Why I Celebrated After Getting an Unexpected Bill

I watch the news regularly and am mostly up to date on any financial legislation that I should know about. So I was well aware that changes in the new tax code would likely mean that we would owe more come April 15.

But I didn’t realize we would owe that much more.

Without divulging all of our personal finances here, I was taken aback by the whopping number that I saw from my accountant. Logically, I was prepared to pay more and had done a rough estimation in my head. But until I saw the actual amount and it was time to write that check, it didn’t quite hit me.

But then again, money can be like that…

Yet this time, instead of letting it ruin my entire day (and year for that matter), I did this:

1. I allowed myself to panic for a brief moment (it was what I was feeling after all!)

2. Then I breathed and asked myself why I was panicking. What was I making the unexpected bill mean? (Here’s what came up: we can’t afford it, we’ll have to sacrifice, etc.)

3. Next I asked if any of the above were true, absolutely true. And I realized that each one was just a story, a thought, I was telling myself that was making me unhappy. So I changed the thought (e.g. of course we can afford it…we may just need to make slight adjustments here and there; hmm…how exactly am I defining “sacrifice?”– we may in fact be better off (taking less things for granted, more selective with our other spending, etc.)

4. When I wrote the check, I decided to bless it (yes, I know that sounds hokey but I did) and think about all the ways the money might be used to help make the world a better place.

BUT, not a fan of pure Polly-annism, and now feeling less panicky and more grateful, I then decided to TAKE ACTION:

5. I scheduled a meeting with our accountant so we could talk about possible strategies to lower the amount next year

6. I adjusted our budget to account for the unexpected amount (sorry, no dream vacation this summer but I also have more motivation to find ways to increase my income so it’s not on the backburner for long)

7. I scheduled a date in September to check on our progress and make any other final adjustments so we are more prepared come April 2015

8. Finally, I made sure to breath again, express gratitude and celebrate all the other great things in my life by taking my dog out for a walk when I was done.

In general terms:

Step 1: Allow yourself to feel your feelings (even if it’s panic!)
Step 2: Ask yourself what story you are telling (about the circumstance) and if there is another thought that would make you feel better that could also be true
Step 3: Take action toward changing your circumstances if you don’t like them
Step 4: Express gratitude and celebrate/reward yourself after taking a step in the direction you want to go.

There you have it! Whether it’s taxes or another unexpected bill that shows up in your mailbox, addressing both your thoughts/feelings and then taking action (sometimes the opposite action of what you normally might do) can transform any less-than-ideal circumstance toward greater wealth and abundance.

What are some of your favorite ways to take action or change your thoughts around money? Post them below!