Facing our fears is not easy, that’s why they call them fears. We all have things in life that feel way bigger than our ability to handle them…and financial fears are usually right up at the top of the list. Daunting? Yes! And yet, facing our financial fears is not unlike facing the other challenges we’ve tackled in our lives. Looking back, there are a whole bunch of things that were super scary at first, but then got pretty easy once you got the hang of it (hello, learning to ride a bike!). And our finances are absolutely no different. Getting your $hit together money-wise starts with confronting your own mental roadblocks and shifting from fear and avoidance to confidence and growth.
How to Break Through Your Financial Fears
Money fears are the worst. I get it. That sinking feeling when you think about finances…the kind that either keeps you awake half the night or the kind that suddenly hits during the day when a new emergency pops up. ‘What if I’m totally screwing up my financial life?’ ‘What if I never figure out how to pay off all this debt’ ‘I know I need to get better about it, but I don’t even know where to start.’ Trust me when I say that I’ve been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt. Whether you’re pretty experienced with finances, a total beginner, or anywhere in between, everyone’s got financial fears! Breaking through them takes some preliminary recon work on your part, so let’s get down to the basics.
Define Your Money Fears
First things first: define your fears.
What exactly is it that’s putting you in fear mode? Defining the issue is the first step to changing it for the better. There are a lot of common money fears out there, such as:
- Fear of never having enough money
- Fear of not having enough experience to make good money
- Previous bad experiences with money that you’re afraid will happen again
- Fear of making a mistake with money, which leaves you unable to make a decision
Whatever your fear might be, it’s valid. Go easy on yourself and don’t judge. But also recognize the limiting beliefs that are creating this fear in your mind.
A pretty simple and effective exercise for defining your fears is to sit down and freely write out any and all aspects of your financial life that freak you out. Maybe you only have one or two, or maybe you come up with way more.
Exploring the fear and putting names on it gives you a place to start! And remember: whatever you write down, you are not alone – there are so many other people out there who are facing the same fears as you. Together, we can face those fears and take your financial life to the next level. I’m here to help.
Refresh that Money Mindset
You’ve faced your fears and you’ve got your list of personal financial hurdles. The next step is to double-check your money mindset. Do you believe in your ability to achieve your financial goals? (I do!) Do you have a positive, open mind? Are you ready for the universe to give to you abundantly? Your money mindset sets the tone for your path to financial health (and eventually wealth). Money will always be a problem if you don’t have a healthy mindset.
Know that you can do this, and know that this experience is merely one more way to prove to yourself that you can accomplish anything. Just like riding a bike…remember how exhilarating it was when you finally got the hang of it? A whole new world opened up – suddenly you could go so much farther than before! Same principle applies here, so believe in yourself! Breaking through your money fears is possible when you believe in your ability to do it in the first place.
Gather Some Tools
Tools are pretty essential for success, so build yourself a set of supplies and resources that lead to your success. Maybe that means writing down what you spend, setting up multiple bank accounts to stay organized, or getting a money coach to help out. Be determined to get your financial life organized – find the right tools to help you and make using those tools a part of your routine.
Find Your Tribe
The best way to face your fears is with a tribe of people who have your back. Getting yourself some moral support is a big part of breaking through those money fears. Financial fears are so common that we can ALL relate in some way. Together, we can face our fears and change our financial future!
Knowing you’re not alone goes pretty far when it comes to facing and breaking through all those mental hurdles. Need a tribe for support? Join mine! If you are looking for help getting your $hit together or learning how to invest the money you have, take my Money Mindset prep course today.