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Market Swings Are Inevitable. Stress Doesn’t Have to Be.

How Market Volatility Impacts More Than Just Your Finances

When the markets are all over the place, it’s natural to feel a little (or a lot) off-balance too. This is a really good time to pause and ask:

How does financial stress impact other areas of your life—like your health, your relationships, or your ability to think clearly and make good decisions?

🎥 I recorded a short video to help you reflect on this—watch it here:

Even when things bounce back, those emotional ups and downs can linger. It’s not just about what’s happening in your portfolio—it’s about what’s happening inside of you.

We all have a relationship with money—and in times of uncertainty, that relationship can get strained. And that stress often shows up in unexpected ways:

More arguments at home
Less sleep and more worry
Difficulty concentrating or feeling present
Reacting instead of responding

You’re definitely not alone. A Bankrate survey found that almost 50% of people say money stress significantly affects their mental health.

The good news? You can do something about it—and it doesn’t have to involve spreadsheets or stock tickers.

Here are a few ways to shift your energy and lower your stress:

✅ Take a break from the news. Constant headlines can fuel anxiety. Giving yourself a break creates breathing room.
✅ Step outside. Nature has a way of resetting your nervous system and helping you gain perspective.
✅ Practice mindfulness. Even a few minutes of meditation can help you feel more centered.
✅ Talk it out. Whether it’s with a trusted partner or friend, having an open conversation can bring clarity—and connection.

And here’s something I really recommend:

Ask yourself deeper, better questions.

The ones that bring awareness and calm—not more fear. (That’s why I created my Money Talks! Cards©—to spark meaningful, grounding conversations with yourself and others.)

You don’t have to ignore the markets. But you don’t have to let them run your inner world either.

With peace and perspective,

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ NEW! Get your own deck of Money Talks Cards!© (like those Ellen is holding in the video) Talking with & about money is a beautiful, effective way to fundamentally shift your relationship with money. Use these cards solo, with a partner, with a group/team, or to bring insights to talks with your advisor. Order here and get a deeper understanding of your money mindset and habits.

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

The Message I Couldn’t Ignore (Twice!)

What’s The Message You Might Be Missing

I’ve been inspired to pull a card from the Money Talks! card deck and use it as a spark for what to write about. Today, I pulled a card and thought, That’s not what I want to write about. So, I shuffled the deck and pulled again.

The same card came up!

Messages and signs are always showing up for us. Yet, it’s easy to ignore them, discount them, or justify why we shouldn’t listen.

What if, instead, you noticed signs and synchronicities with curiosity—asking, Hmmm, I wonder what this is trying to tell me?

Have you ever had multiple people mention the same book or show to you? Maybe that’s a nudge that it could be helpful. Or when a client or contact pops into your mind and, soon after, you see them posting on social media—it might just be a sign telling you to reach out.

It’s so fun when you do and they say, “Oh, I was just thinking about you!” Sometimes, those connections even turn into new business opportunities—which has happened to me more than once.

I’ve also gone through phases of seeing feathers on the ground daily during my walks, or spotting hawks in unexpected places—like above the Trader Joe’s parking lot!

To notice signs, we need to be present and paying attention—a great reminder that presence is powerful in so many areas of our lives.

So, what was the card I pulled?

How do you envision your dream living situation in 10 years? In 20 years?

This feels perfect as I write this from Black Mountain, NC. As I was getting ready for my day, I found myself thinking, I could spend a lot of time in this lovely, relaxed, beautiful place.

How would you answer this question?

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ NEW! Get your own deck of Money Talks Cards!© (like the one Ellen is holding above) Talking with & about money is a beautiful, effective way to fundamentally shift your relationship with money. Use these cards solo, with a partner, with a group/team, or to bring insights to talks with your advisor. Order here and get a deeper understanding of your money mindset and habits.

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Your Future Self has Financial Advice for You

Did you know that imagining your future self can help you make smarter financial decisions today?

Research from the National Institutes of Health found that when people see age-progressed images of themselves, they’re more likely to prioritize saving for retirement. By visualizing your future self, you make that version of you feel more real—and connecting your actions today to future outcomes becomes easier.

A simple mindset shift like this can pave the way for a more secure future.

Now, imagine you’re a time traveler having a conversation with yourself 10 or 20 years from now. What advice do you think your future self would give you?

Would it be a gentle nudge to save and invest more?

Maybe it’s encouragement to spend money on experiences rather than material possessions—like finally taking that dream trip. Or perhaps it’s reassurance to take a leap, whether that’s switching careers or starting a business.

