If you have fears and anxieties about money, you’re not alone—most people do. Fear of money is very common. But if you’re willing to confront those fears, analyze them, and transform them into empowering beliefs through action, congratulations! That mindset is rare, and you’re in the right place 🙂.
Why do we fear money? I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I’ve narrowed it down to a few key sources:
Identifying the source of your money fears is crucial because it allows you to analyze your beliefs about money. Once you start examining these beliefs, you’ll notice how they shape your inner dialogue about yourself and your finances.
If you hold onto certain money fears, they will ultimately limit you—no matter how much external effort you put into changing your circumstances. Why? Because, consciously or not, you’ll find ways to sabotage yourself to align your reality with your beliefs. That’s the irony: your beliefs must always be confirmed by your life’s experiences, even if you don’t enjoy them.
To break the cycle, start identifying your money fears and their sources—then commit to building new mental habits through conscious thought and action.
In this post, I’ll highlight some common fears and anxieties around money and offer a new, empowered mental habit to replace each one. At first, all of this might feel unnatural—even silly—but consistently shifting fear-based thoughts into empowering ones is a key step in strengthening both your financial life and your overall well-being.
Your new mental habits might feel completely out of sync with your current reality or usual thought patterns at first. That’s normal. But trust me—if you persist, these empowering mental habits will eventually become the facts of your financial life, just as your fears are right now.
One of the most empowering realizations I’ve had through my self-improvement journey is this: anything you believe persistently and faithfully will become fact. That’s why, under each new mental habit, I’ll include a practical application. Faith alone isn’t enough—you need action to back up your new empowered beliefs about money. No sitting around waiting for change 😉—get actively involved in your growth and finances!
This is one of the most common money fears, and people repeat it—sometimes out loud, sometimes silently to themselves. The that in the statement can be anything: a new purchase, an opportunity, starting a business, traveling, moving to a new city, or pursuing a dream. The list is endless.
🤔 Where does this fear come from?
Think back to moments in your life when you heard this phrase—whether from family, friends, or even yourself. Who in your life repeated it often? How did it become ingrained in your mind as an unquestioned fact?
Maybe a family member always said it when money was discussed, or perhaps you heard it in response to something you wanted. You might have had a dream or idea but convinced yourself that a lack of money meant it wasn’t possible, so you gave up before even trying.
Assuming you don’t have enough money for that (whatever “that” may be) keeps you trapped in a cycle of hesitation. Worse, it blinds you to the resources and opportunities already available to help you take action.
I know this fear up close and personal. When I was paying off my debt and saw the monthly amounts I had to repay, my first reaction was: “I will never have enough money to pay that back.” That thought felt like an undeniable truth at the time.
But then I had a realization—if I could generate that amount in the negative, didn’t that mean I also could generate the same (and more) in the positive? The logic made sense, but believing it fully took time. It wasn’t an overnight shift. It required real work on my self-esteem and confidence in my abilities. But once I started seeing things differently, my financial reality began to change, too.
😃 New mental habit to replace this fear:
“I have more than enough money for anything I’d like to do”
✅ Practical application:
Think of something you’d like to do—it can be small or big. Maybe it’s treating yourself to a coffee and dessert at a specialty café, buying a nice pair of socks, or even planning a trip. The magnitude of the gesture doesn’t matter. What matters is identifying something you want and proving to yourself that you do have the money to make that happen.
This simple exercise rewires your mindset, shifting you from not having to having, and reinforcing that you can purchase and enjoy the things you want.
This fear is deeply personal to me because it’s one I’ve struggled with (and sometimes still do). It used to be a constant presence in my mind, showing up uninvited and stirring up intense anxiety around money. Even when I started accumulating vast financial resources, I’d lay in bed at night worried it’d all be gone or taken away somehow.
Ironically, this very fear—challenging and heavy as it is—is what pushed me to learn about finances and ultimately help others with theirs. It still fuels my drive to understand, grow, and share financial knowledge. As they say, “In our greatest challenges, lie our greatest gifts.” 🎁
🤔 Where does this fear come from?
