Emotions Around Money

by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Prosperity

One needn’t have a husband, children, or elderly parents in need of care to feel guilty about money issues. Being female is usually enough.When a friend of mine went to our local bookstore and bought her own copy of The Courage to be Rich, she found herself smack up against some unconscious beliefs about women and money. She didn’t want anyone to see her with the book. She made sure that the bookstore put it in a brown paper bag right away—like she was buying pornography or a fifth of whisky. She felt sure that if she were seen with this book, she would be labeled as superficial, selfish, and a threat to motherhood, womankind, and femininity in general.

Listen to Your Body

The subject of money brings up very dramatic and potent feelings in most people, ranging from anger, rage, sadness, powerlessness, and hopelessness. And with anger and rage comes envy and jealousy. Every one of us has felt these emotions. I remember being mad while staying with a friend of my mother’s. She expected me to use my own money to pay for a movie (which my parents always paid for) instead of allowing me to save my allowance for other things. Because her beliefs about money were different than the ones I grew up with, I thought this woman was callous and unjust.

Jealousy is another strong emotion around money. Jealousy stems from the (erroneous) belief that we are incapable of getting something someone else has. The more jealous we are, the bigger our longing is. There’s nothing wrong with the desire. It is the strong emotion of desire that attracts things to us in our lives. But it must be used in service to us. Directing our energy against another in the form of jealousy actually blocks the stream of abundance that could be coming to us.

Spiritual and Holistic Options

The next time you feel jealous, let go of the emotion and concentrate on what you want. Say: “That’s for me. I’d like to have that car (boat, mate, house).” Start a scrapbook. Paste picture of the things you want in the book. Spend time with it daily. And if the thought “But I can’t have it” comes into your mind, just wipe it away like a bug from a windshield. Replace it with an affirmation: I am a child of the universe and have access to universal abundance. Everything I desire comes to me in perfect ways and at exactly the right time. Lighten up. True abundance is a playful energy. The more tightly you grasp for it, the less likely it is to land on you.

Learn More — Additional Resources

Last Updated: October 12, 2006

Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Christiane Northrup, M.D., is a visionary pioneer and a leading authority in the field of women’s health and wellness. Recognizing the unity of body, mind, and spirit, she empowers women to trust their inner wisdom, their connection with Source, and their ability to truly flourish.

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  1. Thank you so, so much Dr. Northrup for an ah-ha moment you just gifted me after reading your article. As obviously as it sounds, it has just clicked that other people have different money beliefs to me, and will therefore respond and react differently when talking or being around me depending on my vibration around money.

    I know this is very simple, but sometimes, the most important things are!

    Thank you so much,
    Katie x

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