3 High-Level Tips to Eliminate Money Stress

As a financial therapist and money coach, I work with people every day who struggle with their money. Most people know what to do, but for some reason they don't follow through. Creating mastery with your finances is powerful, deep and foundational work. Rewiring your relationship to money is the first step toward creating peace, joy and confidence financially. If you integrate these 3 tips, you will have begun the journey to a stress-free relationship with money.

Tip #1 More is not always better.

Many of my clients start by saying that if they had more money, everything would be better. It is common to live in the future of 'more' rather than nurturing the money we have right now. But more is not always better. Before credit cards, it was easier to live in the present. Now, many of us are enslaved by our debt. Our focus is on the future. Becoming a better steward of your money can alleviate a lot of stress. Notice when you think that more will make you happier. Creating automated systems with regular monitoring can help you live within your means. There is a whole movement of millennials living below their means with the intention of retiring early. It can be fun to explore what downsizing feels like. It doesn't have to feel constrictive. In my experience clients who practice this feel more abundant and less stressed.

Tip #2 Align your emotional intelligence and your financial intelligence.

Money and how we relate with it can be full of shame, guilt and secrecy. Wall Street is a perfect example of how emotional the financial system is. A change in policy or fear of loss can send everything into a tailspin. Money behaviours may not make logical sense, but they always make emotional sense. To create lasting change, we need to rewire our internal patterns. Mastering emotional intelligence is key: Know what you are feeling when you are feeling it. Doing this takes practice, and it builds a muscle that you will have for the rest of your life. Ideally, our financial and emotional intelligence are aligned. However, in reality, sometimes we are emotionally equipped in certain areas in our life and not others... perhaps not with money. It's interesting terrain to explore.

Tip #3 You need support and accountability.

There are so many budgeting books and financial apps out there... so many opinions on how to fix your money problems. But DIY-ing your money problems doesn't always work. A lifetime of financial illiteracy cannot be solved on your own. Information overload often paralyzes people from taking action. All the 'shoulds' and 'if onlys' send us into shutdown. Many of my clients used to feel alone in dealing with their money stuff. Money behaviours are created from a lifetime of habit and unconscious beliefs. No wonder it's so hard to change. A trusted coach or therapist offers guidance and creates accountability. Ask for help. Be willing to not 'have to' do this on your own. It takes courage and determination to face your finances honestly.

These high-level tips are just the start. If you want to explore how you can deepen your relationship with money, I am currently enrolling people into my 12-week Rewire Your Wealth program. It has been creating powerful shifts for people! Check it out and see if you are the right fit for this work.