Burying Your Head
As I’ve shared in the past, my early adulthood financial journey included a whole lot of sticking my head in the sand and trying my darndest to not pay attention to my money (or, often, the lack thereof). And, as I’ve also shared in the past, I think there are times in life when not being as vigilant or aware may be a necessary coping mechanism. And, on top of all of that, very few of us have been taught helpful skills, habits, or even have reasonable real-life examples of what financial health and awareness really look like.
As such, I never judge anyone who has buried their head in the sand when it comes to their money. It is a totally normal and reasonable reaction to a confusing, often overwhelming and scary part of life.
AND, my career is dedicated to helping people unbury their heads. I like to think of this work, whether you are doing it with a professional, or on your own as split into two categories:
Your Emotional Reality
Your Financial Reality
In an ideal world these two things are perfectly synced, but I think that is incredibly rare -- even if you have a really deep, thorough understanding of your finances! Instead, I like to think about getting those two realities as close as possible to each other.
I start with #2 and weave in #1 as I go. What this looks like in practice:
Exploring your key financial numbers so you know where you stand now
Defining financial goals
Matching those goals to accounts (i.e. where will you save for that next business investment? How do you optimize retirement planning?)
Exploring current financial habits to determine what works well for you and what needs to change
Create financial systems that ease stress and help you reach your goals
Throughout this process I weave in the emotional reality by asking questions. SO MANY QUESTIONS. And through the answers I help clients figure out why they’ve struggled with certain financial goals -- is it that they don’t know how to do something or how to create systems? Is it that the goal isn’t truly aligned with their values and desires? Is it that they were taught things and given financial belief systems that hold them back? I find that for almost every client there is a mixture of those three things going on, whether we’re working on business or personal finances (or a combo of the two!).
Below is a brainstorm exercise that may help you begin to understand your own financial emotions. Try it out!
Imagine yourself 5 years in the future. In an ideal world, what are you doing? What are you spending your time doing? Who are you with? What does your home look like?
Now, ask yourself the exact same question again.
And again.
Are the answers the same? Did they evolve over time? What things do you hold most dear…most close to your heart?
Try that same exercise again in a week and compare your answers.
If they’re all the same then your financial goals are likely very well aligned with your actual values and desires. If not, you may be striving for something you don’t actually want and THAT is incredibly hard to do.
As always, I’m rooting for you.
XOXO,
