Struggling with Financial Concern

🐯 Financial concerns are processed in the same brain regions that react to mortal threats. They are the saber-toothed tiger of the modern age.

This intense emotional response can cloud our judgment - which makes it very hard to see a path through the uncertainty.

Layoffs and job instability can lead to a spiral of anxiety, affecting our motivation, self-esteem, and ability to envision a positive future. Personal reflection and development are stalled...at the worst possible time.

I know it's hard to separate economic worry from purpose-driven planning. I’m living it right now; balancing so-called “reality” with the resilient belief that I’m on the right path - even if I don’t know exactly where it leads.

This is what’s working for me:

- Recognizing and accepting the emotions: Fear and anxiety are natural responses that I let myself feel when they emerge.

- Reflecting on my goals: Continually asking myself what I truly want from my work and life in the years to come.

- Engaging a coach: The coaching conversations help me return to the strong intentions that set me on this path at the start.

- Focusing on growth: I’m on a learning binge! Bringing curiosity to every day and folding what I learn back into the work.

- Cultivating a network of support: Surrounding myself with people who can offer emotional support, practical advice, and potential client referrals.

Periods of financial instability are undeniably challenging, but they present an opportunity for profound growth. By acknowledging fears and taking deliberate, proactive steps, we can emerge stronger, more adaptable, and with a clearer vision of what we want to achieve.

(Originally published on LinkedIn)