Money isn\u2019t just about numbers \u2014 it\u2019s about feelings, beliefs, and the stories we tell ourselves. Beyond Finance\u2019s own financial therapists Dr. Erika Rasure and Nathan Astle share insights that can help us heal our relationship with money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDebt, money \u2014 these are inherently emotional experiences. It\u2019s never just about the numbers,\u201d Astle explained. He points to something psychologists call the cognitive triangle<\/em>: our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. Remember: Negative thought patterns don\u2019t just cloud our mood \u2014 they shape the decisions we make, and ultimately how our lives unfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Rasure agrees: \u201cEverybody is subject to feeling like we are a prisoner of our own thoughts sometimes.\u201d When our thoughts tend towards the negative, it\u2019s easy to spiral into further negativity. Positivity can create momentum and by the same token, negativity can invite more of the same if we don\u2019t pause to notice and redirect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the first tools in breaking these patterns is simply awareness. Astle offered a simple analogy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe difference between identifying a thought and just observing a thought is like being in traffic versus watching traffic. When you\u2019re in the car, you have to follow it. But when you\u2019re just watching, you can let the cars pass by. Thoughts are the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words: not every thought is true, and not every thought deserves to stay. A negative thought might pop into your head, but you can choose whether you indulge it, or recognize it as just a thought (not a fact), and let it float by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Rasure encouraged us to examine our thoughts through two lenses \u2014 usefulness and truth. Some of our most stubborn money beliefs \u2014 I\u2019ll never have enough,<\/em> I\u2019m not good with money <\/em>\u2014 often come from childhood conditioning or outside voices, not from reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is true for someone else might not truly be true for you,\u201d she reminds us. Untangling which beliefs are ours and which belong to others is an important part of healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Astle outlined several cognitive distortions \u2014 mental habits that can keep us stuck \u2014 to be aware of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery good choice is a good choice and it matters and counts,\u201d Astle stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be careful not to shame yourself for having negative thoughts. Astle suggests to instead remember the \u201ctwo Cs\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This mindset helps us move from criticism to understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One practical tool Astle recommends is \u201cputting your thoughts on trial.\u201d When a thought feels heavy, imagine presenting it in court:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asking these questions can bring us back into reality and help reveal these thoughts for what they are \u2014 just thoughts; not facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Rasure reminds us that this is ongoing work: \u201cIt\u2019s definitely something that requires a lot of mindfulness and attention.\u201d Healing isn\u2019t linear. Some days will feel easier than others, but with practice, the patterns shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Astle concludes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot all thoughts are true, and not every thought needs to stick around \u2014 especially when those thoughts are making judgments about you or your money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re not your credit score. You\u2019re not your mistakes. You\u2019re a human being on a journey, and every step forward counts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Beyond Finance\u2019s own financial therapists Dr. Erika Rasure and Nathan Astle share insights that can help us heal our relationship with money.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[168,166],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-managing-financial-stress-trauma","category-your-relationship-with-money"],"yoast_head":"\nObserving Instead of Absorbing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Asking: \u201cIs This Useful? Is This True?\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Common \u201cThinking Traps\u201d Around Money<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nStay Mindful & Attentive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n