Money is one of the most emotionally charged relationships we have- and yet it’s one that most of us never talk about openly. Our beliefs about money are shaped long before we’re conscious of them: through our families, our cultures, our first jobs, our moments of struggle, and our moments of success. These early experiences become our money mindset- the internal blueprint that quietly guides how we earn, save, spend, trust, receive, and dream.

And the truth is: no matter where your money mindset began, it can be rewritten.

This interactive post explores how to understand your money story, how scarcity and abundance live in the body, and how to begin healing your relationship with money so you can expand into a more aligned, empowered version of yourself. Throughout, you’ll find journal prompts and reflection questions to go deeper. I encourage you to take the time to answer some of the prompts and really dig into your relationship with money.

What is a money mindset?

Your money mindset is the collection of beliefs you hold about your financial life, many of them inherited or subconscious. It shapes how you feel about earning, how confidently you ask to be paid, how you navigate financial stress, and what you believe is possible for your life.

Some common beliefs might sound familiar:

These aren’t character flaws- they’re simply stories that have been repeated enough times that they feel like truth.

Journal Prompt:

What is the earliest memory you have about money, and how do you think it shaped your beliefs today?

Where Do Our Money Stories Come From?
​
Our money narratives are often rooted in:

Maybe you watched a parent work multiple jobs. Maybe you heard, “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” or “People like us don’t make that kind of money.” Maybe your family avoided money conversations entirely. Maybe you were rewarded, or punished, with money. Each of these experiences creates a thread in your financial identity.

These stories are not your fault. But they can be re-authored.

Scarcity vs. Abundance: Two Lenses That Shape Everything

Scarcity Mindset Sounds Like:

Scarcity can also show up in small ways related to spending, like feeling guilty for every purchase, constantly waiting for the financial shoe to drop, always choosing the cheapest available option, and avoiding investing in supportive experiences like therapy or wellness. The irony is that scarcity often ends up costing us more money, for example, always choosing the cheapest option means you’re not investing in quality, leading to more spending overall on many cheap options when the first one breaks, rather than spending just once on the quality item you actually wanted. And don’t even get me started on not paying for therapy- that choice impacts your own life and the lives of everyone around you.

The thing about scarcity is that it isn’t just a mindset, it’s often a nervous-system response. If you grew up witnessing financial instability or experienced trauma, your body may genuinely not feel safe around money.

One of the reasons I love working with money is that your money mindset bleeds into other parts of your life, so by working on your money story, you can actually impact every other part of your life. Thank you to my original money mentor and teacher, AJ from Beyond the Green Coaching, for showing me the deep truth about the ripple effect that comes from working on our money mindset.

If you find yourself resonating with having a scarcity mindset around money, ask yourself where else your scarcity mindset shows up in your life. For example, scarcity in relationships, like feeling competitive when someone else succeeds, or having a fear of being a burden. What about scarcity in time, energy, and capacity? This can look like thinking there’s never enough time, feeling rushed or frantic when nothing is urgent, or thinking you have to say yes to everything or else you’ll fall behind. What about scarcity in decision-making? I personally see this one a lot. Decision-making scarcity can look like making choices out of fear rather than values alignment, holding onto old jobs, relationships, or commitments because “who knows if something better will come along,” and delaying decisions indefinitely because you’re afraid of making the wrong one.

Scarcity often isn’t just about money; it’s actually an entire worldview.

So, what is an abundance mindset, and how can you cultivate one? The word abundance is thrown out so often in our culture, so let’s dig into what it actually is and, more importantly, what it feels like in our bodies.

Abundance Mindset Sounds Like:

Abundance isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about cultivating internal safety, resilience, and possibility, even when you don’t have all the answers yet.

Journal Prompt:
Where does scarcity show up in your life, and where does abundance already exist- even in small ways?

Money & The Nervous System

Money rarely feels neutral. It can trigger fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses:

Why? Because money is tied to survival, belonging, self-worth, and identity. Before we can think abundantly, we often need to create safety in the body.

Try this quick grounding practice:

Place a hand on your heart or belly → take three slow breaths → recall one area of money stress → soften your jaw, shoulders, and belly.

Notice how even a little regulation creates more space for clarity.

Rewriting Limiting Beliefs About Money

Once you identify your money stories, the next step is to gently question them.
Old Belief → New Belief → Daily Reinforcement

Example:
​Old: “No one will pay me more than this.”
New: “People invest in the value I bring. I am allowed to grow.”

These shifts don’t happen overnight, but they do happen with intention, repetition, and aligned action.

Journal Prompt:
What is one limiting belief you want to release and one abundant belief you want to grow?

Your Capacity to Receive

Receiving is a skill. And for many people, it’s deeply uncomfortable.

Receiving can look like:

If receiving feels unsafe, abundance will feel impossible, because abundance requires allowing more in.

Reflection Question:
How do you typically respond when someone offers you help, praise, or money? What might that reveal about your receiving wounds?

Aligned & Abundant Action

Abundance is not just an inner shift, it’s behavioral. It shows up in the choices you make:

You don’t have to leap from scarcity to abundance. You can inch your way there with practical, grounded steps.

Future Self Visioning: Your Abundant Identity

Imagine meeting yourself one year from now- a version of you who feels empowered and grounded in your financial life.

Journal Prompt:
Who is your financially abundant self? Describe:

Final Reflection:

What is one belief, one feeling, and one action you want to take with you today?

Your relationship with money can transform. And when it does, it opens the door to a life that feels more spacious, supported, and aligned.