The Connection Between Self-Care and Financial Empowerment for Women

Women are often faced with numerous challenges when it comes to achieving financial empowerment. However, one important aspect that is often overlooked is the connection between self-care and financial empowerment. 

In this article, we'll explore the connection between self-care and financial empowerment and provide tips on how women can use self-care to achieve their financial goals.

What is self-care?

Self-care refers to the practice of taking care of one's physical, emotional, and mental health. It involves setting aside time to engage in activities that promote relaxation, stress relief, and overall well-being. Self-care can take many forms, such as getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, practicing mindfulness, or indulging in a favorite hobby.

How self-care and financial empowerment are connected

Self-care and financial empowerment are intimately connected. When women prioritize self-care, they are better able to manage stress and anxiety, which can have a positive impact on their financial well-being. For example, chronic stress can lead to poor decision-making, impulsive purchases, and credit card debt. By prioritizing self-care and reducing stress, women can make more thoughtful financial decisions and avoid financial pitfalls.

Self-care can also help women to develop the confidence and resilience necessary for achieving financial empowerment. By taking care of their physical and emotional health, women can feel more empowered to take charge of their finances and pursue their financial goals. Additionally, practicing self-care can help women to develop the discipline and self-control necessary for effective financial management.

Tips for incorporating self-care into your financial plan

If you're looking to incorporate self-care into your financial plan, here are some tips to get you started:

Prioritize sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential for overall well-being and can help you to manage stress and make better financial decisions.

Find a physical activity that you enjoy: Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and improve mood. Find a physical activity that you enjoy, such as yoga, dancing, or hiking, and make it a regular part of your self-care routine.

Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing, can help you to reduce stress and anxiety and stay focused on your financial goals.

Set aside time for relaxation: Schedule time in your calendar for relaxation activities, such as reading a book, taking a bubble bath, or enjoying a cup of tea.

Connect with others: Building a supportive community can help you to manage stress and stay motivated. Join womenflix.org to connect with other women who are also working towards financial empowerment.

In conclusion, self-care is an essential component of achieving financial empowerment for women. By prioritizing self-care, women can reduce stress and anxiety, develop the confidence and resilience necessary for effective financial management, and stay motivated to pursue their financial goals. 

At womenflix.org, we are committed to providing a supportive community where women can connect, learn, and grow. Join us today to access a wealth of resources on self-care, financial planning, and personal growth. 

Together, we can empower women to take charge of their financial futures and achieve their dreams.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

Creating a Financial Plan: Steps for Women to Take Control of Their Finances

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Financial planning is an important aspect of achieving financial security and independence. However, many women may feel intimidated or overwhelmed when it comes to creating a financial plan. In this article, we'll outline the steps that women can take to create a financial plan and take control of their finances.

Step 1: Define your financial goals

The first step in creating a financial plan is to define your financial goals. What do you want to achieve financially in the short-term and long-term? Do you want to save for a down payment on a house, pay off debt, or start a business? It's important to have specific, measurable goals so that you can track your progress and stay motivated.

Step 2: Evaluate your current financial situation

Next, evaluate your current financial situation. This includes taking stock of your income, expenses, debts, and assets. You may want to create a budget to help you better understand your cash flow and identify areas where you can cut expenses or increase income. It's also important to review your credit report to ensure that there are no errors or fraudulent accounts.

Step 3: Develop a financial plan

Once you have defined your financial goals and evaluated your current situation, it's time to develop a financial plan. This plan should outline the steps you need to take to achieve your goals, including a timeline and specific action items. For example, if your goal is to save for a down payment on a house, your plan may include increasing your income, reducing expenses, and investing in a high-yield savings account.

Step 4: Implement your financial plan

The next step is to implement your financial plan. This may involve making lifestyle changes, such as reducing your expenses or taking on a side hustle, as well as making strategic investments, such as contributing to a retirement account or investing in stocks. It's important to stay committed to your plan and track your progress along the way.

Step 5: Review and adjust your financial plan

Finally, it's important to regularly review and adjust your financial plan as needed. Life circumstances may change, such as a job loss or unexpected expenses, and your plan may need to be revised accordingly. It's also important to celebrate your successes along the way and adjust your goals as you achieve them.

In conclusion, creating a financial plan is an important step towards achieving financial security and independence. By defining your financial goals, evaluating your current situation, developing a plan, implementing your plan, and reviewing and adjusting as needed, women can take control of their finances and achieve their dreams.

At womenflix.org, we are committed to providing a safe and supportive community where women can connect, learn, and grow. Join us today to access a wealth of resources on financial planning, career development, and personal growth. Together, we can empower women to take control of their financial futures and achieve their goals.

Remember, financial planning is a process, and it's never too late to start. By taking control of your finances today, you can create a brighter future for yourself and your family.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

The Role of Confidence in Financial Empowerment

Financial empowerment is the ability to make informed decisions about your finances and take control of your financial future. 

It is an essential component of overall empowerment, as financial security can provide a sense of stability and control over one's life. However, achieving financial empowerment can be challenging, and one key factor that can play a significant role in this is confidence.

Confidence is an important aspect of financial empowerment as it allows individuals to make informed decisions about their finances without fear or hesitation. It is the belief in oneself and one's abilities to achieve a specific goal or task. Confidence is especially crucial for women, who historically have been disadvantaged in the workforce and face systemic barriers to achieving financial stability.

