When people try to describe these experiences, they often use phrases such as money anxiety, financial stress, or feeling bad with money. Many recognise a pattern of repeating the same money mistakes year after year, or of feeling overwhelmed by money even when nothing dramatic appears to be wrong. Almost always, the conclusion they reach is deeply personal: there must be something wrong with me. In most cases, there isn’t.

Money is one of the subjects that comes up most often in my coaching sessions, whether I’m working with someone on business growth or on personal matters. I often say to clients, “If you really want to understand yourself, look at your relationship with money.” It’s not just about pounds in the bank. It’s about beliefs, fears, values, and how we see ourselves in the world. Money acts as a mirror, reflecting back so much of who we are.