It usually stems from witnessing or experiencing significant loss—either firsthand or through the struggles of those close to us. This fear isn’t abstract; it’s deeply tied to real, lived experiences.
In my case, when I was very young, my family lost everything in a life-threatening earthquake. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but every material possession was gone overnight. All we had left was each other and a car to move around in. From that moment on, I watched my parents rebuild from nothing.
That experience left a massive imprint on my psyche, making the fear of losing everything very real for me. But here’s the thing—the earthquake is done. Everything was rebuilt. Life moved forward. The fear, however, stayed long after the reality had changed. That’s when I realized: this fear is rooted in the past, not my present reality. And if I could unearth its origin, I could also work to release its hold on me.
😃 New mental habit to replace this fear:
“I am fully supported and will always have access to resources in my life to grow and expand”
✅ Practical application:
Give something of practical use to someone in your life—whether it’s a small gift, a meal, or your time—to a family member, friend, or loved one. Generosity reinforces the truth that you have and will continue to have.
Or, take a moment to write down all the factors in your life that are already working in your favor: your comfortable home, access to a high-quality lifestyle, the ability to read and learn online, nourishing food, or any other resources you benefit from daily.
By showing yourself—through an act of generosity or gratitude—that you not only have but will continue to gain and grow, you begin shifting this fear into confidence. From losing to gaining.
As you put this new mental habit into practice, repeat it—either out loud or internally:
“I am fully supported and will always have access to resources in my life to grow and expand.”
Pairing this new mental habit with action helps solidify it.
This belief is more of an anxiety than a fear—it’s a thought pattern rooted in guilt, and I know this firsthand. I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome around my financial success, and at one point, I had to confront a deep-seated belief: being wealthy means being greedy, and greedy people are bad. And since I see myself as a good person, I subconsciously resisted wealth.
Do you see how anxiety plays into multiple layers of self-concept? It’s not just about money; it’s about identity, morality, and worthiness.
But here’s the truth: greedy people exist at every financial level. Greed isn’t a function of wealth—it’s a mindset. Some of the kindest, most generous people in the world are wealthy, while some of the greediest people struggle financially. Money simply amplifies what’s already there.
Also, think about the impact of constantly reinforcing “I’m not rich.” If you’re striving for financial success, how can you reject the very thing you want to live? It’s like taking off your shoes right before a race—it only slows you down, or worse, inhibits your ability to run in the first place.
And remember—rich is a personal definition. It’s not just about a number in your bank account; it’s about financial security, freedom, and the ability to live life on your terms. Define what wealth means to you, and release the idea that it has anything to do with greed.
And no—you’re not a bad person for wanting the very best financial life for yourself. You deserve it.
🤔 Where does this fear come from?
I believe this fear is deeply tied to the anxiety and pressure to conform. Think about it—if you’re rich, people might think you’re greedy, and if you’re greedy, no one likes you. So, to be accepted, you feel an unconscious pressure to keep yourself financially compliant—staying within a version of yourself that feels friendlier and more approachable to the world.
But here’s the truth: you’re doing no one any favors by limiting yourself. Actually, you’re performing a massive disservice to yourself. Shrinking your financial potential just to avoid judgment or rejection doesn’t make you a better person—it only holds you back from the freedom, security, and opportunities you deserve.
😃 New mental habit to replace this fear:
“I am wealthy and loved”
Notice I’ve used the word wealthy instead of rich. Why? Because true wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about well-being in all areas of life.
What makes you wealthy? Solid finances, good health, meaningful relationships, and a mindset that attracts abundance. When you embrace this holistic view of wealth, you realize that financial success doesn’t isolate you—it enhances every part of your life.
✅ Practical application:
Donate to a charity or cause you believe in, buy a meal for someone in need, or distribute food or practical items to those who could use them. The amount you give or the volume of what you provide isn’t what matters here—the point is to show yourself that having more allows you to give more.