Research has shown that women are less confident than men when it comes to their financial knowledge and decision-making abilities. This lack of confidence can hold women back from taking risks, pursuing new opportunities, and making informed financial decisions. Without confidence, women may be less likely to negotiate for higher salaries, invest in the stock market, or start their own businesses, all of which can contribute to long-term financial security and empowerment.

So, what can be done to build confidence in financial decision-making? The first step is education. Knowledge is power, and when women have access to financial education, they can make informed decisions about their finances. This includes understanding basic financial concepts such as budgeting, saving, and investing, as well as more complex financial topics such as taxes and retirement planning.

The second step is to seek out role models and mentors who can provide guidance and support. By connecting with successful women in finance or business, women can learn from their experiences and gain valuable insights into the industry. Having a mentor can also provide a sense of accountability and motivation to pursue one's financial goals.

Finally, building confidence requires taking action. By taking small steps towards financial empowerment, such as setting a budget or opening a retirement account, women can gain momentum and build their confidence over time. Celebrating small wins along the way can also be an important motivator and reinforce the belief that financial empowerment is achievable.

In conclusion, confidence plays a vital role in financial empowerment, especially for women. By building financial knowledge, seeking out role models and mentors, and taking action towards financial goals, women can overcome their lack of confidence and achieve long-term financial security. 

Joining our community at womenflix.org where we can provide you additional resources and support for women on their journey towards financial empowerment.

At womenflix.org, we are committed to providing a safe and supportive community where women can connect, learn, and grow. Join us today to access a wealth of resources on financial empowerment, career development, and personal growth. Together, we can empower women to take control of their financial futures and achieve their dreams.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

Overcoming Financial Challenges: Tips for Women

Financial challenges can be a significant obstacle to achieving financial empowerment. From debt to unexpected expenses, women often face unique financial challenges that can make it difficult to achieve their financial goals. 

Here are some tips for overcoming financial challenges and achieving financial empowerment:

1. Create a Budget

Creating a budget is one of the most important steps you can take to overcome financial challenges. A budget helps you keep track of your income and expenses and ensures that you're living within your means. Start by listing all your sources of income and your monthly expenses. Then, allocate your income to cover your expenses and make sure you have some money left over for savings.

2. Build an Emergency Fund

Building an emergency fund is essential for overcoming financial challenges. An emergency fund is a savings account that you can use to cover unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or car repairs. Aim to save at least three to six months' worth of living expenses in your emergency fund.

3. Pay Off Debt

If you have debt, it's important to pay it off as soon as possible. Debt can be a significant burden on your finances, and it can prevent you from achieving your financial goals. Start by paying off high-interest debt, such as credit card debt, first.

At womenflix.org, we're committed to supporting women in their financial journeys. Our community offers a range of resources, including financial education, mentorship, and community support. Join our community today and start investing in yourself and building a strong financial foundation.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

Investing in Yourself: How to Build a Strong Financial Foundation

Investing in yourself is one of the best things you can do for your financial future. By developing your skills, education, and career, you can increase your earning potential and create more opportunities for financial success. 

Here's how to invest in yourself and build a strong financial foundation:

1. Develop Your Skills

Developing your skills is essential for increasing your earning potential and creating more opportunities for financial success. This means taking courses, attending workshops, and seeking out mentorship and guidance. By developing your skills, you can become more valuable to employers and increase your earning potential.

2. Pursue Education

Education is another important investment in yourself. Whether it's pursuing a degree or taking courses to develop new skills, education can help you increase your earning potential and create more opportunities for financial success. Consider pursuing education that aligns with your career goals and interests.

3. Build Your Network

Building your network is crucial for creating opportunities for financial success. This means networking with other professionals in your field, attending industry events, and seeking out mentorship and guidance. By building your network, you can gain valuable insights, advice, and connections that can help you achieve your financial goals.

4. Take Care of Your Health

Taking care of your health is also essential for building a strong financial foundation. Poor health can lead to missed work, medical bills, and other financial challenges. By prioritizing your health, you can reduce your risk of financial setbacks and create more opportunities for financial success.

At womenflix.org, we're committed to supporting women in their financial journeys. Our community offers a range of resources, including financial education, mentorship, and community support. Join our community today and start investing in yourself and building a strong financial foundation. 

Together, we can create a more equitable and empowered future for women. Slots are available for joining our community at womenflix.org.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

The Importance of Financial Education for Women

Financial education is essential for achieving financial empowerment, yet many women lack the knowledge and skills needed to manage their finances effectively. From budgeting to investing, financial education can help women take control of their finances and achieve their financial goals. 

Here's why financial education is so important for women:

1. Closing the Gender Wealth Gap

The gender wealth gap is a significant issue that affects women's financial well-being. Women earn less than men on average and are more likely to work in low-paying jobs. Financial education can help women increase their earning potential, build wealth, and close the gender wealth gap.

2. Making Informed Financial Decisions

Financial education can help women make informed financial decisions. From understanding credit scores to choosing the right investments, financial education provides women with the knowledge and skills needed to make smart financial decisions.

3. Building Financial Confidence

Many women lack confidence when it comes to managing their finances. Financial education can help women build confidence by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to take control of their finances. With increased confidence, women are more likely to make smart financial decisions and achieve their financial goals.

