Financial Empowerment

For Passion-Led & Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs

THE GET NUMBER SAVVY BLOG

Emotions and Finances: Embracing Our Human Side

entrepreneurship financial emotions financial trauma financial wellness holistic finance mindful entrepreneur small business

The Authentic Business Boss

We can don our founder, CEO, or business boss hats, create meticulous budgets, and follow the strictest financial rules. But beneath these professional veneers, we remain deeply emotional beings.

As humans, when it comes to finances, we are essentially emotions with legs.

Dealing with money isn’t just about numbers and spreadsheets. It stirs a cocktail of emotions within us because money touches the core of our lives. It represents security, freedom, and even our sense of self-worth.

Whether it’s the anxiety of a cash flow dry spell, the thrill of a profitable quarter, or the guilt of an unplanned splurge, financial matters strike at our deepest emotional chords.

Understanding Our Emotional Relationship with Money

Acknowledging our emotional relationship with money is crucial. It’s okay to feel the stress, the joy, the fear, and the hope that come with financial decisions. By recognising and embracing these emotions, knowing they are deeply rooted and shaped by our experiences, culture, upbringing, and society, we can better understand ourselves and influence our outcomes more positively.

We are not robots adhering to strict algorithms; we are humans, emotions with legs, striving to balance the rational with the emotional.

So, the next time you’re tackling a financial task, remember to give yourself grace. Allow yourself to feel, because when it comes to money topics, emotions are not just inevitable—they are essential.

Practical Tips for Embracing Financial Emotions

Self-Awareness: Reflect on how different financial situations make you feel. Journaling can help identify patterns and triggers.
Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques to stay present and manage stress when dealing with finances.
Education: Learn about financial psychology and money trauma to better understand the emotional aspects of money management.
Support: Seek support from financial coaches or therapists who specialise in financial wellness.
Community: Join groups or forums where you can share experiences and learn from others navigating similar financial journeys.

By integrating these practices, you can create a more balanced and emotionally healthy approach to managing your finances.

Moving Forward

Understanding and embracing the emotional side of finances doesn't just make you a better business owner; it makes you a more empathetic and resilient individual. In the end, balancing the rational and the emotional can lead to healthier financial decisions and a more fulfilling entrepreneurial journey.

Harriet Formby MA ACA is a ICAEW Chartered Accountant, Fractional CFO and ILM Level 7 Business Mentor helping small businesses, SMEs and start-ups dedicated to changing the world for the better.

After growing disillusioned with making and managing money for faceless entities, in 2020 she left corporate accountancy and founded Below The Line Finance Chartered Accountants and shortly after Get Number Savvy Finance Training .

Via 1:1 consultations, courses, retainers, templates and workshops for companies with both micro and £1m+ budgets, she brings a more human side to finances, as a Trauma of Money™ Certified Practitioner - helping people not only see that they can make profit in an ethical way, but helping them get there too.

Clients regularly tell Harriet they’ve never had a CFO who gets it like her, which is only strengthened when they find out that she works off-grid by a beautiful meadow surrounded by a herd of retired racehorses, pet sheep, Dartmoor ponies and dogs.

Start your journey to feel-good finances today! Contact Harriet for personalised guidance and support.