Introduction
In the realm of financial coaching, understanding the psychology of money is paramount. Clients often come with myriad financial assessments that can empower or hinder their financial journey. These assessments, formed through linguistic processes of judgment and opinion, play a significant role in how individuals perceive and interact with their finances. In this article, we will delve into the intricate world of financial assessments, exploring how they influence clients’ financial anxiety and how financial coaches can help clients become aware of and change these negative assessments into positive ones.
The House of Being: Assessing the Foundation
To grasp the impact of assessments on financial well-being, we must first recognise that assessments are inherent to our linguistic and emotional makeup. They are deeply rooted in our historical discourses, societal practices, and personal experiences. From these foundations, individuals develop their unique ways of navigating life’s challenges, including financial ones. Daily living is, in many ways, a continuous process of interacting with the world based on silent and often hidden assessments.
Assessments: Shaping Reality
Our assessments influence how we perceive the world and the choices we make. They act as a lens through which we view situations and people. These assessments are deeply ingrained, shaping our responses and behaviours. Consequently, they can limit our financial potential if they lean towards negativity.
Statements Are Not Just Statements: Language Creates Reality
In our constant stream of internal and external statements, we unknowingly reveal our assessments. These assessments, often mistaken for objective truths, are more subjective in reality. They represent our personal judgments and opinions rather than a universal reality. Recognising this distinction is pivotal in helping clients reevaluate their financial perspectives.
Standards and Qualities Within the Observer: Unpacking the Assessor
To become more effective financial coaches, we must acknowledge that our assessments of others often reflect our values, biases, and standards. We must be open to the idea that these assessments are hypotheses, subject to revision and reevaluation. Failure to do so can lead to rigid thinking and invalidation of others’ perspectives.
Commitment and Responsibility: The Weight of Assessment
Every assessment we make commits us to a specific interpretation of a situation, influencing our subsequent actions. These assessments are tied to our emotions and physical reactions, further cementing our behavioural patterns. To become more mindful financial coaches, we must learn to ground our assessments in evidence and be accountable for the judgments we pass. We also need to challenge our clients on the assessments they hold, enabling them to ground their assessments as facts.
Why Do We Make Assessments? Seeking Certainty
Assessments serve as a coping mechanism, providing a sense of order and stability in an uncertain world. They help us maintain consistency in our observations and alleviate the anxiety that arises from unpredictability. In interpersonal relationships, we often grant authority to others’ assessments, which can be a valuable source of learning but may also lead to unquestioning acceptance of their judgments.
Structural Determinism Again: The Role of Self-Assessments
As we assess others, we engage in self-assessment, profoundly shaping our worldview and behaviours. Negative self-assessments can be particularly limiting, creating a constant background of dissatisfaction. In their role as ontological listeners, financial coaches can help clients navigate these core negative self-assessments to lead fuller lives.
Facts About Me: The Unseen Influence
Negative self-assessments, like perpetual background noise, often operate beneath the surface, shaping our perceptions and reinforcing dissatisfaction. By addressing these hidden assessments, financial coaches can guide clients toward healthier financial mindsets, ultimately leading clients to act with more financial confidence, leading into the closing point.
Closing with Positive Self-Assessments: Building Confidence
While negative self-assessments can be pervasive, it’s crucial to acknowledge the power of positive self-assessments. These internal conversations create a sense of self-assuredness and confidence. Financial coaches can help clients cultivate these positive assessments to unlock their full potential.
Conclusion: Nurturing Financial Resilience through Positive Assessments
In financial coaching, assessments, moods, and how they embody this in their bodies are the building blocks of clients’ financial attitudes that ultimately lead to behaviours(habits) and the results they get. By understanding how assessments influence financial anxiety and promoting awareness and grounding assessments, financial coaches can empower their clients to navigate the complex landscape of personal finance with confidence and resilience. Financial coaching becomes a transformative journey towards a more secure and prosperous financial future.
This article was inspired by Chapter 8 in Coaching to the Human Soul-Ontological Coaching for Deep Change -Volume 1, by Alan Sieler.