4. Creating Financial Security

Financial education can also help women create financial security. By learning how to budget, save, and invest, women can build a strong financial foundation that will provide them with security and stability in the future.

At womenflix.org, we're committed to providing women with the financial education they need to achieve financial empowerment. Our "Build To Last Course" is designed to help women build a strong financial foundation and achieve their financial goals. 

Join our community today and start your journey towards financial empowerment. Together, we can create a more equitable and empowered future for women.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

From Scarcity to Abundance: How to Change Your Money Mindset

Your money mindset can have a significant impact on your financial success. If you have a scarcity mindset, you're more likely to struggle with money and feel like you never have enough. 

On the other hand, if you have an abundance mindset, you're more likely to attract wealth and create financial abundance. Here's how to change your money mindset from scarcity to abundance:

1. Identify Your Money Beliefs

The first step in changing your money mindset is to identify your money beliefs. These are the beliefs you have about money that shape your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Common money beliefs include "money is hard to come by," "money is the root of all evil," and "I'll never be rich." Once you identify your money beliefs, you can start to challenge and change them.

2. Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is a powerful tool for changing your money mindset. When you focus on what you're grateful for, you shift your focus from scarcity to abundance. Take time each day to reflect on what you're grateful for, whether it's your health, your relationships, or your financial situation. By practicing gratitude, you can attract more abundance into your life.

3. Visualize Your Financial Goals

Visualization is another powerful tool for changing your money mindset. Take time each day to visualize your financial goals, whether it's owning a home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably. Visualize yourself achieving your goals and feel the emotions associated with achieving them. By visualizing your financial goals, you can attract more abundance into your life.

4. Take Action

Finally, to change your money mindset, you need to take action. This means taking steps to improve your financial situation, whether it's creating a budget, paying off debt, or investing in your future. By taking action, you can create momentum towards achieving your financial goals and attract more abundance into your life.

At womenflix.org, we offer a range of resources to help you change your money mindset and achieve financial success. Our "Self-Made Wealth Course" is designed to help you cultivate an abundance mindset and take control of your finances. 

Join our community today and start your journey towards financial empowerment.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women and Financial Empowerment

For decades, women have been breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings in various fields. However, when it comes to financial empowerment, women still face significant challenges. From the gender pay gap to the lack of representation in leadership positions, women often have to work harder to achieve financial success. Here's how women can break the glass ceiling and achieve financial empowerment:

1. Advocate for Equal Pay

One of the biggest challenges women face in achieving financial empowerment is the gender pay gap. Women still earn less than men on average, which can have a significant impact on their financial well-being. To break the glass ceiling, women need to advocate for equal pay and demand fair compensation for their work.

2. Invest in Yourself

Investing in yourself is essential for achieving financial empowerment. This means taking the time to develop your skills, education, and career. By investing in yourself, you can increase your earning potential and create more opportunities for financial success.

3. Build a Support System

Having a support system is crucial for breaking the glass ceiling. This includes finding mentors, networking with other women, and seeking out resources and support. By building a support system, you can gain valuable insights, advice, and encouragement to help you achieve your financial goals.

4. Take Risks

Taking risks is essential for achieving financial empowerment. This means stepping outside your comfort zone, pursuing new opportunities, and taking calculated risks. By taking risks, you can create more opportunities for financial success and break through the glass ceiling.

At womenflix.org, we're committed to supporting women in their financial journeys. We offer a range of resources, including financial education, mentorship, and community support. 

Join our community today and start your journey towards breaking the glass ceiling and achieving financial empowerment. Together, we can create a more equitable and empowered future for women.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

The Power of Positive Thinking: How Your Mindset Affects Your Finances

Your mindset can have a significant impact on your finances. If you have a negative mindset, you're more likely to make poor financial decisions and struggle with money. On the other hand, if you have a positive mindset, you're more likely to make smart financial decisions and achieve financial success. Here's how your mindset affects your finances:

1. Your Thoughts Create Your Reality

Your thoughts have a powerful impact on your reality. If you constantly think negative thoughts about money, such as "I'll never be able to save enough" or "I'm not good with money," you're more likely to struggle with your finances. On the other hand, if you have a positive mindset and believe that you can achieve financial success, you're more likely to take action to make it happen.

2. Your Attitude Determines Your Actions

Your attitude towards money also affects your actions. If you have a negative attitude towards money, you're more likely to avoid dealing with your finances or make impulsive decisions. However, if you have a positive attitude towards money, you're more likely to take a proactive approach to managing your finances and make smart financial decisions.

3. Your Beliefs Shape Your Habits

Your beliefs about money can also shape your financial habits. If you believe that money is scarce and hard to come by, you're more likely to hoard your money and avoid taking risks. However, if you believe that money is abundant and that you can create wealth, you're more likely to take calculated risks and invest in your financial future.

In conclusion, your mindset plays a crucial role in your financial success. By cultivating a positive mindset and believing in your ability to achieve financial success, you can take control of your finances and create the life you want.

