Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice 3377: Money Stress: Why We Use Money to Feel Bad About Ourselves by Dr. Lisa Firestone of Psych Alive
Dec 6, 2025
Dr. Lisa Firestone dives into how our early experiences with money shape our current financial stress and self-worth. She explains the impact of the 'critical inner voice' that triggers guilt and anxiety, leading to self-sabotaging financial behaviors. The podcast also touches on how these mental conflicts can strain relationships. Firestone provides practical tools to challenge destructive financial beliefs and transform your money mindset. Learn five actionable tips to gain control over your financial habits and foster healthier attitudes towards money.
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Money Is More Emotional Than Rational
- Money decisions are often driven by deep emotional memories rather than pure logic.
- Early money-related experiences shape adult attitudes and irrational financial behavior.
The Critical Inner Voice Hijacks Financial Judgment
- The critical inner voice is an internalized negative script from childhood that warps money choices.
- It can provoke guilt, shame, splurging, or extreme rigidity around spending.
Money Feeds Relationship Paranoia
- The inner critic often causes money conflict between partners by assigning moral meaning to purchases.
- It creates paranoia, secrecy, and misinterpretation of giving or not giving.