The number of people who feel hopeless about their financial situation is currently at epidemic levels in our society.

Do you know how many people get up in the morning, and go to a job they hate, only to make less money than they can comfortably live on?

Of those, how many are making progress toward growing their wealth?

Very Few.

And, it's not because they are not smart enough. It's not because they can't break free from the financial struggle. It's because they don't know there is a hidden glue that keeps them a paycheck or two away from being broke.

If you don't know what's driving your results, you don't know how to get better results.

Here's how it works:

Whether we realize it or not, most of us have been conditioned to tie money to our self-worth. I grew up in a middle-class family who took great pride in being "the good people." Not those greedy, wealthy bastards who profit from good people. In our family, you take a mediocre job with great benefits for fifty years. You invest along the way. Then, you decline in health ten years after you retire, die, and leave your money to the next "good person" in line.

So on the one hand, we say we want the freedom and peace of mind that come with wealth. But to break this cycle, you must raise your wealth. That would have to mean the end of your subconscious identity as a good person and even your sense of safety in your tribe.

The invisible glue that keeps people broke is cognitive dissonance.

You know you'd be better off with a lot more money. You'd be less stressed, healthier, and able to do more good. Logically, you realize that wealth has only upsides. Yet, a deep, hidden belief holds that money would change your worth in your community and in your own eyes. This belief works 24/7 to keep you where you are.

This is how it works.

Our subconscious minds only allow in the information & data that align with our priorities. Simply put, our subconscious will not allow us to see information about opportunities, new ideas, and ways of looking at or approaching things that bring higher levels of wealth because it doesn't align with our unconscious priorities around worth and acceptance. Our priorities for wealth are too low. They must be higher for our minds to filter in wealth-supporting information and opportunities.

When people self-sabotage

I was working on a project where one of the goals was to increase employee income. A long-term employee saw their daily income rise by an average of $200 per day. Logic would suggest they'd be happier with a boost in attitude and performance. But, the opposite happened. Instead, they started doing less work and being more toxic. Making more money conflicted with thier deep-seated identity as the hard-working underdog and their subconscious mind was hard at work 24/7 to help them maintain the level of income that aligned with that identity.

Here is an interesting way to solve this problem.

The idea of changing your identity and updating your subconscious is overwhelming. It's much easier and less intimidating to just shift your view of money instead. When you experience financial stress, you tend to view money as the force that controls you. So money is the master and you are the servant. When really, it's the other way around. You are the master and money is a tool you use. Money is not a measure of your value or who you are; it's just a tool you use.

Let's say you are planning a budget. Instead of focusing on what to give up, prioritize what you value most. Then, base the budget on that. Align your spending with your core values and goals. List what matters most to you (e.g., family, freedom, healthy food). Then, spend your money to match.

Instead of sitting down to pay your bills and figure out how to make ends meet, plan a date with your money. Think of money as a partner who helps you. Review finances, track progress, and make informed decisions. Learn about new ways to leverage money to work harder for you. From this perspective, money becomes a powerful tool, and you become the one in control of how it is used.

When you reframe how you see money, money comes to you. 

The more you do this, the more natural the habit becomes. View learning about finances as an investment in yourself. It's like acquiring any tool for success. Read books, listen to podcasts, or take courses. Focus on understanding personal finance so you can use it as leverage in your life. The more you understand how money works, the less intimidating it becomes. You shift the balance of power from money being the master to you being the master who wields the money tool.

Stay the course & Share the love. Send this to a friend who's ready to stop being broke.

Until next week,

Kristen