I am a lifelong learner, nature lover,
world traveler, peacemaker, holistic healer, solopreneur, and conscious money guide.
I am a lifelong learner, nature lover,
I love being of service to others!
Meet Dana Conley, M.A.,
Life Transformation Coach and
Certified Financial Recovery™ Counselor
My Journey
My path from school counselor to Financial Recovery Counselor was a winding one and I never imagined that I would become a money coach. I didn’t know there was such a thing and I wasn’t exactly the poster child for healthy money behaviors. Surprisingly, in healing my relationship with money, I’ve come full circle and feel I’m doing what I always felt called to do – inspiring and supporting others in creating greater harmony in their lives – this time, using money as a lens for healing.
Over the years I have offered my services as a Massage Therapist and Holistic Healing Practitioner, Yoga and Meditation Instructor, Infinite Possibilities and Life Transformation Coach. I have had the honor and pleasure of inspiring and supporting hundreds of students and clients to take care of themselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In the process, they have developed mindfulness, shifted their mindset, and manifested their dreams.
Even though they were able to create and sustain the positive changes they desired, I discovered that most of my clients struggled with money.
It didn’t seem to matter how successful or intelligent they were. Whether they lacked financial knowledge and experience, were unaware of their beliefs, attitudes, and habits, or believed that someday it would magically work out, most felt powerless when it came to money.
I saw myself in their stories. I was stumped by money too.
Even though I thought I
was responsible with money,
I didn’t know how to live
within my means.
I never had.
My Money Story
I came from a middle class family. Even though both of my parents worked, we didn’t have a lot of money.
We rarely went on vacation and dining out was for special occasions. Although my basic needs were always met, my parents weren’t able to pay for the extra things I wanted. I never asked for much, so it left me feeling deprived and dejected. Out of desperation, I resorted to stealing the things I couldn’t afford to fit in with my friends. It created a theme that continued throughout my life.
Reflecting on my personal money journey has allowed me to connect the dots and see how my relationship to money was influenced by my early years, my beliefs about myself and money, and my desire to fit in.
In the process, I realized I made a decision at the age of 14 that I needed to work hard in order to have the life I wanted. I also became aware of two patterns that emerged during that time: my commitment to self-improvement and an inability to delay gratification.
In order to feel like I was taking care of myself, I would buy whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, even when I couldn’t afford it.
I simply charged it and forgot about it. When my bills got too high, I paid them off by refinancing my home, my car, playing the credit card balance transfer game, or borrowing from my retirement account. I did whatever it took to satisfy my desires – each time promising myself I would never do it again – that somehow I would learn to live within my means.
I truly believed if I did what I loved and worked hard enough,
the money would follow.
That magical thinking got me into a ton of debt. Even though I loved what I did and worked hard, I was living for today, stealing from my future, and hoping that one day I would get my financial life together.
Eventually I reached a breaking point. I felt like a prisoner to my debt. I was always working two or more jobs in order to afford my lifestyle. I was deeply ashamed of the precarious situation I had put myself in. Despite all the mental, emotional, and spiritual growth I had achieved over the years, my debt was weighing me down.
It crushed my self-confidence and the belief that I could ever trust myself.
In every area of my life except for money, I had been able to follow my intuition to make the best decisions for me. But with money, I was lost. Then I found the work of Karen McCall and the Financial Recovery Institute. Karen teaches people how to develop a healthy relationship with money by addressing both the practical and emotional aspects of money. I embraced her teachings and immersed myself in personal reflection, this time in the one area of my life I hadn’t previously examined.
I realized that by giving into instant gratification to avoid feeling deprived in the moment, I had been ensuring a future of deprivation – a future in which I couldn’t provide for myself.
This awareness woke me up and propelled me to start taking better care of myself – for now and the future – by becoming more connected to my money. I did the inner work to heal my relationship with money, and I embraced the outer work of mindfully managing it. Identifying the family patterns I had unconsciously picked up, and shifting my personal beliefs, attitudes, and habits, allowed me to experience greater clarity, calm, and confidence with my money – and in my life.
In the process, I realized that taking care of my money is the ultimate act of self-care.
I now believe that money is our most valuable partner in creating and living our best life, and that is why I became a Certified Financial Recovery Counselor.
My realization that my relationship with money went far deeper than my bank account inspired me to offer an uncommon lens for healing to my clients: the lens of money.
My heartfelt intention is to provide my clients with the guidance, tools, and support they need to become their own catalyst for inner transformation.
I utilize a process that weaves together holistic healing modalities with essential financial wellness practices to empower individuals to transform their relationship with money so they can experience greater peace, security, and freedom in all areas of their lives.
I love what I do. It is deeply rewarding work – for myself and my clients. It would be an honor and a pleasure to be of service to you.
Discover how the Financial Recovery process can empower you
to heal your relationship with money so you can live a richer life.
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