What makes someone successful with money over another? It’s all about having a positive money mindset!

What exactly is a money mindset, you ask? Essentially, it’s your core set of beliefs about money and how money works in the world. It plays into every decision you make regarding how you handle money, how you spend and how you save. It also shapes your attitude toward others who make more or less than you, your ability to invest confidently, how easily you can donate or give to others, and your feelings toward debt.

Every single day you have the power to make decisions that will either move you forward financially or set you further back.. and it’s all based on your money mindset.

How is Your Money Mindset Formed?

Would you believe your money mindset was formed as early as your childhood? It’s true! Our core beliefs about money are formed in early childhood from our observations and the money messages we received from our parents, siblings, friends and community.

The way your parents discussed money is probably the biggest influence of how you perceive money today. Quickly think back to your childhood. Did they fight and yell? Or were financial conversations talked about in a calm manner? Was there enough money when you were growing up or was it a struggle? Did they make rude remarks about other people and their money? Were they generous to others?

There are many other factors playing into your money mindset as well. Were you ever on the receiving end of generosity? Did you work throughout your teenage years? Did you have to help your family out financially?

Take some time and write out the answers to the questions below. These will help give you clarity and a better understanding to your beliefs: What money messages did you receive from your parents?

Did they save their money or spend it?
How was money talked about in your household? Was it discussed calmly or with tension?
Did you have a job as a teenager? Why or why not?
If so, what did you do with that money? Spend it? Save it?
Did you parents teach you how to budget, save and give?
How might the money messages you received in your childhood be affecting you today?

Why is it important to understand your Money Mindset?

Having an understanding of what your money mindset is and how it was developed will aid you in changing your mindset for the better.

If you’re married, having an understanding of your beliefs can potentially help you get to the root cause of your money fights with your spouse. Their experience with money was probably different than yours, which means, when you have money conversations you are both coming at it from two different perspectives.

Having the knowledge of where your beliefs came from will help you to move forward toward a better financial future.

My Mindset Shift

My mindset shifted just a couple of years ago when my husband and I read The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. I had these beliefs around money that I didn’t even know I had, and after finishing the book my beliefs completely shifted.

Before reading the book I never cared or worried about money. I believed everyone had debt and it was “just a way of life.” Having a credit card to earn points, student loans, and car payments was nothing out of the ordinary. I was naive enough to think the banks, credit card companies, and insurance companies were keeping my best interests in mind.

These beliefs were constantly fed to me through social media, advertisements, television shows, books, and even conversations with friends and family. I honestly didn’t know any better. When I finally read a book that discussed topics that went completely against the norm (and made perfect sense)–– my mindset changed.

How Do You Change Your Money Mindset?

Changing your mindset around money begins with being aware of your thoughts, feelings, behaviors and actions around money.

Over the next few weeks, write down your thoughts and feelings during certain situations. When it comes time to pay a loan or mortgage are you feeling stressed or anxious? Do you pay the bill or do you leave it for the other person when going out to dinner? If you give to a church or charity how does that make you feel? When you get paid does that money burn a hole in your pocket or do you save it?

When you are in a situation involving money, reflect on how you feel in that moment and write those feelings down.

Over time, you will start to see a pattern of your money blocks and limiting beliefs. The goal is to continually uncover the money blocks, make yourself aware of the block, dissolve it and release it so you can have a healthier relationship with your money.

Awareness leads to action, and action leads to change.