It’s that time of year where most of us take stock and think about what we want in life.  And, more often than not, money seems to be the killjoy that throws cold water on our hopes, dreams and desires. “If I only had more money, I could….” While it might seem like financial success is about how much money we have, I’m convinced that it’s really about how well we align our money with our intentions, goals and values.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself about how your relationship with money:

• Is the way I make, manage and invest money in line with my values, goals, priorities?
• Is my sense of self-worth tied into how much money I make?
• Do I spend money to make myself feel better?
• Am I spending money on “stuff” that isn’t that important to me?
• Do I compare my financial situation to others’?
• Am I allocating time or money to causes that I believe in?
• Am I waiting for financial security before living a more meaningful life?

If you’re not where you want to be, simply start by becoming more conscious of what’s important to you and think about how you make financial decisions.  Set some intentions for yourself and eventually some specific goals. Write them down. Commit to them. Try to clear (or at least identify) blocks or barriers to getting where you want to go.  And remind yourself that financial satisfaction isn’t measured in dollars and cents, but in how successfully you manage and allocate your resources towards living an authentic and purposeful life.

Karin Mizgala is a Vancouver-based fee-for-service financial planner with an MBA and a degree in psychology. She’s the co-founder of the Women’s Financial Learning Centre.