Maybe your future self would say this: Stop worrying so much about money. You’ll be okay.

Focusing on your inner money wisdom (yes, you have it!) can bring peace, possibility, and prosperity.

For more tools to explore your relationship with money, check out the Money Talks! Cards© . They’re a fun and easy way to make money conversations less tricky—and much more meaningful!

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ NEW! Get your own deck of Money Talks Cards!© Talking with & about money is a beautiful, effective way to fundamentally shift your relationship with money. Use these cards solo, with a partner, with a group/team, or to bring insights to talks with your advisor. Order here and get a deeper understanding of your money mindset and habits.

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

From Guilt to Gratitude: Shifting Your Money Mindset

Quit being hard on yourself and embrace your money wins.

It’s easy to focus on what you haven’t done, or did but wish you didn’t, when it comes to money. Rarely do people take time to look at great financial decisions you’ve made in the past. I know you’ve taken smart actions you can feel good about. You’ve made choices or taken steps that have served you well.

Maybe you set up systematic savings into your retirement plan at work. Or paid down some of your debt and saved on interest. Perhaps you made an investment that paid off for you. Did you get rid of a subscription you no longer need?

Why does looking at your past wins matter? It’s helpful to know that even small steps can make a big difference. People spend too much time beating themselves up, especially about money. It needs to stop. It’s not helpful. It isn’t as motivating as you might think, and Money doesn’t want you to do it 😊.

So what financial decisions and actions have you taken in the past that you feel particularly proud of? Ask your partner, your kids, your friends this question.

Let’s get talking about money!

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

The Key to a Beautiful Relationship with Money

If you had a beautiful relationship with Money, what would it look and feel like? Whether you’re aware of it or not, we all have a relationship with our Money. It flows through just about every part of our lives.

Your relationship with Money impacts your personal relationships. We know money disagreements are a leading cause of divorce.

Your relationship with Money impacts your work life. It impacts how you charge, ask for raises, decide to stay in a job or take a job.

Your relationship with Money impacts your health. Money worries are a huge cause of stress for many people.

The people I work with and speak to find it helpful to look at their relationship with Money like a personal relationship . If you were besties with Money or even in a romantic relationship, how would you be showing up?

Are you a caring, loving, and supportive partner?

Are you untrusting of Money, worried all the time that it will leave you?

Are you demanding and want Money to show up for you when you need it, but not doing your part to take care of Money?

I was brought in to lead a program for business leaders and one women shared that she has a promiscuous relationship with Money. Basically, looking for a hook up when she needed it and other times ignoring Money.

Here’s a journal prompt to explore this more deeply:

“If I had a beautiful relationship with money, what would it look and feel like?” Make sure to include both how Money would show up for you and how you would show up for it.

If you want to explore more of your relationship with Money using the Money Talks! Cards© you can find them here.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ NEW! Get your own deck of Money Talks Cards!© Talking with & about money is a beautiful, effective way to fundamentally shift your relationship with money. Use these cards solo, with a partner, with a group/team, or to bring insights to talks with your advisor. Get your own deck here for a deeper understanding of your money mindset and habits.

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

The Power of Big Dreams: how far could yours take you?

I’ve been pulling a card daily from the Money Talks! Cards© deck to contemplate. Today’s card asks: If you could achieve any dream, no matter how big, what would it be?

It’s interesting to use the filters of different parts of your life to answer this…

What dream would you love to achieve in your business? Is it about the number of people you’d love to impact? A new service or product you’d love to offer? Does it relate to your team or location of your business? Over this past weekend I had the thought, ‘if I could work with 10,000 financial advisors to help their clients fundamentally shift their relationships with money I’d impact not just them, but roughly 1 million people (their clients).’ If that many people had a more abundant relationship with money … that would be so cool and make a big difference.
What dream would you love to achieve in your personal life? Is there a dream you have for yourself, for family, for your friends? When I was a financial advisor I remember a client who had the goal to take her adult children and their spouses on an African safari. It was a goal that would require a lot of her financial resources. It felt like a “dream” until we factored it into her financial plan. They had an amazing experience!
What dream would you love to achieve in the world? The world is in challenging times for sure. Do you have a dream of how you’d love to make your mark? In my book Messages from Money I tell the story of Jacqueline Hayes. She was so saddened when she saw hungry and unhoused people in the most exclusive areas of Chicago, she knew she had to help. This was the genesis of The Chicago Help Initiative (CHI). Since their beginnings in 2001, CHI has not only served hundreds of thousands of meals, but supports their guests with programs to find housing, jobs, healthcare, and so much more. As a supporter and periodic volunteer for CHI, I’m inspired by what Jackie has started and the impact she’s had on the community, the guests, and the volunteers who collaborate with her. There hasn’t been a lunch I’ve been at with her where she hasn’t asked the manager of the restaurant if they could support CHI with a hot meal. One person can impact so many!