At womenflix.org, we're committed to supporting women in their financial journeys. We offer a range of resources, including financial education, mentorship, and community support. Join our community today and start your journey towards financial empowerment.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

5 Mindset Shifts for Financial Empowerment

Achieving financial empowerment is not just about having a good income or making smart investments. It's also about having the right mindset. Your mindset can either hold you back or propel you forward in your financial journey. Here are five mindset shifts that can help you achieve financial empowerment:

1. From Scarcity to Abundance One of the most important mindset shifts for financial empowerment is moving from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. A scarcity mindset is one that focuses on what you don't have, while an abundance mindset focuses on what you do have. When you have an abundance mindset, you're more likely to see opportunities for growth and abundance in your life. 

2. From Fear to Confidence Fear can be a major obstacle to financial empowerment. Fear of failure, fear of taking risks, and fear of the unknown can all hold you back from achieving your financial goals. To overcome fear, you need to cultivate confidence. Confidence comes from taking action, learning from your mistakes, and believing in yourself. 

3. From Consumer to Investor Another important mindset shift for financial empowerment is moving from a consumer mindset to an investor mindset. A consumer mindset is one that focuses on spending money on things that provide immediate gratification, while an investor mindset focuses on using money to create long-term wealth. When you have an investor mindset, you're more likely to make smart financial decisions that will benefit you in the long run. 

4. From Blame to Responsibility It's easy to blame external factors for your financial situation, such as the economy or your upbringing. However, blaming others will not help you achieve financial empowerment. Instead, you need to take responsibility for your financial situation. This means acknowledging your mistakes, learning from them, and taking action to improve your financial situation. 

5. From Short-Term to Long-Term Thinking Finally, to achieve financial empowerment, you need to shift from short-term thinking to long-term thinking. Short-term thinking focuses on immediate gratification, while long-term thinking focuses on creating a better future for yourself. When you have a long-term mindset, you're more likely to make smart financial decisions that will benefit you in the long run. 

In conclusion, achieving financial empowerment requires more than just financial knowledge and skills. It also requires the right mindset. By making these five mindset shifts, you can take control of your finances and achieve financial empowerment.

If you need support applying this 5 mindset shifts, join our community today and let's us help you out! 

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

Preparing Your Finances: Tips for a Secure Financial Future

Preparing Your Finances: Tips for a Secure Financial Future Managing your finances can be a daunting task, but it's an essential part of securing your financial future. Whether you're just starting out or looking to improve your financial situation, there are several steps you can take to prepare your finances. Here are some tips to help you get started:  

   1. Create a Budget The first step in preparing your finances is to create a budget. A budget is a plan that outlines your income and expenses. It helps you keep track of your spending and ensures that you're living within your means. To create a budget, start by listing all your sources of income and your monthly expenses. Then, allocate your income to cover your expenses and make sure you have some money left over for savings.

Here's the link  to my Financial Year Plan that can help you out. 

2. Build an Emergency Fund An emergency fund is a savings account that you can use to cover

unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or car repairs. It's important to have an emergency fund because it can help you avoid going into debt when unexpected expenses arise. Aim to save at least three to six months' worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. 3. Pay Off Debt If you have debt, it's important to pay it off as soon as possible. Debt can be a significant burden on your finances, and it can prevent you from achieving your financial goals. Start by paying off high-interest debt, such as credit card debt, first. Then, focus on paying off other debts, such as student loans or a mortgage. 4. Save for Retirement Saving for retirement is essential for a secure financial future. If your employer offers a retirement plan, such as a 401(k), make sure you're contributing enough to take advantage of any employer matching contributions. If you don't have access to a retirement plan, consider opening an individual retirement account (IRA). 5. Review Your Insurance Coverage Insurance is an important part of any financial plan. Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage, including health insurance, life insurance, and disability insurance. Review your policies regularly to ensure that your coverage is still appropriate for your needs. Preparing your finances takes time and effort, but it's worth it for a secure financial future. By following these tips, you can take control of your finances and achieve your financial goals. 

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital 
https://msha.ke/yolabastos/ 

How Abundance Works

Are you having problems about your finances? 

Do you often feel that you aren’t experiencing real success that you want in life? 

If so, you should establish an absolute and strong connection and relationship with your ‘higher self’ – your ‘true self’. With this, you will automatically experience better and more success and abundance in life. Your ‘higher self’ is the ‘real you’, and its nature is real abundance.

Your ‘higher self’ is connected with a stream of success and abundance as well as with the light that flows constantly from the spirit/universal. But the dilemma with so many people is that they considerably narrow down the path where abundance flows into their lives. And this is so because of their limiting and false beliefs and perceptions, negative momentum, bad habits, etc.

When you take the essential steps of reuniting with your higher self, you will be able to find the abundance valve is opening bigger and bigger allowing more and more abundance to flow into life!

The Abundance Channel

In order to have a much better visualization of that abundance energy stream, which constantly pours from the ‘universal’ through your ‘higher self’ consider it as a huge golden channel that offers radiant energy fully flowing into your life. Eliminate all limiting and false beliefs, your false perceptions, negative energies, and limiting thoughts that you have engaged yourself in. They don’t only limit the abundance flow in life, but they also hinders your connection with the real you.

Increase The Flow Of Success And Abundance In Life

If you discover and do something to overcome all the limiting beliefs, negative momentums, and bad habits, you’ll be able to strip yourself away from all the things that hinder abundance to flow into your life. In addition to that, cultivating your positive momentum such as peace, harmony, and joy will further and better dissolve more negativity and will strengthen and enhance your connection to your real self.

