Embrace Discomfort: Transform Your Finances
We all have coping mechanisms we turn to when life gets uncomfortable. Like doom scrolling. Gambling. Bingeing TV. Eating a gallon of ice cream. There is no judgment here; I'm guilty of most of these.
If you've worked with me, we've discussed how coping mechanisms may temporarily pacify our discomfort in dealing with finances, but they also hinder our ability to make progress. To improve our money situation, we first need to notice what we believe about money and how those beliefs affect how we behave. Then we can begin to make small changes to our habits that will have large impact.
Below are some common negative money beliefs and associated coping mechanisms.
Do any of these resonate? Coping mechanisms may make us feel better in the moment but they don't fix the real problem. We rely on them often because there is something uncomfortable that we'd rather avoid facing.
What can you do? LEAN IN. Choose to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It's rarely ever as bad as we make it to be. Notice what narratives show up when dealing with money. When uncomfortable, where do you instinctually redirect your attention? Try interrupting the pattern by choosing something different and then revisiting the thing that made you uncomfortable at another time.
You are capable of altering your beliefs and behaviors which means you are not powerless. Recognizing this can revolutionize your life like it has mine.
