1. Reflect and assess

Reflecting on the role of money in your formative years is crucial to facing any blind spots that you may not be aware of as an adult. Do you shy away from money conversations because you didn’t talk about money at home? Did your parents pass on money attitudes that you carry into adulthood? Note those down—it’s important to self-reflect to achieve a more positive relationship with money.

2. Face the hard truths—but make it empowering

Take a cold, hard look at the money stressors in your life. Is it retirement that’s stressing you out? Is it a lack of investment knowledge which could help you build long-term wealth and well-being? Be truthful. Remember that this is your opportunity to rewrite your money story.

3. Write your money to-dos—and commit to a plan

Keep yourself accountable. Set a weekly reminder to have a money date with yourself.

Put your money to-dos down in writing, whether in a journal or into a spreadsheet. These could range from getting on top of your budget via a budget tracker to learning about ETFs to getting started with your investing journey—whatever these may be, write them down and commit to them. It’s about building positive thought patterns around money and taking action.

4. Surround yourself with support (and some great professionals too)

Start talking to your girlfriends about money and make it social—have money dates with your friendship circle too.

Normalise conversations about money with women, your family, your partner and even your children. A time may come when you feel you need some financial advice from a professional—that’s part of the journey. Surround yourself with a great wealth creation support system.

5. Develop an empowering inner-language to help you deal with moments of stress and anxiety

Understand that you will still encounter life’s financial stressors. But it’s easier to deal with them when you have a plan as well as a way to reframe your self-talk. Half the battle is seeing your life situation in as clear a way as possible and developing the healthy mindset you need to tackle the challenges life may bring your way.

Managing the money stress in our lives in a positive way is possible with a good money mindset. Commit to developing yours. You can rewrite your money story—it starts today.

Christine Yu is a co-founder of Sophia. She is also a co-founder of Hong Kong NGO, Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$, a community of women learning together to prioritise their financial futures. Christine is also a frequent guest host on Sophia’s podcast The Money Makers by Sophia, which interviews inspiring women in finance and female founders in Asia. On the show, she tackles interviews on money, mindsets and markets.

Front & Female’s Wealth With Sophia series is a collaboration with Sophia, a financial education platform built by women for women, to open up the conversation about money and help drive female financial literacy. The series covers all things money and investing to enable women to gain the confidence to take control of their wealth creation.

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