Your ‘Real self’ knows exactly how you can be successful in life! Once you’re closely connected and reunited with your Higher self, that will unerringly assist and guide you ever step of the way to have the abundance and success your seek. This also includes guiding you to the fulfillment of your life’s mission and purpose,which will offer you greater fulfillment and will give you a much meaningful life.

As you go on with your life’s journey, getting rid of those limiting beliefs, you’ll find a whole new life ahead of you – a changed life in so many wonderful ways! Yes, there is an actually lot of works that needs to be performed, but taking the right step at the right time will reward you with continuous prosperity, success, and abundance!

Real wealth does not just relate with your current financial situation. Real wealth definitely includes a spirit of gratitude and abundance for the real riches in life. That’s what will make you really prosperous. This is how abundance really works in life.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital 
https://msha.ke/yolabastos/ 

Recognising Stressful Situations

A huge part of dealing with stressful situations and managing to be able to regain your state of calm when things start to go off course is recognising what an impending stressful situation looks like. Of course, this isn’t always going to be possible as some stressful situations in your life may be genuinely out of the blue, but for the most part, you will at least be able to notice when your stress levels begin to rise.

Noticing Your Stress

When you are starting to feel stressed out, you will notice your stress levels rising. You may feel nervous, agitated, sweaty, faint, or you may start to get a headache. Understanding the physical symptoms which you experience when you are stressed is key to noticing when your stress levels are rising, recognizing stressful situations, and getting everything back under control.

One of the worst mistakes that you can make is to try and ignore your stress and hope that it will go away – this will not work. In order to best manage and get control over the stressful thoughts and emotions, it’s absolutely essential to accept them before attempting to deal with them. Once you have noticed a stressful thought, it is easier pin down the cause of your stress in your attempt to deal with it.

How to Manage Stressful Thoughts

However important the ability to notice stressful and anxious thoughts may be, it’s a useless skill if you do not know how to deal with and manage these thoughts once you have dealt with them. There are a multitude of different ways in which you could deal with stressful and worrisome thoughts and feelings, and it is really down to you finding out which coping techniques and methods work well for you.

Some common coping techniques include:

• Breathing techniques;


• Taking a break;


• Listening to music;


• Going outside;


• Taking a walk;


• Switching off your phone and other connected devices;


• Talking to somebody you trust, or


• Eating a healthy snack.

Of course, these are all different techniques, and whilst some may work great for others, they may not be what suits you. You may also find your own personal coping techniques which are not listed here. In the end, dealing with stressful thoughts, feelings and situations is all down to finding what works best for you and applying it when these situations arise.

Finding Your Techniques

When it comes to discovering which relaxation techniques for dealing with stress work well for you, it is absolutely vital to have patience with yourself. If you have never used any anxiety-busting or stress-busting techniques before, it can often take a while for you to discover which ones actually make a difference to you as compared to those which don’t work at all.

The key here is to try not to be disheartened if a certain technique doesn’t work for you – it’s OK, you can just try another one. You also need to be aware of the fact that relaxation and stress-busting techniques not working when you try them could make you feel even more stressed. However, once you have figured out what works well for you and know exactly when and how to use it, you will have made a huge step in controlling your stress levels and encouraging a life which is calm and collected.

Finding Your Stressors

We all have things in our lives that stress us out more than others. Understanding what causes you to feel the most stressed out is absolutely vital to taking control of your life and your stress levels. When you’re stressed about something but not quite sure why, it can make you feel even more stressed – some people end up in situations where they are stressing about their own levels of stress, further intensifying the condition.

Being able to pinpoint your stressors in life not only means that it is easier for you to know what to avoid in order to keep stress at bay, but it can also help you stay in control as you will be able to better prepare ahead for most situations which include your particular stressors. Discovering what stresses you out the most is all about being totally honest with yourself.When you are feeling particularly anxious, you should ask yourself what it is that you are worried about.

Sometimes, you may find that small things which would not usually worry you are stressing you out if this is happening, you need to understand that it is usually the result of a knock-on-effect from other stressors, perhaps over an extended period of time. It can be helpful to enlist the services of a therapist when dealing with your stressors, especially if you suffer from a lot of stress which is related to a traumatic past experience.

Being In Control

The key to a life which is calm and has minimal stress is to be in control of it at all times. Staying in control not only means being on top of thing such as your diet, finances, and lifestyle, but also your own thought processes and energy. Staying in control of your own mind by making sure that your body and mind is getting the right nutrition, adequate exercise, and little harm from bad lifestyle habits is absolutely important when it comes to achieving a life which is calm and relatively stress-free.

Understanding how to harness your thoughts is one of the main goals of managing stress and anxiety. Rather than allowing your thoughts to run away with you, being in control – both physically and mentally – means that you can catch stressful thoughts when they first appear and use a range of techniques to deal with them efficiently.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital 

https://msha.ke/yolabastos/ 

Six Core Success Rituals

Each area is important to create balance in your life. If you ignore one of the six core areas of success, then, you will not be able to function at your best. You will have a sense of lacking in your life and might even waste your time trying to fill the void with the wrong things.

The six core areas of success are listed below:
1. Physical Health – The emphasis can never be too much on how important it is to ensure you do all that is possible sustain your physical health. It is quite logically that one of two things will occur if you do not maintain your physical health. It is either that you will have to spend your fortune on medications and doctors or you will be snatched to an early death due to some form of health issue. Exercise, eat healthily, get adequate sleep, and drink a lot of water can assist in keeping you healthy.

