9 Ways To Calm Money Fear

Fear gets to the best of us, whether it is fear of failing with money, or fear of being successful with our money. All of us have experienced fear at some point in our lives and it can be a real stumbling block that holds us back from being truly successful.

Fear can’t hold you back forever if you don’t let it. These tips can help you with any type of fear, not just fear around money. There are several ways to overcome fear, here are my top 9:

1. SEPARATE REALITY FROM PERCEPTION

Ask yourself what is really going on with your finances, locate the facts and separate them from your feelings. Clarity helps you to calm your emotions and focus on what you can do.

2. IDENTIFY THE TRIGGER

Figure out what it is in a money situation that triggers you. It can be helpful to journal about that so that you really understand what bothers you and why. Learning to identify it will help you learn to deal with it. 

3. KNOW WHERE FEAR LIVES IN YOUR BODY

A lot of times, fear takes over physically. It affects different people in different ways. Identify if/how it affects your physical body and do the work to take care of your body. Some people notice the physical feelings before the emotions, so this can help you to recognize the emotions too. For example, if when you are stressed you get tight shoulders, you may notice the tight shoulders and THEN think “I wonder if this is stress, and if so, from what?”

4. PRACTICE GRATITUDE

Every day, list out 1-3 things you are thankful for. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, gratitude helps shift the mind into a positive light, which over time, overcomes fear. 

5. LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE

Monitor your inner conversations. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself. Speak positively to yourself and remind yourself of your strengths. Remember how you have grown and evolved over time.

6. CREATE A NEW ASSOCIATION

Remind yourself that the feeling and the moment will pass. Focus on the positive outcome of the situation, rather than the scary in between.

7. LOOK AT THE GLASS HALF FULL

Perception is a very powerful thing, and how you feel about your situation dictates how you respond. So think positively and you’ll give yourself a much better chance of success. This won’t happen overnight; practice with just one thought. What is one recurring negative/fearful thought you have? Work on reversing this one thought. Over time, this will become a habit.

8. PRACTICE BREATHING EXERCISES

Breathing helps center your body; when you stop breathing, your heart stops beating. You can do a grounding exercise (like the one in my Money Mindset Refresh), or even just take 5 deep, long breaths at any point to calm and center yourself. It is best to start your day with this, and feel free to practice all day long.

9. CREATE A SAFE SPACE

When you feel safe and secure, there is no room for fear. Find somewhere safe you can retreat to when ill feelings begin- whether this is a real place such as your bedroom, or a place in your mind such as the beach. This sense of comfort will soothe you and allow you to face your fear.

Please keep in mind, these are just 9 strategies, not everything works for everyone. But this is a place to start. Start implementing these techniques into your life and don’t let fear hold you back from reaching your goals and your highest potential this year!