Be Prudently Prepared
The hard truth is this: each path required the same steps of you:
A clear-eyed relationship with your MONEY, your personal economy.
Discernment about your material consumption.
An assessment of your skills, your aptitudes, your gifts shared with the collective—so you know the value you provide for both financial and communal generativity.
An intentional investment of your time in the valuable resource of community.
A commitment to articulate, then meet, your true needs and desires to live your most fulfilling life.
The ability to be nimble, resourceful, and wise in this time of persistent change—climate, political, personal.
A recalibration of and a deep trust in your own power to affect change—in your own life and the greater world.
May the above list helps you orient, and re-orient in this time of great change.
I've spent the past week post-election in a state of...disbelief, neutrality, steadiness, anger, and deep grief.
I was so hopeful that we were embarking on an era of progress and decency, including policies that could have provided both financial protection and opportunity, as 23 Nobel Prize economists agreed.
I've spoken with a dozen clients since whose lives will be directly impacted by the result of the election: from tariffs increasing the cost of everyday items... to spouses likely losing "stable" government jobs... to the prospect of US citizenship being revoked... to the medical benefits of loved ones being stripped away... to the high stakes of being pregnant in this new hellscape... to the potential of business drying up...
It's so much to digest. We are in the early days, and the reality is coming into focus (for some, a single vote too late).
It's easy to play to the fear, the worst case scenario, the apocalyptic nightmare.
But, our imaginations create worlds, and I refuse to relinquish my power this way.
With every breath you take there is creative possibility and generative potential. That's where your attention should always be.
Yet I also won't sugarcoat the very real reality we are entering.
The middle path, then, is to be prudently prepared (see below for ways to approach this).
We each have our own work to do at this time, and that work includes your very personal financial work. Perhaps work you have been putting off...now is the time.
Find the anchors that help hold you steady: Loved ones. Your trusted practices. Vigilant self-care. and, Financial Clarity.
Be Prudently Prepared
As you engage with this exercise, remember to pause often, taking care of yourself if you feel overwhelmed or too activated to stay present. There's time for this work, it's ok to go slowly with it...
Take a moment and focus on the specific fears that may be swirling in your mind from the proposed political agenda's impact on your personal financial life.
Often the simple act of naming, and drawing a circle around, your fears helps to neutralize them.
With each fear, be specific:
First, ask, is _____________ even true? (as in, don't assume what you heard on TikTok is fact...research it from credible sources—a skill that is now vital)
What would the potential financial impact be, on a monthly, or yearly basis?
How could I meet this potential financial reality?
What alternative, creative solutions do I know of, or could I look into?
It may be helpful to write out a plan for yourself: if this happens, this is what I will do next...
If nothing else, the simple act of going through this process and having an actionable plan to refer to will allow your fear-loop to rest.
Here are some other considerations...
Have ample cash savings (for emergencies, and for interrupted income)
If you have adequate savings, pay off high interest debt (this is always the goal, but especially now you will want to be free of all debt)
If you are anticipating large material purchases, they will likely cost more than they do now, save accordingly ;-)
Spend + circulate money locally and consciously to ensure a thriving economy.
If you can diversify your income streams, it would be very wise to start now
If you haven't yet, join or create a mutual aid network to give and receive community support.
Look for opportunities that exist just beside your fear. They are there!