What’s Your Money Story? How to Uncover It—and Begin to Shift It
- Lauren Fonvielle
- May 14
- 2 min read
Money isn’t just dollars and cents. It’s deeply emotional. For many of us, how we think, feel, and behave around money is shaped not by logic—but by stories we’ve unconsciously carried for years.
These stories show up as beliefs, patterns, and emotional responses that influence everything from how we spend and save, to what we believe we’re worth, to how safe or unsafe it feels to have—or not have—money.
If you’ve ever thought:
“I’m just not good with money.”
“No matter what I do, I never have enough.”
“Wanting more makes me greedy.”
“I have to work hard for every dollar I earn.”
…you’re not alone. These thoughts are not truths—they’re part of your money story.
What Is a Money Story?
A money story is a set of beliefs and emotional patterns about money that you’ve internalized, usually early in life. It comes from what you observed, heard, and experienced growing up—at home, in your culture, and through society. For example:
Did your family argue about money?
Was money treated as something scarce or something abundant?
Did you grow up hearing “We can’t afford that” or “Money is the root of all evil”?
These early experiences become the unconscious scripts that drive your financial behavior today.
Why It Matters
Until you recognize your money story, it can quietly dictate your decisions. You might undercharge for your work, sabotage savings goals, avoid looking at your finances, or feel guilt for wanting more. But once you see the story, you can begin to rewrite it.
How to Identify Your Money Story
Start with curiosity, not judgment. Awareness is the first step toward change.
Try these journaling prompts:
What did I learn about money growing up?
How did my caregivers handle money?
What’s a memory I have about money that still sticks with me?
How do I feel when I think about having more money?
Notice the patterns and feelings that come up. Do you feel fear? Shame? Guilt? Do you believe money is a source of freedom—or stress?
How to Begin Shifting It
Once you’ve identified the beliefs holding you back, you can begin gently working to shift them. Here are a few ways to start:
Challenge the belief
Ask: Is this really true? For example, “I’ll never have enough” may have been true once—but is it always true?
Create a bridge affirmation
Instead of jumping to “I’m rich and abundant,” try something believable, like:
“I’m open to creating a new relationship with money.”
“It’s safe for me to learn how to manage money well.”
Try EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
Tapping is a powerful way to release emotional blocks and rewire beliefs. Tap through statements like:
“Even though I believe money is hard to come by, I’m open to changing this.”
Final Thoughts
Your money story isn’t set in stone. It’s just the story you’ve been told—or told yourself—until now. You have the power to rewrite it with intention, compassion, and truth. And as your story changes, so does your relationship with abundance.
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