What are your money fears telling you?

I saw this quote recently and given our current world, it really struck me. 
 

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. 
Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

 
This nugget of wisdom is attributed to the pioneering physicist Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Fun fact: Marie is the only woman to win the Nobel Prize in two different fields - Physics and Chemistry. Dang! That's one smart cookie!
 
Marie knew that fear is an extremely powerful emotion. You know this too. You’ve felt it. And it often pops up in our minds when we think about our finances. Usually fear brings its friends anxiety and self-doubt along for the ride too. 
 
There’s a lot I don’t understand about fear. Or anxiety. Or self-doubt. But after working through my own personal experiences and talking to a variety of clients, here are 3 things that I actually do know:
 
1.  If you can’t articulate it, you can’t change it. 
 
2.  Self-doubt can be an indicator.
 
3.  Perfection leads little room for improvement…or joy.
 
Here’s what I mean…
 
First, when you’re aware of what triggers your money worries, you can become better prepared to handle difficult situations with grace. 
 
For example, say talking about money with your partner is something you dread. Upon reflection, you realize that your last tense financial discussion took place late at night after receiving a late fee in the mail.  With this awareness, you can now take proactive steps to change this pattern. No more in the moment heated discussions! Try scheduling your money meetings, keep them short and focused, and plan to do something fun after!
 
Next, rather than perceiving feelings of self-doubt as an enemy that must be squashed at all costs, consider taking a different view. What if you decided that your stress is actually trying to tell you something? 
 
Kind of like a crying baby that wants to be fed or a barking puppy that wants to go outside…what if your anxieties are an indicator that there’s something important inside you asking for attention?
 
Lastly, remember that progress, not perfection is the goal. As humans, our brains crave stimulation and opportunities to learn. With a growth mindset and an eye toward making progress toward specific goals, we can position ourselves on a path to success. 
 
When I was in elementary school, the PTA would place a sign by the front door with a hand-drawn thermometer whenever there was a fundraising effort. The thermometer would be colored in as donations were made. 
 
Nobody likes to look at a half-colored thermometer! But...everybody wants to be the one making the final donation to extend the coloring to the top of the thermometer. It was an excellent fundraising visual!
 
Are you saving for specific goals that you want to reach in ‘the new normal’? Try the thermometer tactic used by the PTA! Write down your goal and why it’s important to you. Note the amount of money you have now to put toward the goal, and the amount you need in total. Then let your competitive spirit take over and watch how excited you become to close the gap!
 
We’re in a transformative time. We’re changing – as a society and as individuals. 
 
As you change and grow during this transformative time…. who are you becoming? 
 
If you know that money fears have held you back in the past, consider taking this time to deepen your understanding of your relationship with money and your financial feelings.
 
The responsibility to protect ourselves from negative financial self-talk or money anxieties sits with each one of us. 
 
Good thing it takes no more effort or energy to think about health, wealth and happiness than it does to think about struggles or scarcity!