2. Emotions – Your emotions affect your mind. If you are mentally unhealthy or unstable, then you cannot make objective decisions. A decision that is made when someone is emotionally unstable can wreak havoc on your life and has the potential to become very drastic, which we have all either heard, read or experienced personally.

All the six core areas of success are correlated. Take for example, if something happens to trigger your emotions in a negative way – you are feeling sad, or you might be angry - you can always exercise to calm yourself down. It is not only your negative emotions that you need to learn to control because if you are too excited or happy, but you can also make a wrong decision. For example, if you are overzealous you might spend money on things which you do not need, and that money could have been invested in something that will increase your income. Life is about creating the right balance in everything you do.

3. Relationships – Your relationships can affect your health and your emotions. A toxic relationship will leave you with feelings of despair and anger. Unhappiness and rage can lead to depression. Depression will affect your progress, either by you losing time to work, or by you making decisions, which will ultimately result in failure.

The benefit of good relationships will create heaven for you on earth. The world in your eyes is at peace because your heart is full of love, and your mind will have its cover made from thoughts of joy. You will function better. You will be more eager to get up in the mornings because you are grateful for another day to be with the ones you love.

Examine your relationships, and see how they are impacting your life. If being around someone makes you feel burdened, or you feel as if that person is pulling all your hope, and joy out of you, then that is a toxic connection. You need to disconnect from that person. Relationships that motivate you to become better or the ones that help your ideas sparkle are what you need in your life.

4. Career or Business – Observing the attitude people display at their place of work can always tell who loves their job from who do not. If you are not in the job or business which makes you feel that this is what you were born to do, then you might be in the wrong field. Your career or business must leave you feeling fulfill no matter the obstacles you face daily. The belief that the world could not exist without you doing that business or career find its resting place in your mind and heart. When in the right field, it will be easier to keep focus, and because of the passion you have for your career or business, failure cannot convince you to quit.

5. Finances – “Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it’s reasonably close to oxygen on the “gotta have it” scale.” – Zig Ziglar
Wealthy and happy is all of us heart’s desire. However, if you want to be wealthy, it might take years of hard work to become rich, but it only takes a minute with a bad investment, which will result in you losing all your money. If you do not have money, it might make you unhappy because you cannot buy the things you need to support yourself or family. Not having money can also prevent you from investing in your career or business.

However, you can have money and still not be happy, because there is unbalance in one of the other five core areas of success. Never spend money on things just because you want to impress others. That is definitely not a ritual of successful individuals. The wealthiest people live humble lives.

For example, Bill Gates has topped various billionaire lists for years. He can afford his own private jet. Bill Gates is known to comfortably sit in the economy class on airplanes when he is traveling.

Warren Buffett, with all his billions, is very much content in his home, which he bought for less than forty thousand dollars many years’ ago. He also still makes his billion dollar transaction discussion on his flip phone, which he has not replaced for any of the high-tech cellular phones that are available today.

They give back a portion of their wealth to various charitable organizations. Sometimes it is a charity that they have started or one that is already in operation. Even after death, the richest individuals are sharing their fortune. A lot of affluent individuals are willing their fortunate to charities. Melinda Gates and Bill Gates have a grant-making foundation where they give away billions to different charities around the world. They have also encouraged other billionaires to donate some of their fortunes to the less fortunate.

You must also adopt this principle of giving back to the less fortunate. Just as how you will start practicing the other success rituals, this is one habit you must also develop. Allocate whatever you can afford to charity now, and as your wealth increases, then, you increase the portion for charity as well.

6. Spirituality - No matter what your religion preference may be, spirituality is an important aspect of spiritual success. Spirituality can be found all around you, from the time you spend in nature, to meditation, to your religious practices. Spirituality has the ability to ground you and keep you close to both your own personal feelings and help you work through anxiety and emotion which will enable you to make sound and important judgments. Choose a spiritual ritual for yourself and stick with it each and every day.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital 
https://msha.ke/yolabastos/ 

Managing Your Finances and All that it Takes

People can be classified into two – the spenders and the savers. 

Of course there are stereotypes cast for both extremes. 

The spenders would use up all of their income (and even beyond their income by using credit cards) in order to buy everything they want. You know a person is a spender if their first instinct when they receive their salary or a bonus is to go shopping. On the other end of the spectrum are the savers, who sometimes have the unfortunate reputation of being misers.

Wise financial managers are somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. Of course, it doesn't make sense to just save up every single dime you have and forego pleasures you can afford such as a simple vacation simply for the sake of saving. It also doesn't pay to spend every single dime as if the fate of the world depends on your shopping habits. 

The best approach when it comes to money is to save a little and spend a little. You ve probably heard your grandmother remonstrate you with this adage when she found out you bought a flashy car. In today's materialistic world, you are bombarded with commercials that tell you to buy this and buy that, regardless of whether you need an item or not. This is the reason why some people are living beyond their means – they just have to buy the newest gadgets obsessively, even if they can't afford it.

In order to buy these items, they resort to using their credit cards or even taking out a loan without considering if they can manage the monthly payment. If you can use a credit card wisely, you have one of the tools for effective financial management. However, you need to show real discipline to be able to handle credit cards. This is because a credit card in your pocket is an ever-present temptation when you go shopping. After all, you can buy just about anything within your credit limit.

