How Your Self-Worth is Impacting Your Money Mindset and Financial Success
A Guidebook on How to Attract, Create and Receive Abundance
Our ability to attract, create, and receive money is deeply tied to our self-esteem and self-worth. If we do not see ourselves as valuable, we subconsciously limit our earning potential as we literally program the belief of “I am not worthy of” “abundance” or “money” or “living in ease”. This article explores how these inner beliefs shape our financial reality and provides actionable exercises to help you shift towards greater prosperity.
The Connection Between Self-Worth and Wealth
Money is simply an exchange of value. When we truly believe in our worth, we naturally charge what we deserve, seek out opportunities that align with our skills, and confidently receive financial rewards. However, when our self-worth is low, we tend to undercharge, shy away from opportunities, or feel uncomfortable accepting money.
Beyond that, our self-worth also dictates the financial limits we unconsciously impose on ourselves. We often view our salary as our primary, if not only, financial channel, but in reality, money can flow to us in countless ways—through investments, side incomes, shared bank accounts, unexpected gifts, or even money found on the ground. However, if we hold limiting beliefs about how money can come to us, we unknowingly block our own Reticular Activating System (RAS)—the part of the brain responsible for filtering information and identifying opportunities. When our RAS is attuned to scarcity, we only see limitation. But when we expand our beliefs about wealth and abundance, we train our brain to recognize new financial channels and opportunities that were always there—we just weren’t open to receiving them.
Signs That Low Self-Worth is Blocking Your Financial Success
Okay so this all sounds interesting, but how do you know if you are actually blocking your own financial success? Here comes the test, say or read the below statements out loud and see if any of them feel true.
You feel guilty charging for your services or asking for a raise.
You choose things solely based on whether things are cheap or expensive.
You undercharge or give discounts out of fear that people won’t pay.
You hesitate to promote yourself or your work.
You avoid financial matters because they make you uncomfortable.
You attract clients or jobs that undervalue you.
Did any of these resonate with you? If you said yes, your self-esteem may be affecting your ability to create financial abundance.
How Self-Esteem Shapes Financial Decisions
1. Undercharging and Undervaluing Your Work
Low self-esteem can lead you to believe you’re not “good enough” to charge what you truly deserve. This often results in setting prices too low, accepting underpaying jobs, or hesitating to negotiate, which reinforces a cycle of financial struggle. You may also feel uneasy discussing money, making it difficult to trust your intuition when setting prices, asking for a raise, or recognizing your true value in the marketplace.
The good news is that self-worth is not fixed—it can be improved with intentional effort. If you feel unworthy of financial success right now, you can start shifting this belief today. First, identify the limiting thoughts that hold you back. Then, consciously replace them with empowering beliefs about your value. Finally, develop habits that support this new mindset. Over time, what once felt out of reach will become your new standard.
2. Fear of Success or Failure
One common barrier to financial growth is the fear of success or failure. You may worry that earning more money will bring added pressure, judgment, or responsibility, or that if you try and fail, it will confirm your deepest insecurities. But true self-worth means believing that you can handle both success and setbacks. Instead of avoiding opportunities out of fear, reframe them as chances to learn, grow, and expand. The more you step into your worth, the more comfortable you become with the idea that financial success is not only possible—it’s inevitable.
3. Difficulty Receiving Money
Even when money flows in, those with low self-worth often feel uncomfortable receiving it. This discomfort can show up in many ways—spending money as soon as it’s earned, rejecting tips or bonuses, or downplaying financial gifts instead of accepting them with gratitude. But being able to receive money with confidence is just as important as earning it.
To shift this, start by getting clear on where your money will go. Make a specific list of how you would spend, invest, or save the money you’re asking for. Don’t hold back—abundance is limitless, and the more clarity you have on your financial goals, the easier it becomes to welcome money into your life. When you know exactly why you’re calling in more wealth, you naturally become more comfortable with the idea that it’s already on its way to you.
How to Improve Your Self-Worth and Increase Your Financial Abundance
Improving your self-worth is the key to transforming your financial reality. Here are some exercises to help:
1. Reframe Your Beliefs About Money and Worth
Write down any limiting beliefs you have about money (e.g., “I have to work hard to earn money” or “I don’t deserve to be wealthy”). Many of us have beliefs that block us from actually receiving the money we desire including believing more money creates more problems, wealthy people are greedy or unhappy and so on. Next to each belief, write a new, empowering belief (e.g., “Money flows to me easily and effortlessly” or “I am worthy of financial abundance”).
2. Raise Your Prices or Salary
If you own a business, pay attention to any discomfort you feel around pricing. Do you hesitate when discussing your rates? Feel uneasy sending invoices? Have you lowered your prices recently because you doubted your worth? These are all signs that your self-worth may be limiting your financial potential. Instead of undercharging, challenge yourself to raise your rates to reflect the true value of your service—you may be surprised by how easily the right clients will pay for quality.
If you work for a company, take the time to research your market value and consider negotiating a raise. Even small increases can help you build confidence and reinforce the belief that you deserve to be compensated fairly. We've all experienced that gut feeling of being undervalued or underappreciated—don't ignore it. Recognize it, honor it, and take action in your own best interest by asking for what you truly deserve. The moment you start valuing yourself, others will follow suit.
3. Practice Receiving Money
The next time someone gives you money, whether as a payment, gift, or tip, practice saying “Thank you” without guilt or excuses. Imagine the situation before it happens, for example you are at a coffee shop with your friend and they offer to pay, accept graciously as someone who believes that the natural flow of abundance will come in many different forms. Accepting gifts, is an important aspect of receiving abundance, approach this with gratitude and remind yourself that you are worthy of abundance.
4. Affirmations for Self-Worth and Financial Success
Once you have realized that some limiting belief is blocking you in your finances then you need to reprogram it with thoughts, actions and reactions. To start, increase your thoughts around everything you have and be grateful for all that’s around you, most people function from a lack mentality so they constantly notice that they do not have enough - do the opposite. Then select some affirmations that resonate with you and repeat, write and consistently speak these daily affirmations to yourself:
“I am worthy of wealth and success.”
“I confidently charge for my value.”
“Money flows to me in expected and unexpected ways.”
5. Surround Yourself with Financially Confident People
Your environment shapes your mindset. Spend time with people who confidently create, earn, and manage money. Their mindset will influence you positively. If you were previously a student with a mindset of savings and scarcity, start spending more time with professionals who easily access and interact with money so that you can practice their habits and beliefs. Your current state is a reflection of your environment, your thoughts, your actions and reactions. If you want to change something, shift these things that are within your control and you will see your self perception will change and your reality will change too.
Ultimately, your self-worth is the foundation of your financial success. By consciously working to improve your beliefs about yourself and money, you open the doors to greater financial opportunities. Shift your mindset, take action, and watch how your relationship with money transforms for the better.
Are you ready to start valuing yourself and your work more? Begin today with the exercises above and step into your financial power!