When you have, your capacity to share, love, and be generous expands—and that benefits everyone around you. Wealthy people are generous because true wealth is about being well within. And when you are well within, giving becomes second nature.
Let’s be real—costs have gone up across the board, especially for essential expenses like housing, groceries, and energy. And since I’m someone who’s obsessed with pricing, maximizing my dollars, and tracking price fluctuations, I know this reality very well.
But—when you become too focused on this reality, it becomes all you see. It shapes your entire perspective and reinforces a mindset of struggle.
Here’s the key: There’s a fine line between delusion and imagining a better situation—you want to lean into the latter. That means acknowledging financial realities while shifting into an empowered thought pattern, backed by action. It’s not about ignoring the facts; it’s about making sure they don’t define your entire financial outlook.
🤔 Where does this fear come from?
This one is easy to trace. Just turn on the news or check an economic report—it’s all inflation, rising costs, financial struggles, and stories about how people are barely making ends meet. It paints a pretty doom-and-gloom picture.
But this fear might also have deeper roots. Maybe you heard your parents or guardians arguing about money, stressing over bills, or avoiding payments altogether. Maybe they constantly complained about how expensive everything was, reinforcing the belief that money is hard to hold onto and spending is always a struggle. Over time, this creates a hyper-focus on financial hardships, making it feel like struggle is the only reality when it comes to money.
😃 New mental habit to replace this fear:
“I can afford or plan for all my expenses. Paying is easy enough.”
Oh! Did you feel a little resistance when you said that last part? That’s perfectly normal. Most people (myself included at times) associate paying with pain. It’s why bills and expenses can feel like a burden rather than just another part of life.
That’s why actively shifting your language and feelings around spending is so important. When you start framing payments as manageable—or even easy—you begin rewiring your mindset. The goal is to replace stress and anxiety with confidence and control, so this new belief sticks and shapes your financial reality.
✅ Practical application:
Choose a recurring bill that you usually feel some anxiety or resistance around. The next time you pay it, consciously say to yourself: “Paying that was easy enough.”
Or, the next time you’re out making a purchase—whether at a store, restaurant or even paying for a service—do the same thing. When the payment terminal is handed to you, or when you finalize the transaction, say (even if it’s just a whisper or in your head): “Paying that was easy enough.”
The goal here is retraining your mind to associate ease with spending, rather than stress or struggle. The more you do this, the more you shift your financial mindset away from scarcity and into confidence.
Over time, this practice builds an empowering habit—one that helps you feel in control of your finances. And as your focus changes, you’ll start noticing more stories of financial success and well-being around you. They’ve always been there—you just needed to be open to seeing them.
This fear is incredibly common—we’ve all told ourselves this at some point. Maybe it came up during job dissatisfaction, while starting a business, or in any entrepreneurial venture. At its core, this belief is tied to feelings of unworthiness or the idea that making money is some impossible feat—that no matter what, you’re capped in what you can earn.
Now, take a moment to look at the way this thought is structured: “To make money.” It sounds exhausting, doesn’t it? Like some never-ending, backbreaking task.
Here’s the thing: yes, generating money requires action. But instead of seeing it as a burden, see it as a challenge—a puzzle to solve rather than an uphill battle.
That distinction is huge. One mindset assumes you’re capable, while the other assumes you’re incapable. Be mindful of the words you repeat to yourself because they shape what you believe—and what you believe determines what’s possible for you.
🤔 Where does this fear come from?
This fear is likely rooted in early conditioning—messages you absorbed while growing up about money being a struggle. Maybe you constantly heard stories of people facing financial hardship, or you watched those around you work tirelessly just to stay afloat. Over time, you started associating money with difficulty, reinforcing the belief that making money is hard and earning more is nearly impossible.
It’s also a belief we tend to repeat in different forms:
🗣 “It’s hard to make money in this business”
🗣 “With this economy, making more is impossible”
🗣 “This job/industry has no real earning potential”
Sound familiar?
But here’s the truth: While earning money can be challenging at times, it doesn’t have to be hard. The difficulty is often in our perception rather than the reality itself. So take a moment to reflect—where did this belief start? Who or what influenced you to think this way? Once you identify that, you can start rewriting your money story.
