I've actually seen a divorce caused by financial success when a couple attending my seminar found they no longer had anything to talk about once they stropped arguing about money. Not only didn't they have anything else to talk about, they found they also didn't even like each other very much. Money had been a convenient mask for them, covering up the real problems in their marriage.

The transition to financial success, prosperity and abundance can be made in a healthy and less stressful manner by preparing yourself for positive change. Financial success means that you are able to be clear and honest with yourself and your friends. For example, a client of mine was invited to the theater. Rather than be honest and say, "I don't want to go tonight," she told her friend she couldn't afford the ticket. She thought she was avoiding offending her friend, but, in reality, she was using money as her excuse. Her friend, realizing that my client has sufficient money to do just about anything, was angry because she knew that it was a lie.

Look into your heart and soul and ask yourself if you are ready to give up, for all time, the poor-me story you've made up about yourself. Your vision, your dreams, your purpose and your passion become your new story. If you don't have one already, make up a new story of financial abundance so your mind has a direction in which to go. One way to do this is to pretend that you have just won an award for the Best __________________ of 1999. You are asked to write your own introduction. Write a paragraph or two on your accomplishments and contributions.

The best way to dissipate fear of success is to plan for success. Write down 50 things you would do with an unlimited supply of money. This self-discovery exercise may just give you the information you need to overcome your hidden fear of financial success.

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The founder of Wealth and Wisdom Seminars, Marilyn August is a professional speaker and master facilitator who develops her seminars with the passion of personal experience and the expertise of over twenty years in adult education.

She holds a Masters degree in Education from Northern Illinois University, and has designed, developed and presented training programs to major corporations including American Honda Motor Company, AST Research, Inc., AAA Chicago Motor Club and Chevron Oil.

Known for her light-hearted, pragmatic, yet deeply personal approach to financial success, Marilyn's quest for emotional and financial freedom has led to the discovery of a number of principles, techniques and tools that have helped thousands of people achieve financial well-being.