GUEST COMMENT: 6 signs you're in denial about money

In the past several years, I've worked with hundreds of people who are, as I was at one time, in complete denial about their money situation. They know they're not earning nearly enough or they're spending too much, and money is slipping through their hands, but that's as far as their understanding of the problem goes.

In short, their heads are deep in the sand about their money relationship. They're working hard to ignore the obvious - the inevitable misery that will come unless they change directions, and fast.

How can you tell if you're in denial about your money situation?

Here are 6 glaring signs that you're in money trouble:

1. You can't pay your monthly mortgage or your rent without tapping into savings, retirement, home equity loans or other funds.

2. You are using your credit cards each month to buy essentials such as food, clothes, and gas.

3. All the ways you've made money in the past don't work now.

4. You don't have a Plan B in the event your Plan A fails, and you don't have the necessary benchmarks and signposts to tell you it's time to change course.

5. You're hanging on by a thread to your "Build it and They Will Come" mentality, but they're not coming.

6. Someone you love and respect has been telling you over and over that you're in denial and things must change, but you've ignored them or argued against them bitterly

Do any of the above sound like your situation? If so, PLEASE act now. Don't wait another day. Your money situation simply will not improve unless you do things very differently, starting today.

What should you do differently?

I know from experience that in order for your money situation to change you must wake up to the severity of it, and commit to changing your situation by taking actions that will change your course. To do things differently, you need a new, fresh perspective that includes concrete, practical, and effective support, know-how, and help.

In Life by Design , Tom Ferry outlines steps to changing your life and "living by design" which I think apply perfectly to changing your money situation. These are steps I explore with all my clients as well.

These six vital steps are:

1. Wake up from your coma - be aware of the key areas in your life that need attention today

2. Make the choice to change your life

3. Do the things that bring you power

4. Engage in visualizing the steps necessary to bring you to your goals, and see yourself already in possession of what you want

5. Create structure and accountability by telling others around you about your plans and goals, and get the outside help you need

The energy of money is pervasive in our culture - there's no escaping it. In this lifetime, you're being called to empower yourself so that money will flow in your life and business, and support you as you flow with it.

Kathy Caprino, M.A., is a women's career and executive coach, entrepreneurial marketing consultant, speaker, and author. She is also founder/President of Ellia Communications, Inc. -- a career, executive and marketing coaching and consulting company.