Originally published in Energy Magazine: The official Publication of the Healing Touch Program December/January Issue Energy Medicine Practice™ Attracting Wealth in Your Practice Step 2: Cleaning Up Messes by Julie M. Wright, Financial Planner, Profit Coach, Executive Financial Architects

Samantha is a smart, dynamic, heartfelt healer. As part owner of a holistic health business, she got the courage to call after a particularly bad few months. “Julie, I hear that you help business owners like those of us who are stuck.” “Tell me about yourself and how I can help you,” I asked.

“Where should I begin?” she asked. “I guess it all started when I left a high paying job at the hospital to pursue something I have always wanted to do — open a holistic, integrated medical office where we help the whole person. Another friend of mine, Dr. Sue was someone I have always admired professionally. During lunches we talked about starting our dream practice. Well, one day we took the big step. We bought this building and spent months renovating it. Our grand opening was just six months ago.”

“But something is not working — we have some clients, but not enough to pay our bills or ourselves. I did not think opening a business would be this hard,” she sighed. “We are wondering if we made the right move?”

“Can you help us determine what we are doing wrong?” she asked.

“Sure,” I said. “What if you take me to your office and give me the nickel tour.” She laughed. “Great” she replied, “you can ride with me.”

Getting Unstuck While Samantha was driving, she commented, “I cannot wait to show you our offices. I am just surprised. I thought a business and financial coach would ask to see our financial statements or a bunch of paperwork first,” she laughed. I just smiled.

Did she know Money is Energy? To get the money flowing it starts with a thought. Just like a business – which also starts with a thought and very clear intentions. I wanted to take Samantha back to the beginning of her dream, to Clarity–Step One in the Seven Steps to a Profitable Practice™. I wanted her to remember what her original vision was for her business —what did she first envision when she had this idea of her ideal practice? How close was this practice to that original dream? We were about to learn.

I suspected that the real culprit was an energetic block in her business. Walking around the business might give me some clues, as would listening to her talk about what was going on – or what was not happening as planned.The Walkabout

The building, a 1960’s square box, had little architectural detail. Samantha and Dr. Sue had added beautiful modern awnings on the exterior, along with their attractive logo by the front door.

As we entered, the stark white walls and imposing front desk caught me off guard. No color, no warmth, no flow.

Next–the therapy rooms. There was nothing to distinguish them from any other massage practice or medical office – other than a few dimly lit rooms with fountains, soft music and a few crys-tals on a table near the massage table. It did not say “unique” or even say “holistic” — words Samantha had used when she shared her vision with me.

A disconnect from the vision, but what had caused it?

We then looked at the reception area and workspace. Piles of files, a cluttered desk with post it notes everywhere. I asked, “Where are the file cabinets, copier, and scanner”?

“Oh, those are in a back storage space. I told our office manager we would have the files in the front reception area, but when we built an expanded front desk, we did not have room. I told our office manager we could decide how to arrange things after we opened. In the meantime, they run to the back room to make copies and get files. Not the most convenient, but hey, we all have to make do, right?”

My tour ended in her personal office. Her desk was covered with piles of files ready for dictation, professional journals, things “to read someday,” bills and financial papers, and some pictures of her family. All of this had overtaken the desk. The brief tour and our chat had revealed the real Money Culprit.

Making and Keeping Promises

Your money moves in its own rhythm, as if you were danc-ing with it. This energy of money flows through you, sometime swiftly, and other times more sluggishly.

As a conduit of this energy, you get to direct this energy in-tentionally – to create what you truly want. In doing this you co-create the dance of energy. The goal is to keep the energy of money moving in the conduit—and remove any blockages or plug any leaks.

Preventing Messes—Keeping Promises

A promise is your word, whether spoken or implied, a thought brought forth into physical reality. It is a covenant you make with the world. It says, “This shall be done.” When you make a promise you create a natural energy imbalance.

In the hustle and bustle of setting up their business, Samantha and her partner had made several promises, to themselves, their staff, and their families. This created a tension, the expectation of something yet to be done. When you put your word out before you, you create a gap that can only be closed when you do what you said you would do. When you fulfill your promise, the tension resolves.

Tip: Remember, you can always renegotiate a promise if things change. You are not locked in, never able to respond to situations. To remain flexible, and give yourself permission to always be congruent, make sure you communicate to others if you cannot keep the original promise. Renegotiating is always encouraged!

Samantha’s Money Problem #1: Broken Promises Consider the effect of not keeping our promises. When we do not do what we said we would, we are left with the tension of incompletion. Unfulfilled promises are energy drains, because we expend more energy keeping open a gap than we do when we resolve it. Each unfulfilled promises draws energy to it and becomes a block to the flow – which then saps our energy.

Samantha: I know I told my office manager I would figure out a better layout at the front desk. I usually am able to think better. But with all this financial stress, she is just lucky I am able to meet payroll. I know I said I would do it. She does not under-stand that I have bigger issues to worry about, like keeping the doors open.

Samantha:  I told my family we would take a vacation this year. However, things have changed, and with earning so little money, I would feel guilty about spending more. Besides, I think I should be working more, not less, when things are not going well here at the business.

Samantha: Even though my partner and I told ourselves we would never have stark white offices, when it came down to delaying the opening or painting the office, we felt it was more important to get our doors open and the patients scheduled. I know we told ourselves we would do it the month after open-ing, but I just do not have the energy to think about moving all the furniture to paint. We cannot afford to hire anyone to have it done now.

Samantha’s Money Problem #2— Unfinished Business Are you aware that the bridge between you and financial miracles is built from the promises you keep? Unfinished business –that pile of unpaid bills, forgotten loans, missed appointments weigh you down. By keeping your word, you gain energy to bring your dreams from the metaphysical, invisible world, into the physical realm – especially when it comes to money. Each promise you fulfill by taking care of incomplete business will clear your conduit and allow money energy to flow. Samantha’s conversations revealed what I suspected was one of the issues affecting her business — Unfinished Business.

The solution in Samantha’s case called for realignment and a clearing of energy messes. After that we were able to focus on Marketing strategies, Systems, and building her team. I directed Samantha to look at herself as a pipe or conduit of money. Here is the exercise I gave her.

Action Step 2: Find the Leaks and Blockages 

Samantha: I see patients all day. For years, I have been avoid-ing balancing my checkbook by rounding up to the nearest dollar. That way I am not overdrawn. You asked me to balance my checkbook to the penny. I thought, right, how is that going to bring me more clients. I admit I was skeptical – until I found $893 in my account that I did not know I had. That is the good news. The bad new is that last month I passed up going on that weekend getaway with my family because I thought I did not have the money.

Samantha had just experienced the consequences of money leaks and blocks. These past several months she had tied up all her energy in the worry, anxiety and uneasiness that goes with not being fully conscious about money. I know because I have been there a few times. Maybe you have, too, or are there right now? You get stuck, and stay stuck even with help in plain sight.

 Action Step #3 – Taking Inventory of Your Messes — Your Incomplete Money Business Exercise:

1. Is your checkbook balanced to the penny? When you balance your checkbook to the penny, you are balancing the energy of money—as well as energy in others areas of your life. This is a hologram! Do This First! I know, no one likes to do this, but this is where the shift begins.

2.