The most precious thing that money can buy is time. But if you’ve spent a lot of money (and time) you didn’t have on wants rather than needs, coming to terms with the damage you’ve done can be difficult.
Forgiving yourself, and truly moving on from the financial mistakes of your past, is one of the toughest aspects of the journey toward Financial Freedom. Your head is filled with “I should haves…” and laments of “if only I had done…” And sometimes this negative self-talk is so loud you can’t think clearly.
But wallowing in self pity isn’t productive and won’t get you closer toward your goals. In fact, not forgiving yourself is counterintuitive. The relationship between shame and relapse is well documented. And trying to avoid experiencing those feelings of shame can translate into other behaviors like binge spending.
The bottom line: The key to changing your past is embracing it.
Dr. Tony is the co-founder of MindShift.money and the best-selling author of three books on personal and business finances. Having achieved Financial Freedom at 27, Dr. Tony believes that through Financially Fit Bootcamp and Cash Flow Cure everyone can get there. He has made it his life’s mission to help others live a life where their money works for them—not the other way around.