other, we push each other and we never allow each other to stay stuck in a bad moment.” – April
“I have sisters who support me. I have a true sense of community with women who cheerlead, encourage and pray with each other.” – Carla 
Seeing these women interact at our live spring retreat left me asking several of them, “Are you sure you didn’t know each other before this?” These women have grown together, they lean on each other, they bounce ideas off of one another, and they refuse to let their sisters settle for second best.
This community is exactly what I set out to create. And now, as we’re gearing up for the next Mastery + Momentum group, I have to say from the applications I’ve read so far, I’m astounded by the number of people who aren’t willing to leave their comfort zone to claim their breakthrough. 
Fortunately for Natalie, an international influencer from the UK, she was willing to and didn’t let living across the pond prevent her from joining our community.
“I love everything about Patrice Washington. When I heard she was doing a mastermind, it was a no-brainer, I had to be a part of it.” – Natalie 
Another bonus for Natalie has been the wonderful Mastery + Momentum community, and she says, “It’s been amazing having such a supportive group of women from the US. These women have taken me onboard as a sister of theirs and I’ve loved the support we’ve given each other.”
Support. Sisterhood. Friendship. Structure. Success. These are all words used to describe Mastery + Momentum and they’re backed by real action. 
Now, I’ll see many women filled with excitement when they attend a conference or enroll in a mastery program, but find themselves sitting with the same old habits shortly after the event or program ends all because there’s nothing or no one pushing them to keep progressing forward. With Mastery + Momentum, that’s not the case.
If you’re willing to admit you can’t do this alone, that you need a sisterhood to support, motivate and challenge you, then applying for Mastery + Momentum will be one of the best decisions of your life. 
Transformation, goals achieved, momentum, mastery and the BEST version of you are all waiting on the other side of this click:
MasteryandMomentum.com
LINKS:
To apply for Mastery and Momentum: http://www.masteryandmomentum.com
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com.
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Lisa Bilyeu: How All In Are You Really?

