Forgiveness in Your Financial Journey

One of the things I’ve incorporated into my personal finance journey is forgiveness. It’s not something we often consider when we think about managing our finances, but is probably one of the most important aspects of our journeys.

I came to this concept through a book entitled The 30-Day Money Cleanse. Author, Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, encourages readers to lead their money journey with forgiveness, compassion, and understanding. Money is a complex and complicated subject matter for many of us. It can often be rooted in shame, fear, disappointment, anxiety, hopelessness or even helplessness. With our culture’s (U.S.) propensity to avoid money conversations, it’s no wonder there are so many negative emotions tied to our money. Then, add in things like the wealth gaps, pay gaps, and lack of financial education and it becomes clearer that as a society we struggle to have a positive and affirmative relationship with our finances.

But, we can choose to focus on creating that positive and affirmative mindset when it comes to our finances. And I believe it starts with compassion. I’m sure we all have made financial decisions we are not proud of. Or, have had to make tough financial decisions because of the circumstances we might have been in. But, don’t let those decisions define you or define your value. You are more than your financial decisions and you need to honor that.

Financial journeys can be difficult for many people because of all the emotions tied to our experiences with our finances. But that is normal. Being human doesn’t stop when we start our journey to better finances. We’ll have ups and downs in the journey, but that is all part of the process. If you made a decision that set you back financially or there was a circumstance that put you into a tough position financially, don’t avoid how you feel. Acknowledge it, accept it, and treat yourself with compassion. We can make a better decision next time or advocate for ourselves better next time. This is hard work, but you’re doing it and that should always be celebrated.

When we acknowledge and accept how we feel about our past financial decisions that may have set us back, we start to loosen those more negative feelings around money. By doing this, we can release them and focus on assessing our situation, getting back on track, and getting on to our next goal. When we allow those negative feelings to sit with us without acknowledging or accepting them, those feelings keep us from creating a more positive and affirmative relationship with our finances. They keep us in that place of shame, anxiety, disappointment, etc. and can often lead us to make more decisions that set us back or make it difficult for us to see when are in an environment that is making it challenging for us to move toward our financial goals.

So, acknowledging and accepting those feelings and treating yourself with compassion helps you change the narrative you have with your finances. It’s ok to have negative feelings along this journey. There is nothing wrong with that! But you have to make sure to be compassionate with yourself. This is the key. Lead your journey with empathy and accountability, stay focused, and celebrate the wins when you can.

What are some “unconventional” things you have made a part of your journey or that you will include in the future? I’d love to hear about them. Share in the comments!