“Did I really just do that?”

That was my immediate thought after hiring my first business coach a little more than a year ago. It was the most money that I’ve ever spent on myself—$7,000 to be exact—and honestly, the most money I had spent on anything in my life.

Putting that amount down was scary beyond belief. I thought I was crazy, but I was also done playing small. I was done thinking that I or my vision wasn’t worth it. I was done having a money mindset that dollar bills were scarce and hard to earn.

And I knew deep down that to get a return, I would need to invest. In myself. Pretty big jump considering that at the time I felt hesitant to spend $35 on a workshop. But this is what I realized: money is meant to be in a healthy cycle of giving and receiving, making and spending.

If one part of that cycle is blocked, like when you try not to spend money at all or don't ask for what you're worth, the whole cycle gets thrown off and creates a clogged financial situation that feels strained and uncertain. Maybe you’re good at spending money, but if you feel guilty about it, it blocks the flow just as much. Spending and investing your money should feel good. 

So here’s a thought that can turn things around…

"There's always more where that came from."

This mindset reminds me that whatever I spend or invest comes back to me in some way. If I end up paying more on a dinner bill split among friends, I’m convinced it'll come back to me in some way. If I invest in an online course, I believe a return will come back to me in some way.

But without some sort of initial investment, there can’t be a return. And if all or most of your money is going towards rent, food, and Ubers, with little to no personal development expenses, you’re missing out on one of the biggest ways you can change your life. 

As a life and business coach, I've worked with dozens of women who, at first, had a strong resistance to spending money on themselves, and here’s what one of them has to say about this:

“Working with my coach has confirmed that I am worth investing in financially, emotionally, and spiritually. I’m worth that investment, and because I’ve decided that I’m worth it, I’m reaping the benefits, and that investment is being returned to me in the form of clients, improved relationships, and a better version of myself.”

So, if spending money on yourself feels selfish or indulgent, ask yourself these questions: 

1. Are the financial decisions I’m making right now leading towards the most fulfilled version of myself? 

2. Are they helping me reach my biggest goals and dreams?

3. Are they amplifying my impact in the world along with my quality of life?

If you answered no to some or all of these questions, what could you invest in to help you grow and develop financially, emotionally, or physically? Maybe it’s by investing in the online therapy you’ve been thinking of, your own business coach, or a personal trainer that you’ve been dying to work with. 

If at least a portion of your disposable income goes towards those types of expenses, then you’re bound to have a more fulfilling life. So don’t hold yourself back by not investing in the things that’ll help you grow.

It’s not self-indulgence. It’s self-investment, which is arguably the best expense on your bank statement.

About the Author: Kimberly Lucht is a life and business coach who helps female entrepreneurs make their dream business a reality. Degree-trained in psychology, Kimberly has previously directed and grown start-ups that help women blast through limitations and go after their dreams. As a life coach now, she has helped dozens of women massively increase their income, productivity, and overall fulfillment in life through in-person workshops, online programs, and one-on-one coaching. Kimberly has been featured in Money.com, Thrive Global, along with a variety of other media outlets and she currently lives in New York City.

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This story was originally published on September 13, 2019, and has since been updated.

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