How all-in are you when it comes to building the life you want? For many of us, we think we want something, but the truth is we aren’t willing to give up x, y or z to get there. Lisa Bilyeu knows how to put it all on the line. Join me as I sit down with the co-founder of the billion-dollar company, Quest.
In this episode, Lisa shares her own health struggles and how she made the choice to overcome them. She also reveals how she went from housewife to world-class entrepreneur and provides some of her best mindset shifts for creating the life you desire.
This episode is brought to you by my Mastery + Momentum 12-month Private Mastermind and Retreat Experience. If you’ve been craving sisterhood and community with not just like-minded women, but women who have the capacity to relate to your success, while understanding the struggles that come with it, I might have what you need! Learn more at MasteryandMomentum.com.
About Lisa Bilyeu
Lisa is living proof that Darwin was right when he said it’s not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but rather the most adaptive to change.
Lisa began her professional career in film, moved briefly into administration, and then, as a founding team member at Quest Nutrition, she took on logistics –
building the company’s fulfillment department from scratch and helping facilitate the company’s rise to #2 on the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies.
Lisa then returned to media, helping build the company’s revolutionary in-house media team, producing content that has been viewed over 100,000,000 times. Presently, as co-founder of Impact Theory, she’s looking to combine her highly developed skills as a creative producer with her drive to help people build things that matter.
Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You
“Take the best talent and then invest in them.” – Lisa Bilyeu
For a lot of people, when it’s time to invest in their business, they often shortchange themselves by just taking whoever they can find. For me – and for Lisa – it’s better to have nobody than a bad body.
Talent doesn’t mean having been born with a certain skillset. It means that you’re willing to keep pushing yourself and learning. So, for Lisa, if someone comes into her business patting themselves on the back and believing they can never make a mistake, there’s a good chance she wouldn’t hire them.
The reason? Lisa wants her team to know they’re never going to be perfect. They will make mistakes. They will get critiqued. Talent then could be defined as the drive to push yourself to accumulate said skill and the desire to continuously refine it and build on it.
How All-in Am I?
I meet people all the time who have lofty goals and dreams. They want time freedom, they want to work from home, they want to travel on a whim, but when it comes to investing in the life they want, they often don’t.
That’s why I love this question so much: How All-in Am I?
In other words, what am I willing to sacrifice and what am I not willing sacrifice? How all-in am I willing to go? What am I willing to lose?
At the end of the day, you have to do what feels right for you. For Lisa, she put her house on the line because she knew if she didn’t, she’d look back and know she hadn’t given it her all.
I Choose This Life – the Key to Personal Responsibility
Lisa never expected to be an entrepreneur. She was a housewife for eight years and had been primed her whole life for that role. So when her husband suggested this new business venture – Quest – Lisa had to restructure her mindset and take responsibility for her choices.
Within two years, Lisa went from shipping out bars from her living room floor to building out a 10,000 square foot shipping department with 40 employees. How did she do it?
She made the choice to ask all the questions she needed to achieve the things she wanted and to push the business forward. She could let fear paralyze her. She also could have pretended she knew what she was doing. But neither of those things would have serviced her and the life she wanted to create.
Lisa accepted that she didn’t always know what she was doing, but that she could figure it out.
“When feeling weak or unsure of myself, I just keep asking questions.” – Lisa Bilyeu
Tell Yourself a New Story
Everything we believe is either a story we tell ourselves or a story others have told us about ourselves.
When you’re a kid and other kids say things like, “Oh, you’ve got a big nose,” or “Oh, you ask too many dumb questions.” You carry these thoughts through into adulthood and those jabs become your story.
Now, Lisa and I both realize, that those things we thought as kids, don’t define us. And knowing they don’t define us and we can come through the other side, is so empowering.
“When you realize you have the power to construct your story, anything becomes possible.”
And now, adds Lisa, “I’ve shown myself that putting my hand up and asking questions actually gets me what I want.”
Embrace Your Decisions
When Lisa and her husband got married, she expected to one day have kids. As their business started to develop though, she realized she didn’t want kids.
Working through her decision, embracing it and standing with it has been tough, but it’s helped Lisa realize a few things:
It was the right decision for her, her husband and their business.
The people who support you are people you should keep in your life. Those who judge you, don’t belong in your life.
Generally, people don’t set off to make you feel bad. In most cases, they’re projecting a judgment they have when they feel in conflict with your decisions and their own.
Become Your Best Self
At the height of their company, when they were winning awards, had bought their dream house in Beverly Hills and were enjoying a bottle of Dom Perignon, Lisa felt like her entire digestive system had erupted.
After years of doctors routinely prescribing antibiotics and Lisa taking them, it had wreaked havoc on her system. She could barely eat anything and lost so much weight that her hair started falling out. As the co-founder of one of the largest nutrition companies in the world, she was embarrassed, ashamed and for a long time hid that she was sick.
Now, four years later, Lisa takes complete ownership over what had happened to her. Yes, doctors prescribed the antibiotics, but she took them. She never asked what long-term side effects they could cause. Rather than beat herself up about it, though, Lisa chose to take ownership and regain control of her body, and now speaks out about her health struggles to help others better listen to their bodies.   
Visit https://impacttheory.com/women-of-impact/ to find out more about Lisa and Women of Impact.
Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions
And with that, let’s dig into Lisa’s responses to our Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions.
Define Success:
“It is how much I smile on a daily basis.”
Define Wealth in 3 Words or Less:
“Never wanting.”
One Book that Has Redefined How You See Wealth:
Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards
Fill-in the Blanks … “My name is ___ and the truth about wealth is ___”:
“My name is Lisa Bilyeu and the truth about wealth is that it is not about money in your bank account. It is about how you feel every single morning about yourself when you look in the mirror.”
LINKS:
To apply for Mastery and Momentum: http://www.masteryandmomentum.com
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com.
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Courage Molina: Life Can Get Uncomfortable

