In this episode, I share insights from my recent interview with UK-based global company Agon about the crucial link between mental health and money. Rather than offering quick fixes, I explore the deeper emotional landscape beneath financial anxiety and provide six key questions to help you understand what's really driving your money worries
Episode Highlights:
Understanding the Root of Money Worries
- Money itself isn't usually what we're worried about - it's what money represents
- Common underlying fears: relationship security, business stability, lifestyle changes, and team obligations
- How financial anxiety often stems from deeper meanings we attach to money
- The difference between surface-level money concerns and their emotional foundations
The Emotional Spectrum of Money
- My ladder metaphor: low-vibrational emotions at the bottom (shame, guilt, stress, anger) vs high-vibrational emotions at the top (gratitude, joy, happiness)
- Why jumping straight to gratitude practices doesn't work when you're experiencing financial shame
- The crucial middle step: acceptance of past decisions, inherited beliefs, and trauma patterns
- How the nervous system creates fight-or-flight responses to protect us from perceived financial threats
The Complexity of Money Shame
- Why shame is the hardest emotion on the spectrum to shift
- How shame creates a freeze response in the nervous system, leading to financial avoidance
- Recognising shame through language: the "shoulds" we place on ourselves ("I should be good with money," "I should be further ahead")
- The importance of compassionate acknowledgement without judgement
Money and Neurodiversity
- How traditional financial advice assumes neurotypical learning styles
- Specific challenges for neurodivergent individuals: impulse control, budgeting, long-term planning
- My personal ADHD experience: visual presentations, movement during money conversations, shorter but more frequent meetings
- The correlation between depression, anxiety, and financial avoidance
Beyond Traditional Financial Solutions
- Why practical solutions (budgets, investment plans) don't work without addressing underlying emotions
- The problem with control-based planning when control doesn't feel safe
- How impulsive spending patterns can sabotage investment strategies if safety concerns aren't addressed
- The importance of understanding emotional patterns before implementing financial tools
Professional Development for Coaches
- How coaches can support clients with money conversations without being qualified financial advisers
- The power of holding space for psychological exploration around money decisions