The Innocent  avoids putting significant attention on money and believes or hopes that life will work out for the best. The risk of this is that you can be avoidant or even helpless when it comes to money. But on the positive side, you’re often hopeful and adaptable. Today, take one step to learn more about your financial situation, and commit to putting yourself on a path to a simpler, more self-supporting financial life in the next 90 days.

You’re probably an Innocent if:
• You’ve had personal debt (not counting a mortgage or car loan) for more than a year and have less than three months of living expenses in
savings.
• Life circumstances such as illness or disability, or lack of education or training, have you in a position where you can’t make ends meet.
• You’re in a never-ending struggle for survival, spending everything you make—even if you make a lot—on your lifestyle.
• You received a lump-sum payment from an inheritance, lottery winnings, a divorce, a job, or another one-time event in the past ten years, and now have little or nothing to show for it.
• You’d rather get a root canal without anesthesia than balance your checkbook, pay your bills, and write down your expenses.
• You pay the bank more in monthly charges and overdraft fees than they pay you in interest.

Painful Emotional States
Frustrated
Overwhelmed
Desperate
Inadequate
Helpless
Victimized

Common Distorted Thoughts (Conditioned Beliefs from the Past)
Money doesn’t come easily—in fact, it’s a constant struggle for me.
I’m never going to have as much money as I need to live the life I want.
If I don’t look at my financial situation, I won’t feel the pain, and somehow my situation will get better.

Liberating Wisdom or Ways to Focus
I can simplify my lifestyle needs to create self-sufficiency.
I can find a vocation that I enjoy and am passionate about that will bring me enough income.

Archetype(s) You Most Need to Emphasize to Create Balance
Empire Builder: vision, passion, innovation
Guardian: alertness, prudence
Saver: self-sufficiency, abundance

A Practice

WHAT COMES IN STAYS IN.
The next time you have a surplus, even
if you’re still in debt, leave a period of at least three days between receiving the money and sending it back out. Most Innocents actually feel discomfort having a surplus around, so just as soon as it comes in they send it off to pay their bills or reimburse family members who lent them money recently, or they make a new purchase they’ve been putting off. Of course, if you’re literally about to be evicted or some other drastic consequence will ensue, do what you need to do. But barring that, hold onto the money for at least three days, preferably a week. Imagine having an entire year’s worth of your expenses in savings and no debt. Think or write about the good feelings: the relief, the confidence, the freedom. What about the difficult issues—do you feel unworthiness, discomfort, confusion, or unfamiliarity?

To do more specific practices related to the Innocent, buy my book or attend a workshop.