😃 New mental habit to replace this fear:
“I can generate money and always figure out how to generate more if I want to”
Now that’s an empowering statement! It assumes you’re capable and that there are no limits on your ability to create wealth.
Notice how we’ve replaced the word make with generate? That’s intentional. Making money sounds laborious and exhausting while generating money feels regenerative, dynamic, and stimulating. It implies flow, creativity, and problem-solving rather than struggle.
By shifting your language, you start shifting your mindset—and when your mindset shifts, so do your opportunities.
✅ Practical application:
If you’ve been considering freelancing, starting a business, or launching a personal project—do it and charge for it. The amount you generate at first doesn’t matter, nor does how long it takes to land that first payment or invoice. What matters is proving to yourself that you can generate money from new sources.
If you’re working and prefer to stick to your job, have a conversation with your manager or boss about getting promoted. Ask them directly what steps you need to take to make it happen, and commit to following through.
Another option? Invest your money. (This is not official investment advice, but a mindset shift exercise.) If you can, put some cash into an investment—whether it’s stocks, a dividend-paying asset, or another opportunity that grows your money over time.
The point here is simple: actively show yourself that you can generate money. Whether it’s through offering a service, leveraging your existing job for career growth, or making your money work for you, the key is taking action and shifting from limitation to generation.
This fear is extremely common, yet few people would openly admit to having it (myself included!). In many ways, I see it as the “catch-all” fear behind most other money-related anxieties. Why? Because at the core of any deep financial fear is the belief that you simply don’t deserve money in the first place.
And when you hold onto that belief—whether consciously or subconsciously—you start creating situations, patterns, and obstacles that confirm it. You self-sabotage. You make decisions that keep you stuck in financial struggle. You reinforce the very thing you fear. Ouch. The hard truth, but a necessary realization.
Now, this doesn’t mean you won’t face real financial challenges—everyone does at some point or various points in life. But there’s a big difference between experiencing financial ups and downs versus living in a constant cycle of financial struggle.
Remember this: money is deeply tied to self-worth on a metaphysical level. When you tell yourself you don’t deserve money, you’re telling yourself that you don’t deserve well-being, ease, or freedom either.
To be clear—having more money does not make a person more worthy. This isn’t about net worth = self-worth. It’s about the relationship you have with money, which often mirrors the relationship you have with yourself. Money is just one external reflection of that.
🤔 Where does this fear come from?
This fear often stems from past experiences where you felt belittled, unseen, or unworthy. Maybe your self-esteem took a hit in childhood, at school, in relationships, or the workplace. Somewhere along the way, you internalized the belief that to be loved or accepted, you had to shrink yourself or prove your worth through struggle.
Now, here’s where it connects to money: Money allows you to provide for yourself in a tangible, material way. It’s a tool for care, comfort, and security. But if, deep down, you don’t believe you deserve to be cared for or to experience ease, you’ll subconsciously resist financial well-being. You’ll create friction around accumulating money, reinforcing the belief that you’re not capable of taking care of yourself.
And then, the dangerous thought creeps in: If I can’t even take care of myself, who could love me?
It’s a vicious cycle—one that isn’t rooted in truth but in an outdated belief you’ve unknowingly carried for years. The good news? You can rewrite it.
😃 New mental habit to replace this fear:
“I have and deserve all the money I require to live my very best life”
This statement is powerful because it assumes you already have and will continue to have all the money you need to live life on your terms. Notice how it doesn’t focus on a specific amount, but rather on the fulfillment of your needs and desires? That’s intentional.
At some point, you may get more specific about the exact number that represents financial freedom for you, as well as what living your best life truly looks and feels like—and that’s great! But first, start with this broad, empowering new mental habit. As you reinforce it, the specifics will become clearer, and the path to achieving them will start unfolding for you.
