Great writing, as someone who does a lot of holistic work with women who are creating their dreams - everything you say I mirror back. Words have power and shape how you perceive your potential and your life’s potential. I also want to add I love seeing you share your successes - you remind me we can be ‘glitches in the matrix’ ! Someone else’s ‘normal’ doesn’t have to be ours, especially when most people are mentally operating from lack and limitation versus abundance and possibility 🪐 so keep going and don’t let the Internet’s projections slow you down 💯
It is such a complete sentence. It closes the door, pulls the blinds, and nobody questions it because it sounds responsible.
But you are right that it is often not a financial statement. It is a thinking style. And the moment it becomes the default, it stops being about money at all.
The reframe you offer "how could I afford this" is deceptively simple. It does not promise a yes. It just refuses to accept a full stop where there could be a question mark.
Language as the first lever. Most people never pull it.
Completely agree. Once you realise that you are actually programming yourself by the way you talk to yourself internally, it’s actually fairly easy to make a conscious switch that leads to a positive change in your behaviour. Doesn’t sound like it will
These are great reminders and I echo that our "words have power" sentiment of the comments. "Must be nice" sounds petty and we are all way better than that.
Shifting our mindsets from "I can't have this because I don't have the money " to "I can obtain this if I want it enough" is subtle, yet necessary. If we are strategic, we can have it.
This is so good. The ‘I’m broke’ identity one especially I think the language only changes for real once the structure underneath changes. It’s hard to stop saying ‘I can’t afford it’ when your money is all in one pile and you genuinely can’t see what you can afford. Once I separated mine and could actually see it, the words changed on their own because the reality did. The mouth follows the math.
Yes to the 'I can't afford this'! I realised recently this had made me stuck in a life I wasn't enjoying.
Don't get me wrong, financially I'm well off. Good salary, solid emergency fund and decent sized investment portfolio but 'I can't afford that' became an excuse to avoid risk at any cost. Not always because I genuinely couldn't afford it but because I was scared.
Last week I made a big scary life decision and instead of the 'I can't afford this if it goes wrong' I'm instead trying to focus on 'what do I need to do to make sure this is a success' and contingency planning just in case it does go wrong. While still scary, it's also incredibly freeing.
Hey, I loved reading this and this is so true, practically before starting my business I used to think and say I am broke often too but slowly I started realising that was not accurate and if I take my words lightly so will others. I am sharing a link to an article I wrote recently would love for you to read and share your thoughts https://substack.com/@threadsbyshristi?utm_source=notes-invite-friends-item&r=8gsctc
The language we use around money becomes our identity. When teens constantly say “I’m broke” or “I can’t afford it,” they start thinking money is something that controls them.
Financial literacy is agency. It’s learning to ask better questions and taking responsibility for the answers.
Great writing, as someone who does a lot of holistic work with women who are creating their dreams - everything you say I mirror back. Words have power and shape how you perceive your potential and your life’s potential. I also want to add I love seeing you share your successes - you remind me we can be ‘glitches in the matrix’ ! Someone else’s ‘normal’ doesn’t have to be ours, especially when most people are mentally operating from lack and limitation versus abundance and possibility 🪐 so keep going and don’t let the Internet’s projections slow you down 💯
Loved this article - I was always taught be careful of the words I say to myself and I feel this article reiterates this message. Thanks! X
The "I can't afford it" .
It is such a complete sentence. It closes the door, pulls the blinds, and nobody questions it because it sounds responsible.
But you are right that it is often not a financial statement. It is a thinking style. And the moment it becomes the default, it stops being about money at all.
The reframe you offer "how could I afford this" is deceptively simple. It does not promise a yes. It just refuses to accept a full stop where there could be a question mark.
Language as the first lever. Most people never pull it.
This is a great reminder to be mindful of not only the things we say, but also how we word our thoughts themselves! Loved it!!
Completely agree. Once you realise that you are actually programming yourself by the way you talk to yourself internally, it’s actually fairly easy to make a conscious switch that leads to a positive change in your behaviour. Doesn’t sound like it will
work, but it does!
These are great reminders and I echo that our "words have power" sentiment of the comments. "Must be nice" sounds petty and we are all way better than that.
What you say to yourself slowly becomes your reality.
Sometimes saying things as simple as "I'm broke" can be a way to hide the reality from yourself, let alone working on it.
Shifting our mindsets from "I can't have this because I don't have the money " to "I can obtain this if I want it enough" is subtle, yet necessary. If we are strategic, we can have it.
This is so good. The ‘I’m broke’ identity one especially I think the language only changes for real once the structure underneath changes. It’s hard to stop saying ‘I can’t afford it’ when your money is all in one pile and you genuinely can’t see what you can afford. Once I separated mine and could actually see it, the words changed on their own because the reality did. The mouth follows the math.
Yes to the 'I can't afford this'! I realised recently this had made me stuck in a life I wasn't enjoying.
Don't get me wrong, financially I'm well off. Good salary, solid emergency fund and decent sized investment portfolio but 'I can't afford that' became an excuse to avoid risk at any cost. Not always because I genuinely couldn't afford it but because I was scared.
Last week I made a big scary life decision and instead of the 'I can't afford this if it goes wrong' I'm instead trying to focus on 'what do I need to do to make sure this is a success' and contingency planning just in case it does go wrong. While still scary, it's also incredibly freeing.
Hey, I loved reading this and this is so true, practically before starting my business I used to think and say I am broke often too but slowly I started realising that was not accurate and if I take my words lightly so will others. I am sharing a link to an article I wrote recently would love for you to read and share your thoughts https://substack.com/@threadsbyshristi?utm_source=notes-invite-friends-item&r=8gsctc
really inspiring, thank you for sharing!
This is such an important reminder.
The language we use around money becomes our identity. When teens constantly say “I’m broke” or “I can’t afford it,” they start thinking money is something that controls them.
Financial literacy is agency. It’s learning to ask better questions and taking responsibility for the answers.
Spot on. Words are so powerful. What we say about ourselves and to ourselves matter 🩵