When it comes to changing how we feel about money, one of the most powerful tools we can use is something that costs almost nothing: a pen and paper.

If you follow me on social media, then you’ll know I talk a lot about money stories. The deep beliefs we carry around that shape the way we earn, save, spend and think about money. These beliefs are often formed when we’re young as we pick up messages from our families, society and our own experiences. Over time, those messages can become the ‘truths’ we live by, even if they are limiting beliefs or outdated thoughts that no longer serve us.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking things like “money slips through my fingers”, “I’ll never be good with money” or “people like me don’t get wealthy,” then you’ve experienced limiting beliefs around your finances. You’re setting yourself up to fail… But here’s the good news: your story isn’t set in stone. You can change it, and journaling is one of the best ways to start.

Why journalling works

Journalling helps you develop awareness of your thoughts and actions. It gives you the chance to notice the patterns you’ve been living with, often without even realising it. From there, you can start to question those beliefs and gently dismantle the ones that aren’t helping you. Eventually you’ll be able to write new money stories, and how amazing would it be if they were supportive and aligned with the life you want to build.

The act of writing things down also helps you create emotional shifts. Instead of operating from fear, guilt or scarcity – all very common beliefs – you begin to reconnect with gratitude, possibility and self-trust. Those, to me, are the three crucial ingredients for building a healthier relationship with money.

How to use journalling to rewire your money stories

I love journalling, I journal every single day as part of my morning routine, and I credit it with transforming my mindset. So here are my top tips for successful, meaningful journalling, and there are four key stages to this work:

1. Awareness

 First, you need to bring your old money stories, i.e. your existing beliefs, into the light. Start by asking yourself:

• What did I learn about money growing up?
• What are my earliest memories about money?
• What messages did I hear about people who were rich, poor or struggling?

2. Examination

Next, it’s time to question what you uncover during the awareness stage of your journaling. For example, you can ask yourself questions such as: 

• Is this belief absolutely true?
• Where did it come from?
  Has it helped or hurt me in the past?
• What evidence do I have that I can use to challenge this belief?

3. Reframing

I love this stage of the process because it’s where you get to choose a new story. Imagine how exciting it will be to develop new beliefs; beliefs that will help you get closer to your dreams and financial security. Try focusing your journaling on:

• What do I choose to believe about money now?
• How do I want money to feel in my life?
  What kind of person am I becoming as I live by this new story?
  

4. Anchoring

Now it’s time to strengthen those positive new beliefs, and the best way to do that is by tying them to positive emotions. When you sit down to journal on this, I want you to explore:

• How would it feel to feel abundant and secure?
• How will having more money help me live my values, support others, and experience freedom?
  

With this step you’re not just ‘thinking positively’, you’re literally creating new neural pathways in your brain that support your financial goals and dreams.

A simple week of money story journaling

I know some of you love actionable steps, so here’s a simple week-long journaling plan you can follow. And remember, you can always contact me on social media or via the contact page here to ask questions! 

Day	Prompt
1	What is my earliest memory about money? How did it make me feel?
2	What do I believe about people who have a lot of money?
3	Where do these beliefs show up in my current financial habits?
4	What would my financial life look like if I let go of these old beliefs?
5	What new beliefs about money would serve me better?
6	What evidence do I have that abundance is possible for me?
7	How can I take one small step toward embodying my new money story this week?

You don’t need to spend hours on this, I think you’ll find yourself building momentum with just five minutes a day. Just stick to it and you’ll see a difference! 

Start your money journalling now 

Rewiring your money story isn’t a one-time task. You need to think of it as an ongoing relationship you build with yourself, one that’s rooted in curiosity and choice. Journaling is simply a doorway in, and it’s so worth trying it.

If you’re ready to go deeper into this work, I’d love to invite you to join the Aligned Abundance Academy. Inside, we’ll explore powerful practices like journaling, mindset shifts and practical financial strategies to help you create the wealth and freedom you deserve, on your own terms. I’d love to see you there.