✅ Practical application:
Think of an experience that represents you living your very best life. This can be anything that resonates with your version of fulfillment—maybe it’s:
It doesn’t have to be the entire dream life—just a piece of it. The goal is to put yourself in the feeling of living elements of your best life, right here and now.
By doing this, you actively show yourself that you have and deserve money—not just some money, but all the money you require to live your very best life. When you place yourself in this mindset regularly, you begin to see that your life is exceptional already, and can only get better.
When you’re actively working on shifting your mindset and directing your thoughts intentionally, it’s incredibly helpful to have techniques that reinforce these new ways of thinking in your daily life.
I’ve found certain books and practices invaluable in developing and strengthening these new mental habits. But here’s the key—it’s not enough to just think something once or twice, then let it go and complain that nothing is changing.
You have to:
✅ Think it
✅ Feel it
✅ Persist in it through action
You must be actively involved in creating your life and replacing fear-based money beliefs with new and empowered mental habits. This isn’t a passive process—it requires your effort, consistency, and participation. But when you commit to it, the results are life-changing.
Reframing your thoughts around money and replacing your fears with new mental habits and corresponding actions won’t just change your financial life—it will transform your entire life.
Empowerment in one area leads to empowerment in all areas.
Once you tap into this energy and learn how to create it for yourself, it becomes a force that continuously provides.
To help you in your daily practice of shifting your mindset, here are two incredibly valuable books:
📖 Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer
📖 Feeling Is the Secret by Neville Goddard
Journaling exercise:
One of the best ways to reinforce these new habits is through morning journaling, before interacting with anyone or anything. This allows you to start your day with clarity, assessing your internal dialogue before external influences shape it.
Here’s a simple but powerful exercise you can try:
Example:
✔️ “I can generate money easily and always figure out how to create more.”“Money is hard to make.”
Doing this with a physical pen and paper strengthens the process. The act of crossing out the old belief and rewriting the new one makes the shift more tangible. You can use the fears and new mental habits from this post, or personalize them to fit your mindset shifts.
The key is to be proactive and intentional in this process. The more consistently you do it, the more these new beliefs will become your default reality.
Keeping yourself motivated through meditation, prayer, exercise, and healthy eating plays a huge role in your ability to analyze your fears around money, understand their origins, and actively replace them with new, empowering mental habits.
Your state of mind and body directly influence your ability to reframe and take action. When you’re stressed, overwhelmed, or not taking care of yourself, it’s much harder to think clearly and break free from old patterns.
Do anything that puts you in a state of ease—whether it’s movement, mindfulness, or simply nourishing your body. The more balanced and centered you feel, the more powerfully you can participate in your self-improvement.
Fear and anxiety around money are incredibly common—you are not alone. There’s no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed about your financial worries. Instead, have the courage to look inward so that what’s happening outside can start making more sense.
If you often feel confused, stuck, or disillusioned about money, start by examining your fears around it. Identify them, understand them, and then take a proactive approach to forming new mental habits and actions. Over time, these empowering beliefs and behaviors will feel more natural and become part of your default mindset and modus operandi.
I’ve personally encountered every single one of the fears and anxieties discussed in this post. And as I continue growing and experiencing new things, I still uncover new ones. That’s just part of life. These fears aren’t always pretty (let’s be real—fear never is), and they can be difficult to admit to ourselves, let alone others.
But here’s the truth:
✅ They must be identified
✅ They must be transformed into empowering beliefs
✅ And most importantly—they must be actively practiced in your daily life
Facing your money fears is a huge step, and I’d argue it’s one of the most critical steps toward financial well-being. Why? Because money isn’t just about numbers—it’s about your relationship with yourself. If you hold onto fearful beliefs about money, no matter how much external effort you put in, you’ll subconsciously sabotage your success and progress.
What you believe must be confirmed by the events of your life. So make sure your beliefs are working for you, not against you. Reshape them into thoughts that serve your highest good, so that your financial reality aligns with the empowered life you want and deserve.
Originally posted 2025-01-22 17:26:18.
Hello, I’m Melody! I believe that a clear life starts with clear money goals. Let’s get you on track—and rolling in dough!
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