Words can have a huge impact on how we think, act, and feel. If a coworker harshly criticizes our work, it has the power to shift our attitude the rest of the day. If a close friend expresses how much we mean to them, we are instantly lifted.
Self-affirmations, touted by those in the self-help arena as a way to create the life you want, are, in their simplest form, a collection of words to help put our minds in a place of positivity.
In fact, optimism might even help you live a longer life. But what in the world does this have to do with money?
The conversations you have and the words you use to describe your financial situation and relationship with money matter. They hold weight and can affect the actions you take as well as your overall ability to achieve financial success.
It’s easier to believe our words than seek evidence to the contrary.
If we’re constantly referring to the dire nature of our finances, it’s far easier to live and operate in that frame of mind than to start acting on solutions to change the current situation. We are just as convinced by our words as others are.
The solution?
Stop speaking of your current financial woes as if they are a mainstay of your life. We are the writers of our future, so it’s far more productive to talk about how you’re moving forward than all of the particulars about what had you stuck in the first place.
Like attracts like – especially when it comes to money talk.
If studies show positive people tend to be better problem solvers than pessimists, it’s probably beneficial to be surrounded by positive people – those who might be able to lend support and advice on creating a healthy money situation.
The solution?
Like attracts like, and positive people like to be around other positive people. That means framing your money conversations in a way that won’t turn off those you’re surrounded by. This doesn’t mean avoiding talk of struggle, but there’s a clear difference between those who speak of struggle to move forward, and those who speak of struggle strictly to get permission to stay stuck.
Negative self-talk undermines our ability to manage money in the best way possible.
When we speak negatively about where we currently stand in regards to money, or our lack of ability to handle money properly, we chip away at our self-esteem. A lack of self-esteem paralyzes our ability to act in our own best interests because suddenly we’re questioning if we even know what that means.
The solution?
Understand that when you know better, you do better. If you knew back then what you know now about money, your financial picture might look entirely different today. Instead of using this to harp on the past, think of how much better your future will look now that you’re gathering the information necessary to succeed financially.