What can you do with these questions? Contemplate them, journal about them, have a conversation with friends and family about them…

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ NEW! Get your own deck of Money Talks! Cards© Talking with & about money is a beautiful, effective way to fundamentally shift your relationship with money. Use these cards solo, with a partner, with a group/team, or to bring insights to talks with your advisor. Get your own deck here for a deeper understanding of your money mindset and habits.

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Financial Burden Worrying You?

I’ve started a practice of pulling a Money Talks! Card for inspiration before my presentations, consultations, and writing.

Today the card asked: If you could eliminate one financial worry or burden from your future, what would it be?

Many of the worries we carry when it comes to our finances can be eliminated by one of three approaches:

Creating a plan. When I was a financial advisor, clients often expressed worry about future occurrences that were highly unlikely to happen. When we ran their plan, with conservative assumptions, they felt more confident.
Changing behavior. We often know exactly what we need to do, and yet don’t do it. Taking clear, inspired action toward your goals lowers stress. What is one thing, that if you did, you know would make a significant difference in your financial life? Do that. The sooner the better.
Shifting your mindset. What we worry about rarely happens. According to a National Institutes of Health study only 8.61% of worries came true. That means that 91.39% of the time they don’t! Adjusting money beliefs doesn’t have to be as hard as you think. (Resources are in the P.S. below – let me know if I can help.)

Naming what you’re worried about is a great first start (name it to tame it). I hope you’ll contemplate this question: If you could eliminate one financial worry or burden from your future, what would it be?

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ NEW! Get your own deck of Money Talks Cards!© Talking with & about money is a beautiful, effective way to fundamentally shift your relationship with money. Use these cards solo, with a partner, with a group/team, or to bring insights to talks with your advisor. Get your own deck here for a deeper understanding of your money mindset and habits.

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Is Your Money Partnership in Sync?

As I was working on a Messages from Money session for a client (these are consultations to guide people toward a more prosperous relationship with their money) I realized that her relationship with Money was like a ballroom dance partnership. This might be also helpful for you to explore.

A good ballroom dancing partner possesses several key qualities, and these are true for a great Money partnership as well. (Disclaimer…although I love to dance, I’ve never danced ballroom. These qualities came with help from Chat GPT or, as I’ve named her, Chatty Cathie 😊)

Communication: Clear communication is essential for synchronization in dance movements. Partners should be able to discuss routines, adjustments, and preferences openly. With Money, how can you communicate better? What if you were to journal more with Money? Ask it questions and notice what you hear or see and experience in response. You might be surprised. Or ask questions in meditation. Guidance is available for you. Especially in your business. Ask and quietly listen for direction. Insights are accessible to us all the time. Whether you believe “Money” is talking to you, or your intuition, or you have a knowing, it doesn’t really matter.
Trust: Trust in each other’s abilities plus a commitment to practicing and performing together builds a strong dance partnership. What if you trusted in Money more; that it had your back and you will be fine financially? I know this can seem challenging sometimes. Life and world events can definitely raise our financial fear levels. Still worry about money is a bad strategy. If you trusted more in money, it might just lower your fear levels and allow you to make better decisions. Limiting beliefs about whether you have what it takes are just that, limiting. When these play in the background they slow your progress down. By contrast, trust in yourself, trust in your abilities, and trust in money will move you ahead with more ease than a limited focus on the scary news will, for sure.
Consistency: Reliably attending practices and performances fosters a dependable dance relationship. Regular care and attention to your money will help it grow. Not overly attentive, where you obsess over money. But instead knowing what’s going on with it and making sure it’s being managed well. Show up continually for your money partnership.
Adaptability: Being able to adapt to different dance styles, tempos, and partners’ strengths enhances the partnership’s versatility. In the financial world things are constantly shifting and adjusting. Flexibility without fear will be helpful. Actually, more than helpful. It is required. Your financial plan won’t ever play out exactly as projected. It doesn’t mean you won’t hit your goals. Instead know that the path to them will need to be modified along the way.
Supportiveness: Encouraging each other and providing constructive feedback positively impacts the dance experience and skill development. Believing money wants you to win is a helpful belief! Imagine it’s cheering you on. And, getting supportive, encouraging help from a financial professional is a great idea.
Physical Awareness: Sensitivity to each other’s movements and space helps avoid collisions and enhances the fluidity of dance routines. To me this is about respect for each other. Respect and conscious caring for money will build a healthy money relationship that will flow for you.
Enjoyment: Ultimately, enjoying each other’s company and the dance itself makes the partnership enjoyable and fulfilling. Yes! This is how the metaphor started. So, give it a whirl! Have more fun and lightness with your money! What might that look like for you?

