Income does not guarantee that you will feel financially secure. Having a steady paycheck can't erase the baggage from your financial past. Old fears tend to resurface and block progress.
What's a barrier that keeps showing up for you?
Facing financial trauma is not fun. It’s uncomfortable and sometimes terrifying, but it’s the only way to grow. What’s one thing you’re scared to address but know you need to?
This all day! Money trauma isn't really about money. Trauma makes financial planning and resources effectively inaccessible -- until you resolve those barriers.
Great post, @carlosmcwhortercpa.bsky.social !
This, so much! Trauma makes managing finances so much more difficult.
Your financial situation didn't vanish on January 1st. But, each new year -- heck, each new day -- offers the change to begin to rewrite your story. This year, I’m choosing gentle, consistent exploration over shame.
An age-old sentiment indeed.
Thanks, I will check it out!
Love this approach and that it has worked out so well for you!
I propose adding to that list:
4) honoring your body and mind
5) reaching out to share with your community
6) inspiring others
Really wish you had more ambition there, @sethabramson.bsky.social 😁
Same, same. But, I'm 53. And, toss in ancestral teetotaler guilt.
So diverse! Thank you!
An exceptionally well-curated collection! 🙂
Super cool! Thanks!
Addictive is indeed perfect! Thank you!
I have a long flight coming up. I need to load up my Kindle. Please send your best book recommendations STAT.
#help #tia
Thoughts and prayers. ☕
Oh, and could you pass the cream, please?
Feel like resisting the #AI domination with a pencil-to-paper original? I can vouch for @elofalltrades.bsky.social being a real person, an awesome human, and a truly talented artist.
It's a cycle: Money trauma starts with experiencing pain outside of our control. This trauma makes it exceedingly difficult to navigate the financial world, which is largely based on coercion, shame, power, and control.
Heal trauma, ditch shame, gain control, make progress.
Shame is 100% counterproductive to progress. It makes people feel innately bad and unable to change. Shame is rooted in power, control, and manipulation. All of these are related to -- you guessed it! -- money trauma.
Have you ever had to apply for SNAP ("food stamps")? I have. It was an absolute last resort to feed my family -- one wrapped immense shame.
Tools, assistance, and advice are empowering only when you have control over them.
Let's unpack this a bit.
Financial tools like budgets and investments certainly can be helpful -- once you are able to put them to work as they are intended. This takes awareness and healing of your trauma.
Easy for them to say. They aren't wrong, but they also don't have layers of mental filters and barriers that make it impossible to process and trust financial advice and follow best practices consistently.
Hard Fact: People without debilitating money trauma will never get it. They don't understand the struggle. Just stick to a budget. Just save money. Just watch the market. Just buy low and sell high.
We end up focused on right now. FOMO. Suckers for limited-time only sales and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and "you only do fill-in-the-blank-event once."
We also assume that things will go wrong, because that has been our past experience. Windfalls disappear. Progress is erased by new problems.
Awareness of long-term goals, strategies, and patterns is blocked by whatever is happening right now. While it is scary to not know what will happen, this what we are accustomed to. It feels normal.
Consumerism + Money Trauma = FOMO on Steroids
Financial trauma involves chaos. When you can't rely on having what you need, unpredictability becomes the norm. We become hyper-focused on immediate situations, risks, threats, and opportunities.
Facebook style blue flag icon on white background. Text: Marked Safe From Thanksgiving Dinner Today.
Well, we made it through Thanksgiving. How's everyone feeling?
a. still in a food coma
b. unpacking emotional baggage
c. waiting for someone to post bail
d. all of the above
Bookshop Santa Cruz 🌞