Have you ever struggled in your relationship with God? Have you been in a place where you have faith and a strong connection with God, but you’re also mad, disappointed or frustrated with Him? Courage Molina knows this all too well. Join me as I sit down with my Mastery + Momentum co-coach and talk about God, transformation and her book Power Principles: Courageous Living.
In this episode, Courage shares her story of transformation. Her transparency in revealing how she was able to overcome depression and live life anew provides strategies that will empower and equip women of faith to exchange their struggles for strength.
This episode is brought to you by my Mastery + Momentum 12-month Private Mastermind and Retreat Experience. If you’ve been craving sisterhood and community with not just like-minded women, but women who have the capacity to relate to your success, while understanding the struggles that come with it, I might have what you need! Learn more at MasteryandMomentum.com.
About Courage Molina
Courage knows firsthand what it takes to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. As a teen parent, she had to work extra hard to graduate from high school, and then as a wife and mother of three, she had to again work extra hard to earn a college degree.
But through all of that she never questioned God or the decisions He made. It wasn’t until her cousin died and her marriage took a turn for the worse that her relationship with God started to change – and not for the better.
Courage was depressed, and she used alcohol to numb the pain, until she reconnected with God. She owes her recovery, healing and success to her faith and the biblical principles she applied to her life one day at a time – these are the same principles she writes about in her book Power Principles: Courageous Living.
Now, as Chief Courage Crusader and as co-coach of Mastery + Momentum, Courage passionately shares her message of confidence, transformation and faith in God.
You Are Who God Says You Are
When you go through something difficult or you have a setback or failure, you can sometimes become the thing that happened to you.
The problem with this is 1) there’s an ever-changing interpretation of labels and 2) you will never be more than the identity you accept. In other words, your goals will never be higher than who you think you are.
If you believe, for example, “I’m just a black girl from the ghetto,” then you will never accomplish more than being a black girl from the ghetto.
The moment you realize YOU possess the power to change your reality and own your position in this world, you’ll genuinely believe anything is possible.
Forgiveness is Freedom
Have you ever thought someone needs to suffer for the pain they caused you? Afterall, they deserve it, right? Wrong!
It’s not up to you to charge people with their sin. It’s up to you to forgive. You see, when you refuse to forgive somebody, it only holds you back and makes what was done to you an ongoing thought pattern. God’s gift is being able to forgive by allowing yourself to be free of the negative connection that binds you to the hurtful incident.  
“My healing is my responsibility.”
You Must Put Your Faith to Work
When you say you believe something, your actions have to demonstrate that belief. It’s not enough for you to say it, DOING IT is what makes the difference.
So when it comes to faith, others should be able to see faith at work in your life, like you can see the wind at work in the trees. You can’t see the wind, but you can see the impact the wind is having.
Your faith is the same. It should be moving something. If it’s not moving you to do something – to take action – it’s a dead faith and faith won’t work if you don’t work it.
“God knows what you’re waiting on when he sees what you’re working on.” @SeekWisdomPCW
Positive Relationships Are Your Life Jacket
On your journey, there will undoubtedly come a time when you can’t swim anymore. If the only things around you are doubt and fear, it will become more difficult to stay afloat and those negative things will start to damage the resources and people around you.
Like our thoughts, our words have the ability to negatively or positively affect our environment.
“Words have power, and what we verbalize, we magnetize in our life.” 
What type of environment are you creating for yourself and other people with your words?
Growth Is Not Optional; It’s Required
I always encourage people to read books more than once because as we continue to grow, our perception changes. In other words, you’ll read something and it will sound completely different than when you read it before, and the reason for that is growth.
“Growth does not happen accidently. It’s you deciding to increase your potential and capacity to learn.” 
Visit https://couragemolina.org/ to find out more about Courage and her book Power Principles: Courageous Living.
Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions
And with that, let’s dig into Courage’s responses to our Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions.
Define Success:
“Success is pursuing your purpose.”
Define Wealth in 3 Words or Less:
“What you have right now.”
One Book that Has Redefined How You See Wealth:
“Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.”
Fill-in the Blanks … “My name is ___ and the truth about wealth is ___”:
“My name is Courage and the truth about wealth is not only is it our birthright, but it’s our obligation.”
LINKS:
To apply for Mastery and Momentum: http://www.masteryandmomentum.com
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com.
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Life After Financial Loss

