.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} “Do you know the flow of money in your life?” asks activist and fund-raiser Lynne Twist in her book “The Soul of Money.”

“If you want a clear picture of your priorities in life, who you are and what you care about, look at your checkbook, your credit card bills and bank statements,” says Twist, “That’s where you can see the flow in black and white.”

What does your use of money say about you? Every year I vow to eat right, get fit, be more patient and call my mother more often. I set economic goals as well, and as a financial professional, I hear clients share their objectives for the coming year – typically, getting organized, saving more and increasing their investments.

But beyond those standard goals, for years I’ve been working on another financial resolution: to be ever more conscious of the choices I make with money. Money and I have long had an intricate relationship, and although I have resolved many issues (for example, my farm-crisis-related fear of ending up broke or my fervent desire for handbags), there is always work to be done.

My aim is to be increasingly mindful of aligning my use of money with my beliefs and my priorities. This means curbing my desire for consumer goods I don’t need or which do not offer lasting enjoyment, thinking carefully about spending for the sake of convenience, buying goods or services from companies whose practices I support, and focusing my charitable giving to make a meaningful impact. Though this sounds simple in theory, I don’t always find it easy in reality.

How many of us can say we have never wanted something that we did not truly need: a shiny new car, a more comfortable place to live, a piece of art? At some point in every American’s life, we have all probably had desires for things that were not necessities, and sometimes we wanted them for not entirely noble reasons – because we wanted to be part of a group, to impress others, to impress ourselves or to feel better. The craving for excessive wealth and possessions has become more and more pervasive in our society.

How we use our money is a deeply personal choice. No matter our income or net worth, each of us can make deliberate decisions about how we direct our various resources and about what it means to live a rich life.

“True wealth, or well-being, can’t be found in a static balance sheet, no matter how large the accumulation of financial assets,” Twist notes. “Wealth shows up in the actions of sharing and giving, allocating and distributing, nourishing and watering the projects, people and purpose that we believe in and care about.”

We can all be aware of how we use and spend our money and make choices that reflect our values. I want to look at my bank statement and feel good, knowing that I am using my resources to create a life of health, wealth and wisdom for myself and for others, mindful of using my money to support my beliefs and priorities.

What will your money say about you in 2008?

Suzanna de Baca is the president of Private Capital Solutions Group, an investment and financial advisory firm based in Des Moines.