Ideally, you should pay the entire outstanding balance per month to avoid finance charges. If you can t, you must remember to set a personal limit as to the amount of credit card debt that you want to have. Most experts recommend an amount equivalent to your one month salary at the most. 

This will ensure that you won't have an impossible time paying for your bills if you ever have to leave your work.

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital 

https://msha.ke/yolabastos/ 

Mindset and Wealth: How to Grow Your Wealth

Can you really ‘think yourself rich’? I’m here to tell you that it is not only possible, but that it is also actually the best chance you have of making a lot of money. Many of us dream of living in a large luxurious house in a sunny country, we imagine wearing smart suits that exude power and confidence and we wish that we didn’t have to make so many hard choices because our funds can’t support the lifestyles we want to lead.

If that sounds familiar, then you need to make a change. And as with ALL things, that change starts with you and your mindset. If you want to be wealthy, then what are you doing about it? 

And is there any chance that you may, in fact, be going about it the wrong way?

Wealth and Your Career

Ask the average person in the street what they would hypothetically need to do in order to become richer and 99% of them will tell you the same thing: get a better job. Okay, fair enough. They are not wrong per say. Indeed, getting a better job won’t hurt their income and that in turn will likely mean they get richer at least a little.

But in fact, this is not the whole story. And what’s more, is that this isn’t even the main part of the story. Wealth and salary are not inextricably linked. They are related sure, but only to a small degree. If you wanted to see an equation telling you how to get wealthy, then it would really look like this:

Wealth = Income – Outgoings
So, let’s say that your income is determined solely by the amount of money you are making at work. Even in that scenario, you still have another, equally as important factor. That is your outgoings. If you earning a cool million dollars a month but you also waste a million dollars a month of lavish holidays and on nights out and clothes, then you are ultimately not going to be very well off. Rather, you’re likely to lose money over time.

But if you are earning a more normal $2500 a month but you only spend $500, then suddenly you are saving $2000 per month. In 12 months, you’ll have $24,000 saved away. That’s a decent down payment on a house! So, you now have two options. Two ways to get richer. One is that you seek to get a better job and increase your income and the other is that you save more money and spend less.

How to Spend Less

When I was at university, my summer job was working at a yacht club. Specifically, I was a waiter in one of the restaurants there that was actually paid for and owned by the clientele of the club. The club was located in Sandbanks, England – an area that is also sometimes referred to as ‘millionaire’s row’ because it has among the most expensive real estate in the world along the seafront.

So, these are people who own yachts and who belong to a club that is situated in one of the wealthiest parts of the world. Suffice to say that they were not struggling for cash. And of course, what many people would point out to me is that this should likely result in pretty big tips!

Except that’s not what happened. In fact, I received some of the worst tips I have in any job. I had a lady call me over to secretively give me 20p (around 30cents) for my hard work. She literally told me to buy myself something nice. And this is bearing in mind that it is standard practice in England to tip 10%. The meals usually cost close to $150.
I told my Mum this and her response was: how do you think they got rich, dear?

Makes sense
Look, I’m not here to tell you you should become stingy with tips. But what I am telling you is that the wealthiest people recognize that every little bit adds up and makes a very big difference in the long run. Your aim now is not to fritter. That $3 coffee you have every morning on the way to work is actually $15 over the course of a week. $60 over a course of a month and $720 over the course of the year.

That is a tiny amount and that’s before we have even considered all those other things you likely pay for that you don’t really need. Maybe your Spotify account, Netflix, 100+ TV Channels, gas for the car for all those trips you don’t really need to make. It adds up. Worse are all those larger purchases we make on an impulse.

These are things like clothes that we think will make us look smart, games consoles, PCs, overly advanced phones. How much did your phone cost you? If you’re on a contract, then chances are you’ll be paying $700 or more for it. Now ask yourself how much more that phone really does than something for $300. Do you really need the fastest processor around? Considering that even an old phone can play everything in the app store?

Do you really need a 30 megapixel camera? Or a 4K screen? Can you even see the difference between 4K and 1080p?The real problem here is marketing, the internet and other people. We have unfortunately been conditioned to associate these items with success and to find them highly desirable. We want to get the latest phone, car, computer etc. because it looks so sexy in those adverts. But the reality is that these things don’t really bring us happiness.

Likewise, we are told that we need to buy a large house, go on lavish holidays. Is this really for us? Or is it so that we can look successful to others? I’m not telling you to cut back on all the things that make you happy here. There is no point in having wealth if you aren’t going to enjoy it and have a better quality of life for you and your family.

All I’m telling you is to make sure you are certain of what it is that does make you happy. And that often means deciding what you don’t need and what you should be prioritizing. Have you always dreamed of a beautiful big house? Then why not stop going on those big holidays for a while? Why not stop buying widescreen TVs? And how about considering getting that big beautiful house in a less expensive area?

Heck, if you move to Spain, then there are places where you can live in a five bedroom home with swimming pool and roof pool and it will only cost you $200,000. You could almost buy that in cash and think about how much money you would start making then once there was no mortgage!

