Financial self‑sabotage happens when we make choices—or avoid making choices—that hold back our goals. Maybe you’ve felt:
Let’s rewrite that unhealthy story. Auntie knows that healing your mindset—especially with intergenerational traumas—can take time, but change is possible now. You do deserve financial peace, abundance, and dignity.
Some common habits that trip us up:
Each of these is a clue to a deeper belief.
There are many reasons why we do these things. Maybe it’s because we had an unhealthy relationship with money stemming from financial trauma, financial manipulation, or childhood experiences that equate wealth with something bad. Regardless of the reasons, it’s time to make healthier choices and avoid our self-sabotaging behaviours. We need to restructure our thoughts and beliefs to know we are each innately deserving of financial peace, financial freedom, and an abundant life.
Awareness is the first step.
Here are some strategies you can practice increasing your ‘mental wealth’, the combination of mental wellness and financial health:
Honor your financial challenges or past traumas and how they may have impacted you physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially.
Forgive yourself and others for any past financial mistakes and free yourself from the shame and unhappiness that comes with financial struggles. View the past as learning growth, strength and resilience.
Set aside fears, doubts, and uncertainty.
Reframe your thinking with positive affirmations about money, knowing you can and will succeed financially. Reshape what you think success looks like. Replace thoughts like “I’ll never get ahead” with “I can learn, grow, and save.”
Your value isn’t tied to your bank balance, and your self-worth does impact your financial bottom line. Self-worth paves the way for net-worth.
Set goals, create a budget, and track it. This can provide a sense of direction and purpose, especially when money is involved. Remember: Direction is power.
Every mistake is feedback; no one is perfect, but growth is real.
Financial mistakes and traumas from our own and our family’s past can make us focus on lack and worry about not having enough. This is a scarcity or poverty mindset, which breeds fear. Instead, think abundantly, seeing possibilities without limitation.
Because of the shame and stigma associated with financial struggles, many people suffer in silence.
But they are not alone. More than half of people today are living paycheque to paycheque and are struggling in this economy.
Talk to trusted friends, #WealthyCuzzins, a financial coach or a consumer credit counselling service to get help with budgeting, debt consolidation or to get financial literacy resources. I’d also suggest finding a free or low-cost course to build confidence in personal finance.
Talk to others – your friends, colleagues, co-workers. Breaking silence dismantles stigma—share your plans and inspire others.
It is no longer shameful to talk about our money.
Over time, the taboo of talking to one another about our financial situation is slowly disappearing. You may be surprised at who you know has the same struggles or can provide solid advice.
Recognizing and addressing past financial traumas is crucial for fostering a positive relationship with money. By reflecting on and reshaping your beliefs surrounding finances, you can identify negative patterns that contribute to self-sabotage. This process can lead to greater financial empowerment, enabling you to cultivate a healthier mindset and cultivate lasting financial wellness. Embrace the opportunity to redefine your financial narrative and pave the way for a more prosperous future.
You are worth the work, and you don’t have to go it alone.
What step can you take today? Leave a comment to inspire your fellow #WealthyCuzzins or share this post if someone in your circle needs to hear: You deserve financial peace.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
