It’s easy to to find ourselves thinking that money holds the key to our happiness, security, and freedom. We can project our desires and aversions onto money, believing that once we have “enough”, we can finally get the life we want. But thinking like this often keeps us from truly living our lives; instead we're stuck constantly chasing the next thing.

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Money is a story we create, not something with inherent power. It's a piece of paper; a digit in a computer we assign value to. But by disentangling our sense of self from our relationship with money, we can reclaim our personal agency and free up a lot of creative energy.

Even while recognising that everyone’s financial situations are different, dysfunctional money stories lead to a constant need to chase, where we're forever stuck in a loop of wanting more but never feeling satisfied. But by untangling our sense of self-worth from our financial status, we can start to experience a life that flows more naturally, with and without the constraint of money.

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Listen to this episode to

• Learn how our narratives about money can influence our actions and happiness, and how changing these narratives can free up creative energy.
• Understand how to disentangle our sense of self from our relationship with money, leading to a life that flows more naturally.
• Discover how acknowledging that money has no inherent power can shift our perspectives and affect our personal and professional development.

Episode highlights

• [00:02:57] Our response to money
• [00:05:47] Money stories on a global level
• [00:09:25] Our individual money stories
• [00:13:20] The "lack-of-funding" problem within the NHS
• [00:16:29] The "time is money" story
• [00:19:31] Excavating your own money stories
• [00:21:52] Projections of money meaning
• [00:25:22] Selfishness and self-image
• [00:31:53] Healing unhelpful money stories
• [00:34:22] Tackling our projections head-on
• [00:43:25] Dealing with money conflicts
• [00:48:02] Money as an expression of appreciation
• [00:51:20] Every big change begins with a big lie
• [00:54:57] Agnes' top tips

About the guest

Agnes Otzelberger is a trainer and therapist, working people who feel burnt out and stuck. She’s particularly interested in the relationship people have with money and how it affects their sense of self, their relationships with others, and their impact on the world. Agnes helps people untangle their sense of self from their relationship with money and break down unhelpful money narratives.

Website LinkedIn | Facebook

Resources

• Watch the video version on YouTube
• How to Stop Your Finances Controlling Your Career – Episode 142, with Dr Tommy Perkins
• Defining Your Own Success in Life – Episode 107, with Dr Claire Kaye
• Download the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for reflection and to submit for your appraisal as part of your CPD.
• Agnes’ CU*money course
• Join the You Are Not a Frog Facebook group

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Connect with Rachel

Have any questions? Contact Rachel through these platforms:

• LinkedIn: @Dr-Rachel-Morris
• Twitter: @DrRachelMorris
• Email: [email protected]

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