Connection Check-In: How A Guided Meditation Uncovered a Financial Wake-Up Call

Today’s guided meditation was about connection. (I use the Happier app; I highly recommend it.) Once the gentle voice ushered me into a state of calm, my mind, predictably, wandered. It started scanning the landscape of my life, looking for where I felt connected—and where I didn’t.

To my surprise, I felt solid.

I’m deeply connected with my spouse right now. Some recent health surprises have meant we’ve spent more time together than usual, and—silver linings being what they are—it’s drawn us even closer. Work feels steady, too. I’m not so overwhelmed that I’ve gone numb to the people around me, and I’ve felt real support from my colleagues during this bumpy stretch.

My family’s been a bit neglected lately, but the love is still there. I know it. They know it.

Then I found the disconnect: our finances.

Even before my partner got sick, I’d fallen into a pattern of solving problems with money. Amazon deliveries to soothe stress. Uber Eats to avoid one more decision. Replacement appliances, quick home repairs—I just threw dollars at whatever was broken. We’re lucky, no question. We can afford to make some of those choices. But too often, I’ve bypassed thoughtful stewardship in favor of convenience. That reflex, repeated too many times, has started to show up in our bank statements.

There are so many domains that make up a life. Google “areas of life” and you’ll get a dozen versions, all valid in their own way. The ones I’ve used every December when making my plans for the new year lists eight: body, mind, spirit, love, family, community, work, and hobbies.

Sometimes I take the official assessment; sometimes I just sit and check in with my gut.

Here’s where I landed today:

* Body, mind, spirit, love, community – Feeling solid.

* Family – A little underfed, but holding steady.

* Work – Generally good. But if I include finances in that bucket? Definitely off.

* Hobbies – I read once or twice a week for pleasure. That counts, right?

One thing I’ve learned—over and over, it seems—is that life isn’t about perfectly balancing these areas at all times. That’s not real life. Sometimes one domain needs nearly everything you’ve got. That’s okay. What matters is what we do when that season passes.

For me, now that we’re (hopefully) through the worst of the health stuff, it’s time to reroute some of my energy toward our finances. That means facing what I’ve been avoiding: sitting down with our accounts, tracking the slow leaks and the open wounds, and putting a plan in place—not for perfection, but for peace of mind.

So here’s your invitation:

Where do you feel connected right now? Where are you feeling a little disconnected?

You don’t need a spreadsheet or a planner to figure it out—just a quiet moment and a little honesty. Then, if you’re up for it, choose one area that could use a little attention. Don’t try to fix everything. Just re-engage. Recommit. Begin again.