So, you’ve decided to start a money journal to improve your relationship with cash? You’ve made a great decision! Journalling is an incredibly powerful way to write your way to wealth.
The question is, how can you really maximise the benefits of money journalling so you can really uncover those money blocks and create a positive money mindset? We’ll get to that later, first up, let’s look at why it’s a really great idea to journal.
Why keep a journal?
Journalling can help you in many different and surprising ways. Here are just a few of the advantages:
- Journalling can help you to manage stress, anxiety and even depression
Many studies have shown that keeping a mood journal and writing about your thoughts and feelings can help to improve mental well-being. If you’re here, then I’m guessing that you might have some difficult feelings about money? Journalling can help you reduce any stress and negative mood when it comes to money. - Writing about your problems and challenges can help you overcome them
When you write down your problems and challenges, you can see them clearly in front of you. Having this distance and new perspective helps your creative brain to get to work, which is especially useful if you’re experiencing any financial issues in your business or personal life. - You’ll become more self-aware
Self-awareness will help you to know and understand your mind and body. You’ll become more adept at tuning into how you’re feeling and what your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical needs are. When writing about money, write down how your body feels. This might seem strange, but negative emotions can often manifest physically, such as feeling a tightness in your chest, tension in your jaw or throat, headaches and other bodily aches and pains. Breathe into any discomfort until it passes. - You’ll notice your patterns of behaviour
Over time, your journal will become a great source of reference. You might notice patterns, such as low mood coinciding with a particular person or event, emotional triggers you need to address, or a tendency to self-sabotage when you’re feeling stressed. Money blocks and issues tend to display repeated patterns of behaviour. Journaling can help you notice these patterns, identify the triggers and work though them through writing. - Journalling can help you feel happier and more fulfilled
When you’re writing about and appreciating the people, places and things in your life, you’re exercising your gratitude muscles. Daily gratitude has also been shown to increase the likelihood of a good nights sleep, amongst many other health benefits. You’ll find out why it’s great for money journalling below.
Journaling is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.
Mina Murray
Many people like to have a core theme for journalling because it can make it easier to focus on what to write about and is a more intensive way of working on individual issues.
Money journalling
Money mindset is something many business owners want to get to grips with and for good reason; money blocks and limiting beliefs about money can really affect your business growth, with many entrepreneurs not being able to increase their prices or hitting income walls. Not only that, but these blocks can play havoc with your confidence, self-esteem and feelings of worthiness.
You might notice some of these things when it comes to your own blocks about money:
- You find it hard to create a pricing strategy
- You tend to over-give when it comes to your clients
- You find it hard to talk about your rates
- You struggle with impostor syndrome, especially when you see what others in your niche are charging – “I can’t charge that…they are more qualified than me…their website looks more expensive…they have more experience than me…I’m not worth that amount”
- You’d rather lose money that have to chase overdue clients
- You take on too many clients because you’re afraid of losing them and experiencing the ‘feast and famine’ of good/bad money months
Can you relate to some of these? If so, then don’t worry because money journalling is going to help you.
How to get started with money journalling
First up, you’ll need to go stationery shopping – yay! You’ll want to feel abundant when you’re writing in your new money journal, so pick one that feels indulgent or rich, You don’t need to spend a lot of money though; look for gold patterns and embossed covers to get that opulent feel. Whilst you’re there, you’ll need a lovely new pen too; choose one that feel smooth and weighty.
When trying to uncover hidden money blocks, it’s always best to start with your past. Think about the messages you heard in childhood, your family’s financial situation growing up, or any events where you felt unworthy or not good enough. There are lots of great prompts online to help you get started, or check out my own money journal here.
Enhancing your money journalling practice – 5 tips
Here are 5 tips to help you get the most out of your money journal:
- Include gratitude
Money blocks can make it feel like there’s not enough…enough money, enough stuff, enough of anything! By focusing on what you DO have, rather than what you don’t, can help you to feel more abundant in the now. There is an abundance of money in the world; likewise there is an abundance of love, nature, people and things to feel grateful for. Make sure you choose 3-5 things you feel grateful and why you’re grateful for them every day. - Repeat affirmations
Saying affirmations out loud can feel weird but you’ll soon get used to it. Just remember, every time you repeat a positive affirmation, you are creating a new neural pathway in your brain which will eventually become more familiar than your old negative pathways about money. A good way to find affirmations to suit you is by reframing your negative money beliefs, for example, if you think things like: “I feel really worthless when someone says I’m too expensive, or questions my pricing” then turn that into a positive affirmation such as “I attract my soul clients who value and honour my work”. Take a good look at any negative words or phrases you’ve used in your money journal and reframe as many as you can into positive affirmations. - Invest in a journal dedicated to overcoming money blocks
Yes, there’s a thing! I’ve created my own printable ‘Wildly Abundant’ money journal and tracker, and there are lots more out there on the market – take a look round and see what you feel most drawn to. Having all your journal prompts ready and curated in a way that takes you on a money journey can really help you uncover those blocks quicker and more effectively than just winging it alone. - Get ‘tapping’ into money
If you haven’t used Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as ‘tapping’ before, then now is the time to give it a try. Tapping is especially amazing when it comes to getting right to the crux of issues and I’ve used it a lot when it comes to money blocks. You’ll be in good company too, as Denise Duffield-Thomas, the author of the book ‘Get Rich, Lucky Bitch’ also recommends tapping as a way to heal your money story. Silently tap through the tapping points as you think about your money blocks and you’ll be surprised at what you uncover. You can also use tapping as a way to feel calmer if any difficult emotions come up. There are many great money tap along videos to try on YouTube and I have 3 abundance tap-along videos you can try as a bonus when purchasing my money journal. - Meditate on money
Before you journal each day, ask yourself “what can I do today to improve my relationship with money” and sit quietly for 5-10 minutes as you ponder this question. Don’t worry if nothing comes up or you get distracted, just do your best to tune into how you’re feeling. Giving yourself this space and time can really help you to identify what is most pressing when it comes to healing your relationship with money.
Finally, a bonus tip is to keep a jar of abundance or money tracker. Record any money coming into your life, no matter what form it takes; be it a money-off supermarket voucher, a gift from a friend, a penny you found in the street or unexpected refunds. Realising just how much money flows your way can truly help you to realise that money is abundant in the world, as are you.
Want to take your money journaling to the next level? access my Wildly Abundant Money Journal here. Full instructions are provided along with EFT tapping videos to enhance your jounalling experience.
Have you overcome your money blocks through journalling? Or maybe something else helped you? Feel free to share your money story in the comments.
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