One of the questions someone recently asked me was: What would you do today if you had to rebuild your life after a financial loss? And it got me thinking back to 2009 and my devastating bathroom floor moment. Now, if you’re new to Redefining Wealth, you might not know this story. So, let me quickly give you the gist.
First, thank you to Experian for sponsoring this episode. All thoughts and opinions are my own. To learn more about Experian Boost as mentioned in this episode, visit Experian.com/patrice.
Straight out of college, I built a 7-figure business. Then at the height of the recession, I went from making a million to scrounging for change in couch cushions, old purses – any and everywhere possible. Fortunately, though I was able to pick my life back up and rebuild everything. And if I had to do it again, I’d use the same tangible things we talk about on today’s podcast.
Give Yourself Grace
I know for many people who find themselves in financial despair, it can leave them ashamed, embarrassed and downright depressed. I know for me, when I lost everything, we’re talking foreclosure, repossession and creditors calling left and right, I felt guilty and ashamed and I beat myself up about the situation – wondering how could I have let this happen.
You see, it’s so easy to fall into that beat-up mindset, BUT I want you to remember (and tweet) this vital point:
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Now, a big part of Redefining Wealth is the Faith Pillar, and one thing that it has taught me is this:
[spp-tweet tweet="[bctt tweet="“Nothing in life happened to me; instead, it happened for me.” – Patrice Washington" username="seekwisdompcw"]
I want you to remember these two things and show yourself some grace. Yes, take personal responsibility and acknowledge what you could have done differently, but drop the shame and beat-up mindset because they’ll not serve you well at all.
Instead, get curious. Think about what you could do differently in the future. What changes would you make? What might you notice sooner?
Commit to a Plan
One of the first things I remember doing in 2009 when everything was falling apart was to refocus and reflect on my goals at that moment. Not what they were back when I was making 7-figures, but what they were in that moment of financial scarcity.
This approach is similar to the concept “So What, Now What” from my book Real Money Answers for Every Woman – meaning, “Okay, so this has happened, what are you going to do NOW?”
In creating and committing to a plan, it’s essential to get clear on the “now” piece. What can I do now? What are my goals now? What is the next best step I can take now? What is my “why” now? The other part of this approach is having a why – a reason for working through your situation.
The best advice I can give is to take it step-by-step and write everything down. What is your first goal? Is it to downsize and move into a smaller space? Is it to figure out your car situation? Is it to look at your budget? What is the new normal you’re willing to embrace? And what is the plan that goes along with that?
In other words, for you to take your next best step, what do you need to do? Who do you need to call? Where do you need to go? What do you need to sacrifice?
Add a Boost to Your Credit
If you’re like many people, when you’re in a financial struggle, you avoid opening your mail, you stop answering the phone, and you likely avoid checking your credit report.
Now, dodging your credit report is one of the worst things you can do. Why? Because credit is weaved into so much of your life  – many opportunities you’ll have (or won’t have) are directly linked to your credit.
Hill Harper, brand ambassador of the credit bureau, Experian, says this:
[spp-tweet tweet="[bctt tweet="“The most important thing you can do is pay your bills on time and not take on too much debt.” – Hill Harper" username="seekwisdompcw"]
Experian Boost is something I wish was around 10 years ago. It works by giving your credit a boost when you pay your household bills such as utility bills, cell phone bill, cable bill and others on time, every time.  
Until now, things like the electric, gas, water, cell phone, cable bills haven’t affected your credit score. But now that they can, you’ll have the chance to boost your score instantly with every on-time payment.
While results will vary, if you’ve been through a lot and you want to have something that allows you to feel like you’re making progress, take advantage of Experian Boost by visiting Experian.com/patrice and get your quick win!
Seek Support Sooner Rather than Later
For me, the worst part of my financial trouble was the sense of loneliness. I felt I couldn’t tell anyone because of guilt and shame. I also felt people wouldn’t understand or respect me anymore.
I felt alone and waited until my back was up against the wall before getting any help. It wasn’t until I was crying on the bathroom floor that I reached for my Bible and landed on Proverbs 17:16, “What good is money in the hands of a fool if they have no desire to seek wisdom?
That was when it occurred to me: I’d been good at chasing money, but I had no idea how to ask for help.
Once I opened up to the possibilities that were out there and asked for help, I realized the variety of resources available – and that was 10 years ago.
Today, there are thousands of resources available at your fingertips. It’s literally that easy to find support, and I recommend doing it sooner rather than later because another minute spent trying to work through your struggles alone is another minute lost.
LINKS:
To advertise on the podcast: http://www.patricewashington.com/podcastads
Become an Official Purpose Chaser: http://www.iamapurposechaser.com
Join Patrice’s Pod Club: http://www.patricespodclub.com
To check out ALL of our past guests + episodes: http://www.patricewashington.com/Listen
If you have questions about booking Patrice or sponsoring the podcast, email us at info@seekwisdomfindwealth.com.
Find me in Social Media:
Our podcast hashtag is #RedefiningWealth
Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW
Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW
Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW
YouTube: @SeekWisdomPCW

Brooke Thomas: Bring It To The Surface

Have you ever thought, I’m sweeping too much of who I am under the rug so that other people will like me or continue to like me? As a people pleaser through and through, you want to be loved, to be appreciated, to be needed. But at what cost? Join me as I sit down with motivational speaker, author and Live Out Loud founder Brooke Thomas.
 
