Debunking your money beliefs

Live True
Nov 29, 2024
3 min read

This year, I’ve been on a mission to tackle common money beliefs through my Debunking Money Beliefs Series.

Across 7 realms of money - Earn, Spend, Save, Invest, Borrow, Secure and Give/ Receive - I’ve broken down the money beliefs that have held my clients back, no more!

There’s still more realms of money to come, but for now, you'll find a handy summary of highlights below.

Why does it matter?

The hidden secret element of financial intelligence...

Money is a lifelong skill - as is the acquisition of relevant skills and knowledge. That's what is commonly known as "financial literacy".

However, if you want lasting and sustainable change with your money behaviours and outcomes, it's critical to work also be proficient with managing your Money Beliefs.

...that I discovered firsthand...

Even with an honours degree from a top business school, Wall Street experience and a trauma-light upbringing, I was seriously handicapped with money until I mastered and rewrote the money beliefs that drove my emotions, decisions and habits around money.

This unlocked new breakthroughs for me:

to take the reins as my family's CIO (Chief Investment Officer)
raise my prices as a coach, to be paid what I believe I'm worth.

The next level came 5 years later when I became the first in Singapore (and Southeast Asia) to be certified as a Trauma of Money professional. I discovered that some of my money beliefs did run at the level of trauma.

As I actively heal them, I find myself breaking new ground in:

promoting myself and being willing to be visible (and "imperfect") in my own skin, and
finding a new comfort, even enjoyment, in sales-related aspects of my business.

... and TEACH my clients.

My clients have confronted their beliefs, created powerful reframes and come to embody them as they write new financial futures. My work with them is guided by the 7C's blueprint, a proven methodology, which forms the backbone of my program Make Money Better.

I sincerely believe it would change the world to have more folks cross over

from fear, scarcity, being stuck in patterns
into trusting themselves, acting with conviction and enjoying (working with) their money.

reframes for 7 realms of money

Without further ado...I hope you enjoy the reframes for 7 realms of money in the highlights below.

1. EARN

Money only comes with hard work and struggle.

I should be happy with the money I have. It's vulgar to covet.

I shouldn't have to promote myself if I'm already doing a great job.

Am I ready for this promotion? Do I deserve this raise?

Let’s rethink how we approach dreaming about our career and income goals in this post.

2. SPEND

This one is a two-fer: Part 1 and Part 2

Is your spending controlled or compulsive?

Have you ever paused to ask yourself why you’re making a purchase?

The key to breaking spending habits lies in understanding the ‘why’ behind the buy.

3. SAVE

This is a great habit but many folks fall on the extreme ends of the spectrum:

hoarding money (think SCROOGE), or
leaking money.

In this post, I explore how to identify the habits that might be quietly draining you of your energy or your money.

4. INVEST

I don't have enough to invest.

I don't have time for this now.

What if I lose all my hard-earned money?

My partner/ friend/ someone else is better at this than I am.

I offer new ways of thinking about all of these conversations that hold folks back from investing effectively.

5. BORROW

Borrowing is dangerous.

We might have a relative who went bankrupt.

Borrowing can be a powerful tool when used wisely.

Debt falls into 3 categories:

the good,
the bad, and
the unclear.

How do we use debt effectively?

Get the low-down here.

6. SECURE

While this is ostensibly about insurance and protection strategies, the fundamental driver is our relationship to uncertainty and risk.

How do we be powerful in the face of uncertainty?

Reframing uncertainty allows us to break out of FOMO and paralysis and regain perspective on our priorities.

7. GIVE & RECEIVE

Abundance as a state of being is perhaps the most elusive thing I hear that people - in their hearts of hearts - really seek (but don't say). Of the 3 dimensions of abundance,