Increasing your effectiveness with EFT, part 189.
Another area where EFT tapping can be very useful is in exploring our relationship with money. By that, I mean the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors we have around money.
This does not mean that “money mindset” alone determines our financial reality. Money is not magic, and tapping is not a shortcut that bypasses real world factors such as opportunity, privilege, economic systems, or sheer luck. At the same time, the way we relate to money does play a role in what we notice, what we attempt, and what we allow ourselves to have.
Money Beliefs Often Come From Early Experiences
In my work with clients, I often see how deeply money beliefs are shaped by family history, culture, and early emotional experiences.
Some people carry beliefs such as:
“I’m not good with money”.
“If I make more money, it will just disappear”.
“If I have money, something bad will happen”.
“It will be taken away from me”.
These beliefs are often connected to emotionally charged memories. For example, receiving money and then losing it unexpectedly. Being punished or shamed for wanting more. Seeing conflict, jealousy, or resentment arise around money in the family. Or learning that having money made you unsafe, isolated, or judged.
When money becomes associated with danger, loss, or disconnection, it makes sense that parts of us might want to keep it at arm’s length.
Cultural Messages About Money
Many of us also grow up surrounded by strong cultural messages about money.
Messages like:
“Money is the root of all evil.”
“Rich people are greedy.”
“People like us don’t have more than enough.”
“If you care about money, you are selfish.”
Some of these beliefs are rooted in real observations. We do live in systems that are often unfair and exploitative. Wealth can be accumulated in harmful ways. There is real suffering tied to inequality.
At the same time, these messages can become internalized in ways that create shame around earning, saving, or having money at all. The result can be an inner conflict where part of us wants stability or abundance, while another part feels guilty, undeserving, or afraid of what having money might say about us.
Shame and Unworthiness Around Money
It is very common for money to be tied to shame.
Shame about not having enough.
Shame about wanting more.
Shame about having more than others.
Shame about mistakes we made in the past.
When shame is present, it often blocks clarity and choice. We might avoid looking at our finances. We might undercharge, overgive, or sabotage opportunities. Or we might feel frozen when it comes to making decisions about money.
How EFT Can Help
EFT gives us a way to gently sit with these beliefs and memories instead of trying to override them with positive thinking.
We can tap on how we feel right now when we think about money.
We can tap on specific memories that shaped our beliefs.
We can tap on the meaning we made about ourselves because of those experiences.
For example:
“When I think about having more than… (fill in the blanks) in the bank, I feel tense and uneasy, like it will just disappear. And this is where I’m at right now”.
“When I remember how things fell apart after I received that money two years ago, I feel really ashamed. And this is where I’m at right now”.
“When I think about charging 20% more for my work, I hear a voice saying I don’t deserve it. And this is where I’m at right now”.
By giving the microphone to these thoughts and feelings while tapping, we help release the emotional charge attached to them. This does not force us to change our values or ignore reality. It simply allows our nervous system to feel safer around the topic of money.
A Gradual and Grounded Shift
Working on our relationship with money is rarely a one time fix. Most of us live in a world where money is necessary for survival, safety, and meeting basic needs. That reality does not disappear with tapping.
What can change, gradually, is how constrained or reactive we feel around money.
As these emotional charges soften, people often find it easier to:
Ask for a promotion.
Raise their fees in a way that feels fair and sustainable.
Consider new ideas for services or products.
Develop healthier saving or investment habits.
Make financial decisions with less fear and more clarity.
The goal is not to become obsessed with money, nor to deny its complexities. The goal is to have a relationship with money that feels less charged, less shame filled, and more grounded.
From that place, it becomes easier to engage with money as a practical part of life rather than a constant source of tension or self judgment.
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I’m Bruno Sade, a clinical psychologist and Certified Advanced EFT Practitioner. I help you release emotional triggers and build sustainable confidence in a safe space tailored to you.
If you’d like to experience a free EFT Tapping session in exchange for a brief market research interview, click here.