In this episode, Brooke explains that in order to heal past wounds and live fully in your purpose, you’re going to have to bring something to the surface. We cover everything from Brooke’s cancer diagnosis and the changes she had to make to the life she lives now and how she shows up daily for her community.
 
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About Brooke Thomas
 
At 26 years old, newly married and in the first trimester of her first pregnancy, Brooke was diagnosed with stage-three melanoma. Doctors discovered the spot at an OB-GYN appointment and told Brooke the best option was to abort the baby and have chemotherapy.
 
That wasn’t an option for Brooke. Instead, she opted to have the melanoma surgically removed—without anesthesia. After the procedure, she ended up with 50 stitches and an awful scar that looked like she’d been attacked by a shark.
After her daughter was born, Brooke started to deal with her diagnosis and what it meant for her future. She knew she wanted to be a healthy mom and decided to dig into health and nutrition to really understand what “being healthy” meant.
 
For years, she became a student of healthy living—immersed in researching cancer, health and nutrition and the connection between them. Eventually, Brooke began doing monthly wellness segments for a local NBC affiliate, and began speaking at major schools, hospitals and Fortune 500 corporations.
 
“My cancer diagnosis shaped my heart into a more compassionate person and taught me how to manage stress effectively. As I grew stronger in following my purpose, I stepped into leading a team of women.” – Brooke Thomas
 
Now, a motivational speaker, author of the Thankful 30 recipe book series, and the CEO of Live Out Loud, Brooke helps women pursue their purpose with confidence. She runs a thriving online community with regular trainings on mindset, leadership and creating authentic relationships, and hosts high-level masterminds, live events and group coaching programs.
 
When the Questions Bubble Up
 
For many of us, something happens in our life—like it did for Brooke with her cancer diagnosis—where we start to ask ourselves, “Why am I doing this or that? What am I not paying attention to? What is my core purpose?”
 
The first pillar of wealth is all about becoming your best self and paying attention to your mental and physical well-being.
 
I know from Brooke’s story that she’d been scratching what she’d thought was a bug bite for months. She couldn’t see it because of where it was located on her body, but it continued to itch. After discovering that it was melanoma, she asked, “What else haven’t I been paying attention to?”
 
As women, we wear many hats and take on so much responsibility that it can actually be to our own detriment. We’re people pleasers and often the cog in the wheel that keeps everybody and everything going, but when we’re not taking care of ourselves or paying attention to the signs, the consequences are much bigger than we think.
 
“I feel like that’s what happened to me in all areas of my life. I remember thinking, ‘Hey, can we just deal with this after the baby is born?’” – Brooke Thomas
 
For Brooke, it was like a beach ball that she was trying to push under the water—and not just her cancer diagnosis—but parts of her childhood and relationships, too.
 
“God showed me in my moment of pain and darkness that there is light and that I wasn’t meant to live in fear of people or fear of anything—that the light overshadows the darkness. It took a cancer diagnosis and scratching what I thought was a bug bite, to remind me of all the things I had pretended were okay.” – Brooke Thomas
 
Show Up at the Highest Level
 
“When women show up full of love, ready to fully support one another, there’s no rivalry between them. Each has her own unique gifts. I want to be surrounded by women like that.” – Brooke Thomas
 
I love this and see it too in my mastermind group – Mastery + Momentum. I’m so impressed by the women in that group and all that I learn from them, even though I’m the group leader. All I can say is that to be a container for women to come together and bring things to the surface is incredible, and the level of healing that happens is unbelievable.
 
All the wisdom I get from my mastermind participants, makes me wonder what Brooke teaches and receives from her Elite Mastermind. One of the best bits is that each morning she decides how she’s going to show up for the day and how she wants to be showing up. Brooke doesn’t let her emotions run her calendar because when they do, they stop her from showing up the way she wants to.
 
Visit https://www.brookethomas.com/ to find out more about Brooke and her Elite Mastermind.
 
Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions
 
And with that, let’s dig into Brooke’s responses to our Redefining Wealth Rapid Wisdom Questions.
 
Define Success:
“Freedom. Freedom to really show up fully you and live the life that you want, fully.”
 
Define Wealth in 3 Words or Less:
“Emotional abundance.”
 
One Book that Has Redefined How You See Wealth:
“Without Rival by Lisa Bevere. I believe to create wealth – emotional or monetary – you can’t live in rivalry or in comparison with other people.”
 
Fill-in the Blanks … “My name is ___ and the truth about wealth is ___”:
“My name is Brooke and the truth about wealth is it’s possible for everybody.”
 
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