Conversely, if all you want is to travel the world, then you can change your accommodation to something less glamorous. How about moving to quiet neighborhood and living in a spare bedroom for a while?  Your outgoings will be low, so you can enjoy going on more holidays and still save up that wealth. Know what you want to achieve with that money. Know what wealth means to you and then you can focus on being more efficient with your money.

Financial Modelling

This will also help you to set up a budget and/or a plan. If you know how much you have coming in and how much you’d like to be making per month, saving per month and spending on things that make you feel wealthy per month, then you can create a budget that will help you to reach that point within a specific timeframe. This then is where you can look at those small things you can cut out to save money.

If you have a spreadsheet that contains all your income and all your outgoings per month, then you can look at what kind of impact cutting coffee from your routine would actually make. You’ll be left with a total profit at the end of each month and you can decide how much of that you want to put into savings and how much you intend to spend on other things.

You can even set up standing orders in your accounts so that money saved automatically gets transferred to a savings account. With such a spreadsheet, you can then multiply the savings you are making by any given number of months and see projections of what your finances are likely to be at certain points in the future. Need more money for an upcoming expense?

Then look at something else you can do to cut your expenditure. This is called ‘financial modelling’ and it’s a powerful tool for building your wealth rather than just letting it ‘happen’ without your direction or input.

A Couple More Ways to Save Money

And what if you have run out of things you can cut in order to save money? What if you are living on as little as possible? A few other options include changing your providers for bills, selling off old items, or even moving money between accounts in order to receive bonuses. A friend of mine does this religiously and will even take out credit cards with 0%APR, just so that he can put all of that money into an ISA and then make profit on it.

If he gets a cash incentive to signing up for anything then he will sign up! And he never buys a new piece of tech or even clothing without taking one of the older items to sell and thereby offset the cost. Something else to note is that if you have a dream of a wealthy future, then you might need to ‘be okay’ with living a little more simply for a while in order to get there.

You need to put the work in now, to reap the rewards in the future. And this is hard because it often once again means forgetting the conventional signals of wealth and success. Once again, you have to do this for you and not be worried about what others might think. So for example, if you want to someday have a beautiful home, one of the very best things you can do is to live with your parents if they will let you.

Sure, it’s not glamorous and it’s not fun, but if they charge a small amount of rent you’ll be able to save so much per month that it will help you to get on the property ladder MUCH faster. You could then buy a smaller home in a less attractive area but flip the property to make a big profit. You need to put in the graft and have an eye on the future.

Likewise, you might need to learn to stop trying to demonstrate your wealth and stability to friends. Have you ever met up with a friend and eaten in a restaurant that you can’t really afford because you want to see them and because it is embarrassing to suggest eating somewhere cheaper? As you can imagine, this isn’t exactly conducive to getting wealthy quickly! Again, you need to be willing to tell them that you can’t afford it and to go elsewhere.

How about you suggest they meet you at your house?

Setting Up Revenue Streams

Next come the revenue streams. We’ve seen how you can actually become richer without changing your job, simply by spending less. The other strategy is to become wealthier by having more than one income stream. Once again, your salary isn’t determining your wealth! So, what might this mean? One simple option is to take on another job, such as a weekend job.

If you are happy to work on a Saturday, then you will have potentially $150 extra to spend each week! That’s $600 per month or $7,200 per year! Save that and in a couple of years, you can be living in a nice house – or you can use it right now to feel that bit wealthier and wear those fancy clothes. This is a big sacrifice though granted. So, what would be better for most people would be to earn money online for instance.

Tim Ferriss describes creating a ‘muse’ in his book The Four Hour Workweek, which is a small online business that generates a passive income. This can be as simple as finding an affiliate product (a product that you sell for commission) and making a simple website recommending it, then sending people there with ads. This is very low maintenance but can potentially make a fair amount of money.

You could try matched betting alternatively (a form of betting that ensures you can’t lose – it uses only the free bonus amounts that you get given for signing up) or you could look for a simple online job. How about selling photography online? Working as a writer or a web designer? Or, like a friend of mine, try commentating on sports for websites?

You can also make money from arts and crafts of course and sell some things you make on the side, or you can buy and sell items in bulk on eBay! Then there are the other options that work offline: these include such things as renting out rooms to students, such as mowing the neighbor’s lawn, cutting hair, teaching an instrument etc.
All these options will help you to make an income that will be additional to your current income.

Not only does this of course give you a better total, but it will also help to make you more ‘resilient’ so that if anything ever happens with your main job, you’ll of course still have some money coming in. Another tip? The more you make, the more you’ll make. Try to look for investment opportunities, whether that means buying a second house and letting it out to someone else, or whether it means moving to an area that you know is up and coming.

A strange thing to think of here is board games. If you’ve ever played Monopoly, or any other game where you have to amass a kind of resource, then you might have found that it pays to invest wisely early on. To get the card that will pay out just a little bit every round, or that will prevent you from losing a little bit every round.

These seem like small changes in the short term but over the course of the game, they ultimately put you in a position of great power and help you to win decisively! It's the same in real life. Make a few right choices that will build up over time. Know what you want. Be patient. And avoid the temptation to splurge on the short-term gratification. That is how you get into a wealthy mindset!

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix and Founder of Beautifly Digital https://msha.ke/yolabastos/ Women Flix, Supporting Women all the way to Success! Women Flix Limited, is a company limited by guarantee, was incorporated in England and Wales (company no. 13047578 ).