The following questions are from Kate Levinson’s book Emotional Currency, where she helps women explore their complicated feelings around money and how having it or not having it shapes our stories about ourselves and our lives. In the book she explores multiple themes including: self worth, abundance vs. deprivation, safety, autonomy vs.dependency, envy, greed, family, culture and more. Use these questions as places to start a process of self-inquiry into your own journey with money.
What is your first money memory from childhood?
What are some of the key moments you remember about how your parents handled/viewed money?
What was your first positive money memory/ negative money memory?
In terms of contributing to your sense of self, where would you rank money?
How do feelings of abundance and deprivation play out in your relationship to money?
In what ways does money represent protection to you?
In what ways have you been financially autonomous/dependent?
Are you/would you like to be taken care of either completely or partially.
What kinds of envy do you feel, have you felt, regarding money?
Were money matters discussed in your family? If so, how were they discussed?
Is there a difficulty with money that feels too shameful to discuss? Conversely, is there a situation with money that has made you proud?
Are you comfortable with how much time you spend shopping and how much money you spend?
All questions have been adapted from:
Emotional Currency: A Woman’s Guide to Building a Healthy Relationship With Money by Kate Levinson, PhD