Money Isn't Just Paper and Ink

Money and debt mean different things to different people. For most, money has many emotions attached to it. You might think money represents power, success or self-esteem. On the other hand, you may be resentful of money and what it represents, yet find yourself powerless, angry, ashamed or fearful of its grip on you.

In order to move forward you must move past your feelings about money. Understand that what you’re feeling is natural, but work through and release those feelings. Money is often a taboo topic because of the way it makes people feel and you are probably reluctant to say what you’re thinking. However, an honest talk with a trusted friend, family member, therapist or clergyperson can help you get to the root of your relationship with money. You may find you’ve been using your debt as a security blanket or as a way to make up for what you didn’t get when you were young.

Remember too that you are not alone. Find an online community of people in your same situation. If debt has been an ongoing problem for you, consider joining Debtors Anonymous. Forgive yourself. If you’re stuck paying off someone else’s debts, work on forgiving them so you can move on. Write your feelings down in a journal. Then, in a couple of months, you’ll be able to look back and see all the progress you’ve made.

Once you make the decision to reduce or eliminate debt, you’ll likely be filled with a sense of exhilaration and liberation, even before a dime has been paid off. If you’re not feeling this way yet, just know that before long, you probably will.