Women and wealth: how to unblock negative money mindsets

What would you reply, if someone asked you how you really feel about money in general? Many women jump to a what appears to be a positive response, if only because that’s what’s expected. Answers like, “there never seems to be enough, but I’m taking steps to get ahead,” fit the bill.

Despite taking steps to get ahead, the fact that there never seems to be enough is the overriding mindset. Rather than promoting growth, which science suggests is the mindset needed to achieve success, it keeps you stuck right where you are. Start changing the story by acknowledging your beliefs, hidden or otherwise, so you can move forward with new ones.

Acknowledging self-sabotaging thoughts about money

No doubt you know that your thoughts lead to actions, so self-sabotaging ones obviously don’t do the bank balance any favours. Past experiences you’ve had with money, your parents attitude towards wealth and your sense of whether or not you deserve it play huge roles in developing negative mindsets. The first step to changing them, is to unearth these often long held beliefs.

Write down all the things you say, think or feel about money on a regular basis. Do you often think you’ll never get out of debt? That you can’t seem to make enough or you’ll never be able to afford what you want? That you don’t have any idea where to start? Are you of the impression only greedy people have wealth? Does even thinking about doing this exercise make you feel anxious?

If so, be brutally honest and get the thoughts out of your head onto paper. Just remember, while a thought such as, “I never have enough money,” might very well be true now, it’s not a fixed situation. It can change, but only when put your energy into doing so, rather than repeating a cycle that’s largely generated by negative beliefs.

Replacing negative beliefs with empowering thoughts and actions

What happens when you replace the thought that you never have enough money, to even just wondering how to get more? You instantly feel empowered, rather than anxious. It doesn’t matter how impossible it might seem, at the moment, to have wealth, so don't let that be your next thought. Go with the sense of empowerment and immediately take an action step to cement it. Do this each and every time you say, think or feel one of your negative beliefs.

Actions can include defining what you want, by researching potential investment properties, holidays or new ventures. Perhaps you could pick up the phone and talk to an expert in financial services, simply to get the ball rolling towards change. Read a book or otherwise increase your knowledge about finance. By immediately replacing a negative thought with a positive one, then cementing it with a relevant action - no matter how small - it’s inevitable that you’ll start to view things differently.

Be disciplined and consistent with the process and a positive money-making mindset is on its way. It doesn’t mean you’ll experience instant wealth, but it does mean you’ve taken the first step on the path towards making it a possibility.