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Are You Throwing Shade at Money?

What would happen if people knew what we were really thinking about them? Even toward the people we love the most, sometimes we have judgments, anger, mean intentions, and insecurities that sweep through our thoughts. They are often fleeting. Hopefully not expressed or persistent. But we do have them. You have these kinds of tapes playing in your head about money as well: about your relationship with Money, and about how others are with their money.

What if Money could hear you? Would you be creating the type of relationship you’d like to have with Money? Okay, you might think this is silly. How could money know what I was thinking about it or how other people deal with it?

Remember: abracadabra – I create as I speak. You’re likely familiar with how magicians use this as an incantation. It is like magic. The more deliberately you think and use words about Money, the better relationship you’ll create.

It’s easy to get carried away in thoughts of worry and dread, especially when it comes to Money. But worry is a bad financial strategy. The feelings that come along with these limiting thoughts indicate that you’re going against the current. These limiting thoughts can cloud your ability to see opportunities or find solutions, and they can even change how you see situations.

In a Message from Money session, my client (we’ll call her Josie) asked about a real estate investment that wasn’t working out as she had planned. Money responded with a message asking about her original intent for the deal. Josie said that she had told her broker she was looking for an opportunity that was “too good to be true.” As soon as she said that, I stopped her and said, “Well… that is exactly what you got, right?” Sometimes, you need someone else to put the spotlight on how you’re talking about your financial goals and Money. Josie now realizes how her words create her reality and is more conscious of how she speaks about Money and her goals.

How do you become more aware of what money-related thoughts and words swirl around your head or fall out of your mouth?

By being more mindful. What does that mean? Mindfulness is simply about paying attention. Noticing without judgment what’s happening in the present moment.

Try this right now. Look around the space you’re in and notice something you haven’t noticed for a long time, if ever before. Every time I do this in a room that I spend a lot of time in, I’m amazed at what I don’t typically pay attention to.

With practice, you’ll become more aware of your thoughts and beliefs about Money.

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

↑ … This is an excerpt from Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Want to create an amazing relationship with Money and shift limiting money beliefs? Let’s chat!

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

What Being Hypnotized Taught Me About Money

Have you ever been to an event or party with a hypnotist? I have, and have been one of the volunteers, about 4 times. The first time was as a tween, then a teen, and twice as an adult. Most recently this past weekend.

The process has always amazed me. You don’t do anything that you wouldn’t really want to do. Instead, you lose some inhibitions, let go of self-consciousness, and have fun.

In prepping the group “The Amazing Jeffrey Powers” shared that we are all being hypnotized all the time. By our phones, by politicians, advertising, the media, etc.

What I’ve enjoyed about the hypnosis process is it reminds me that with a bit of suggestion and relaxing the mind it’s easy and enjoyable to create what you desire. It’s like the process of visualization which I use all the time and teach in my classes to create prosperity on purpose. If we can bypass the worries and limiting beliefs, then we get results and have more fun.

This works for your business and your personal finances. I was recently working with someone (we’ll call her Sue) who said “I want to feel financially secure.” Sue’s financial life has been filled with ups and downs both from income fluctuations and her husband’s spending. Of course, having a smart plan of action is important (which they have). Being able to bring in extra income and be ready to make sound decisions going forward takes internal work with her relationship with money. Sue and I did visualization work together to have her tap into feelings of financial security. This helps to train her nervous system and mental pathways to be open and ready to care for the money that is coming her way.

If you’d like to learn more about using visualization in your business check out my latest book Messages from Money and also Picture Your Prosperity. This is also one of my favorite topics to speak to groups about.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …

+ My newest book is out! It’s called Messages from Money: How to Stress Less, Prosper More, and Reshape Your Relationship with Money. Get your copy now by clicking here.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

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