(Inspired by Gabor Mate’s book: When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress) Learning to listen to your intuition in money matters, matters. Have you ever agreed to something that felt wrong in your gut, only to regret it later? Maybe it was spending more than you intended, investing in something you didn’t...
Category: LIFESTYLE
Engaging with your financial plan
Financial planning, like therapy or coaching, isn’t just about solving a problem. It’s about holding a safe space where real change can happen. That space might be a spreadsheet, a conversation, or a long-term plan, but for the work to go deep and stick, it must feel grounded, steady, and secure. As clinical psychologist Jonathan...
Meaningful and secure planning
Real financial planning goes far beyond spreadsheets, securities and stocks. It’s about connecting money to life. And sometimes, the most important questions aren’t just “Can we afford it?”, but, “Is this the right decision for our lives right now?” In a recent conversation with clients, a seemingly simple question was raised: “Can we afford to...
Are you being reasonable?
If money decisions were purely mathematical, personal finance would be easy. Spend less than you earn, invest in low-cost index funds, and let compound interest do its thing. But as anyone who’s ever faced a financial dilemma knows, money is emotional, unpredictable, and deeply personal. Morgan Housel, in The Psychology of Money, makes a compelling...
It isn’t just about knowledge
It’s a tempting idea, isn’t it? The thought of managing your own finances, crafting your own investment strategy, and making the “right” moves with your money—all without the need for professional guidance. After all, the information is out there. Books, podcasts, courses, and countless personal finance influencers promise that with a little effort, you can...
Context over cash
Imagine this: You’re sitting around a table with friends, and the conversation shifts to money. Someone is buying a new car, another just paid off their house, and someone else is debating whether to invest in the stock market or property. Advice gets tossed around freely—”You should do what I did!”—as if there’s a one-size-fits-all...
Curious, not critical
When was the last time you gave yourself the grace to be curious? To pause and ask why, instead of immediately leaping to judgment? In a world that moves fast—where we’re bombarded by expectations, comparisons, and decisions—curiosity is often overshadowed by criticism. But what if we could flip the script? What if curiosity became our...
Authenticity or attachment
Why do we say yes when we mean no? Why do we say no when deep down we wish we could say yes? These are questions that dig beneath the surface of our everyday choices, revealing the deeper, often hidden stories we tell ourselves. In his insightful discussions, Dr. Gabor Maté highlights a core conflict...
Roadblocks and reflections
Life is full of roadblocks. They come in many forms: an unexpected expense, a career setback, a strained relationship, or even just a sense of stagnation. At first glance, these challenges can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and even unfair. But what if we stopped seeing roadblocks as something meant to halt our progress and instead viewed...
Dealing with loss when everyone else is celebrating
Holidays and special occasions often bring with them the joy of celebration, the warmth of shared moments, and the comfort of togetherness. Yet, for many, they also highlight the quiet ache of loss. Whether it’s the empty chair at the dinner table, the sting of a recent job loss, or the ongoing battle with a...
Echo chambers and our money
Have you ever noticed how a conversation with people who share your views can make you feel more strongly about what you already believe? Legal scholar Cass Sunstein captured this phenomenon perfectly when he observed, “What we know is if you get groups of like-minded people together, they tend to end up thinking a more...
A worldview shaped by ‘enough’
Wherever people are involved… it’s not uncommon for conflict to arise—whether with loved ones, colleagues, or even within ourselves. At the heart of many of these conflicts lies a common thread: a worldview shaped by scarcity. We may think that conflicts are purely situational, stemming from disagreements or unmet expectations, but more often than not,...
