Imagine that money is a person, a consciousness. How would you relate to it differently? What thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and actions would you change?
When I first considered this concept back in May of 2018, as I transitioned from my tenured university professor position to being a full-time business owner, I was mind-blown. I hadn’t treated money well. I didn’t talk about it with kindness or compassion.
In this article, I will share nine strategies that tap into the psychology of money. They are emotionally rooted. Once you’re able to transform your inner outlook on your relationship with money, you’ll experience more freedom in the choices and actions you take around it.
Through my personal journey and my work with clients—whether they have small or larger businesses—I’ve seen how these subtle yet powerful shifts create more joy, meaning, and satisfaction in life and work. They also impact your income substantially.
Disentagle Self-Worth from Money
Your self-worth is innate. It’s unconditional. It’s not tied to how much you earn or what’s in your bank account. When we forget this, we start to feel shame or guilt—or even a sense of pride or entitlement—when it comes to money. These are just different sides of the same coin.
Your self-worth is. It’s not because. It’s not linked to anything external.
When you remember this, it softens your nervous system and your self-concept in business and money matters. I see so many talented people stressed out and disconnected from joy in their work, simply because they’ve lost sight of what really matters.
Release Shame & Fear Around Learning
Like many skills we learn growing up, very few of us have been intentionally trained to handle money. School doesn’t teach us how to manage money, stay organized, pay bills, or earn in a healthy way by exchanging our skills for monetary reward.
Most of us have been prepared to be employees. When you work for someone else, you get a paycheck—steady and predictable. You don’t need to learn how to create or manage income.
But as an entrepreneur, the financial responsibility rests on you. You’re learning to earn, manage, organize, save, allocate, and complete all kinds of monetary tasks. It’s empowering! And if you can release the unrealistic expectation that you should already know it all, then you can approach the entire learning process with curiosity, openness, self-compassion, and a baby-steps mindset.
Normalize Conversations About Money
I used to joke that money is like sex—it’s only taboo if we refuse to acknowledge it exists.
The more open you are to conversations about money—with yourself, your loved ones, friends, kids, partners, and colleagues—the more you release fear around it. You’ll begin to practice asking for what you need, raising concerns, negotiating, and learning.
Charge to Thrive (Not Just Survive)
Thriving is essential in business. If you’re not being financially supported for your work, it’s hard to keep going. Passion alone isn’t sustainable without financial backing.
When pricing your offerings, consider your real needs—and add a margin for thriving. That said, don’t confuse this with pricing solely based on value. The pricing needs to be a win-win relationship: for your client and yourself. Remember to focus on relationships, not numbers.
Live the Mindset of Abundance (Be Abundance)
An abundance mindset brings you into the present moment—in your life and in business. Without it, you stay stuck in worry and fear about the future. You can’t do your most creative, productive, purposeful work if you’re operating from lack.
Key abundance mindset beliefs include:
- The Universe has my back (create trust about life)
- My talents are important (appreciate and accept your talent)
- I am unique (release competition)
- My life and business have purpose
- There is enough money in the world
- I participate in the flow of money (earning and spending).
Stay Organized
You don’t need to obsess over every penny, but money loves structure. That includes:
- Knowing your income and expenses
- Paying taxes
- Cutting unnecessary (energy-draining) costs
Get help from someone who enjoys structure and can simplify it for you. There’s no one “right” system—just find one that feels good, like creating a clean, inviting space where you can relax and thrive.
Bring Joy into Your Relationship with Work & Money
To feel joy, you must connect with your body and emotions. Many of us are conditioned to be constantly busy, to work hard doing tasks that don’t actually matter—just to prove our worth.
Let go of the need to be busy all the time. Instead, build a business that supports your dreams, values, and priorities. Yes, hard work and persistence matter—but working smarter is the new path.
One of the biggest reasons to work for yourself is to experience more joy. Don’t forget that.
Progress Over Perfection
I used to celebrate every time I found a nickel or dime on the street. It reminded me that the Universe has my back. This practice helped me separate celebration from the amount of money—learning to feel grateful whether it’s big or small.
You don’t have to pop champagne every time you earn $10, but acknowledging your progress (daily!) matters. That’s the intrinsic motivation that keeps you going—especially through hard times.
I hope these inner strategies have helped you reconnect to your beingness with money—not just the transactional side that never fully gives us what we’re truly seeking.
Entrepreneurship is a creative, meaningful path. When we care for our inner world and return to our wholeness, we’re able to share our gifts enthusiastically—and get paid to do it.
What a rewarding experience.
Want to see where you are on your Abundance Mindset? Take the free quiz here.
This is a contributed piece published by Mariya Shiyko, PhD, a spiritual business and life mentor. She empowers her clients to step into their purpose and power without the self-sacrifice and helps to create measurable and thriving results.
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