If just reading the word “debt” makes your pulse increase, you’re not alone. Most people see money owed—regardless of the amount—as both daunting and shameful. Rather than weathering the fiscal storm, they tell themselves that assessing their financial standing can wait. All the while, the debt, and associated anxiety, builds.
This IOU black cloud is detrimental to all-around wellness, not only in the present but also in the distant future. As Ariel Kiley, a yoga teacher and transformation guide, explains, mismanaged money makes planning for larger life goals almost impossible. But once you’ve found financial security—by paying off debt and budgeting—Kiley says you can make confident decisions on where you want your life to go.
“It’s all within my control,” Kiley says, “and the security makes me move so much more peacefully through this world.” We sat down with Kiley for tips on getting rid of debt and finding financial peace. Here are her five steps for getting out of debt.