For many of my new clients in the U.S., getting their taxes done is one of the most stressful chores they face each year. However, after learning to coach themselves around taxes, they experience a sense of peace, empowerment and satisfaction.
Today, I'd like to share some of our self-coaching strategies for tax season. Try what feels good to you and ignore the rest. After all, what have you got to lose? Days of stress? An onerous chore? Teeth gnashing?
Before you go any further, get clear about how you want to FEEL while doing your taxes. Some of my clients want to feel abundant. Some strive to overcome their procrastination. I like to feel at Peace.
Once you've identified the FEELING, list 3 things that usually make you FEEL that way. Here's my list to help you get started:
1. watch my favorite movie (always puts me in a 'go with the flow' emotional state).
2. Visiting with my son or best friend.
3. Meditation.
These sound like rewards, don't they?
Well, that's exactly what they are.
Now, here's the really important part: REWARD your self before starting your taxes.
Yes, you read that right.
Reward your self first.
Here's why....
To do your taxes without getting stressed out, you have to move into a new state of BEing. One of the easiest ways to teach your body-emotions-thoughts a new state of BEing is to do something that will bring you into that state of BEing. That's usually something fun!
If you have always been stressed out when doing your taxes, your current state of BEing around taxes is, yep!... you guessed it, stressed out. That's the pattern your body-emotions-thoughts automatically go into when you do taxes. I'll bet your body-emotions-thoughts go into a stressed out state just thinking about doing your taxes!
So, this year, try a new pattern:
1. Choose how you want to FEEL while doing your taxes.
2. Make a list of 3-5 things that usually make you FEEL that way.
3. Reward yourself.
4. Set aside time to work for 30 minutes on your taxes right after the reward.
5. State an Intention to stay in the 'reward' FEELING as long as possible while working on your taxes.
6. As soon as you feel the reward FEELING draining away from you, stop working.
7. Repeat steps 3-5 over the next few days, as needed, until you've finished your taxes. As an added bonus, you'll have a new pattern of BEing for next year's taxes.
Wishing you a joy-filled tax season!
Carolyn
To learn how to Coach Your Self each day, join our Spiritual Cross-Training program, risk-free!
Posts
