As women business owners and entrepreneurs, we have many great strengths: creative ides; leadership ability; the ability to influence and empower many people; multi-task, just to mention a few. We may, however, have some basic points of resistance that come from within, whether through learned behavior, lack of belief in ourselves or listening to the outside voices that keep us from promoting our business or dominating an industry. They may still cause you to doubt that you deserve to have success and make tons of money from what you do.

Maybe you, like I did, learned a few negative things about money. For example, somebody may have taught you that money is the root of all evil. You may have learned that rich people are bad or stingy or not compassionate. Similarly, you may believe that you are not worthy prosperity, because it will make your loved ones and friends feel bad.

You may have learned that it is noble, decent and spiritual to be poor and that to want a lot of money makes you a selfish person. In any case, you have been programmed to think lack and limitation. So you may unconsciously hold yourself back from fully realizing your dream of having a successful local or global business.

As women entrepreneurs in business in the 21st century, it is time to debunk some myths about money and prosperity. There is no better time in the entire history of this planet to get a few things straight!

First: It is OK to be wealthy and prosperous. Money can allow you to have a way of life where you can live in balance with everything and everyone in your environment. You can have your money work for you instead of you having to work hard for your money.

Second: It is NOT noble or decent or spiritual to be poor. If you have ever been poor or wanting financially, you know that to be true. When you are not able to support yourself or your children; that does not feel noble at all.

Third: Money means freedom and independence. When you have your own money, you do not have to depend on someone else to take care of you. Many women who are widowed or divorced find themselves dealing with having to rely on themselves for the first time, and not on their husbands. This is devastating. They have lost their freedom and independence.

Fourth: Money allows you the ability to do great good. You can not give to your favorite charity, support an education for your child or help others if you are not financially able to do more than just take care of yourself, living paycheck to paycheck, for example.

Fifth: You need money for your own mental and spiritual well-being. Worry about lack of money puts great pressure on your mental and physical health. In addition, many marriages end because of it.

Sixth: It means the opportunity to carry out your great plans and to fulfill your great dreams. Is that not one of the reasons you wanted to have your own business? You realized somewhere in your journey that you could not have the things you wanted for yourself and your family by working for someone else.

Seventh: The desire to make and have money is natural. It is not a cause for shame. Most of us desire money for what it can do for us. Money is important-do not, for a moment, believe that it is not. Without it, you can do nothing. Those who say it is not important either do not have any or have no appreciation for it.

Eighth: Money should not be worshiped for the sake of money. It should be used to keep ourselves and our economy going. When we use it for good, we will attract more. To hoard it or use it unwisely just takes it away.

A thriving business is necessary to create massive wealth and prosperity. The correct mindset about money and whether you deserve prosperity go hand in hand. If you do not have it, take steps to develop it.