Weathering Financial Storms
Our financial therapists Dr. Erika Rasure and Nathan Astle host weekly Financial Wellness sessions with our clients to share important financial and emotional lessons, and so clients can encourage each other on their debt-free journeys.
In a recent session surrounding the topic of “Weathering Financial Storms,” our two experts chatted about getting through financial obstacles like job loss, rising prices, unexpected bills — the moments that can shake both our wallets and our emotions.
We share some of the most important elements of that session here, so you can arm yourself for the financial obstacles that life may throw your way.
1. Recognize That Storms Are Both Financial and Emotional
Astle started by pointing out that money struggles are never just about numbers:
“People have so many different financial storms that come their way… whether it’s a job loss or a medical debt… or you’re getting close to retirement and you’re worried about stock market stuff. It isn’t just a time to make financial decisions. It’s also a very, very emotional experience.”
That emotional side matters because, as he explained, our feelings can sometimes make the storm feel worse:
“Our emotions come as a result of the storm, but honestly, if we’re not careful, our emotions can make things worse.”
2. Tune Into What Your Body Is Telling You
Astle invited participants to pause and notice their physical reactions when stress hits:
“When I’m anxious, my heart rate goes up. My breathing changes. I get feelings in the pit of my stomach… when I’m angry, I might have clenched fists… when I’m sad, I droop my shoulders.”
This awareness is more than mindfulness — it’s a form of emotional data.
“If we can name the emotion, we tame our experience.”
Dr. Rasure chimed in:
“Right now it’s showing up in being reminded to unclench my jaw!”
That moment of honesty got laughs, but it also drove home the point: sometimes the first step toward calm is as small as realizing you’re holding tension you didn’t even know was there.
3. Clarity Is Power — Even When It’s Uncomfortable
When everything feels chaotic, it can be tempting to avoid looking too closely. But as Dr. Rasure emphasized, clarity brings strength:
“The number one thing… is to make sure that you have some really great clarity around not only what the storm is, but also your emotions as they are wrapped up into that.”
She explained that many people enter the Beyond Finance program after realizing their debt has become unmanageable. Facing those numbers takes courage — but clarity can change everything.
“You start weighing your options… finding out exactly how much you owe… what those interest rates look like… what your exact expenses are. The more clear you are, the more successful your outcomes can be.”
4. Discomfort Doesn’t Mean Danger
One of the most powerful reminders from Dr. Rasure was this:
“Just because something is uncomfortable does not mean that it’s dangerous.”
Feeling anxiety, guilt, or fear doesn’t necessarily mean something’s wrong — it might mean you’re growing.
“Those emotions often indicate that there is growth happening… Uncertainty does not mean danger. Discomfort leads to transformation.”
Astle added that avoiding emotions only makes them stronger:
“The feelings that we shove down end up showing up in other areas of our lives… and bigger.”
As Dr. Rasure added:
“And the storm is bigger. They get worse. So we don’t want to do that.”
5. Find Calm Before Making Big Financial Moves
When money stress hits, the instinct is to do something — fast. But Astle reminded everyone that calm decisions are better decisions:
“When we are in the middle of our big feelings… we’re usually not great problem solvers. The first thing we want to do is get back to a calm state of being.”
He encouraged everyone to visualize what calm feels like:
“Relax your shoulders, your jaw, breathe a little slower, notice what it’s like to be supported by the chair. If we were able to wave a magic wand and immediately make you calm… how would you handle the financial decision differently?”
6. A Quick Tool: “Flex and Relax”
If calm feels out of reach, Astle shared a simple physical trick:
“Identify the feeling, notice where it is in your body… tighten that part of your body, then relax. Flex and relax.”
This isn’t about ignoring the emotion — it’s about reminding yourself you have control:
“If you have control over your body, you actually can have a pretty large impact on your emotions as well.”
7. Remember the Rainbow
Dr. Rasure closed the session with a bit of Dolly Parton wisdom that everyone loved:
“If you want the rainbow, you’ve gotta put up with the rain.”
She smiled and added:
“No matter what kind of storm you’re in — financial, personal, or professional — it’s all temporary. At the end of those dark clouds, there’s going to be a rainbow. Don’t forget that you’ve done the hard things before. You’re doing them again. And we are so proud of you.”
🌤️ Final Thought
Financial storms happen to everyone — but they don’t have to sweep you away. As Dr. Rasure and Astle reminded us, clarity, calm, and connection are the anchors that keep you steady.
Take a deep breath. Unclench your jaw. You’ve got this.