why women need to invest
In an empowering session earlier this year, Vanessa Bowen opened her talk with these words: Our relationship with money is the longest one we will ever have. Money impacts every part of our lives, from our personal growth and emotional well-being to our financial future. But how many of us truly understand this relationship?
We’re coming back to this conversation because it was just such a potent series of reminders, that supports so many areas of life.
For many women, our connection to money is tangled with emotions—guilt, shame, excitement, and sometimes, poor decisions. However, by uncovering and addressing these underlying emotions, we can transform not only our financial outcomes but our overall life and health as well.
Money and Life: Understanding the Root of Your Relationship
As Vanessa Bowen highlighted, many of us inherit our beliefs about money from our families or cultures. “All I knew was to be in poverty or debt,” is a sentiment many women can relate to. These inherited beliefs can make it difficult to imagine a life where money isn’t scarce or stressful. But it’s important to realize that our past does not dictate our future. We can change how we view and handle money.
The first step is recognizing where these beliefs come from. Once we understand how and why we think the way we do about money, we can begin to reframe our mindset. This isn’t just about financial change—it’s about shifting how we view our worth, our wellbeing, and our overall investments in life and relationships.
The Emotional Costs of Money
A major barrier many women face when it comes to money is the guilt and shame that often accompany financial decisions. Whether it’s spending on ourselves or feeling bad about our current financial state, these emotions can hold us back. Vanessa reminded us that releasing guilt and shame is essential. When we carry these negative emotions, we block ourselves from attracting abundance—not only in our finances but also in our personal lives.
Excitement can also lead us to make poor decisions. It’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of spending or indulging ourselves, only to find ourselves in debt or regret later. When we make financial moves driven by excitement, it’s important to pause and reflect.
“Is this decision helping me build a future of abundance, health, and peace of mind?”
Setting Boundaries with Money and Life Investments
Just like any healthy relationship, our relationship with money requires boundaries. It’s about investing in our future. Many women pour money into others—family, friends, or causes—while neglecting their own needs. This pattern can deplete us financially, emotionally, and physically.
It’s essential to recognize that we deserve to invest in ourselves too. Whether it’s saving for the future, prioritizing mental and physical health, or setting aside time and money for self-care, we must treat ourselves as valuable investments. By creating these boundaries, we protect our energy, finances, and health, ensuring that we’re equipped to give to others from a place of abundance, not depletion.
Writing a Love Letter to Money
A fun practice by Vanessa Bowen
One powerful practice is writing a love letter to money. But don’t stop there—write a love letter to yourself and your life investments too. Reflect on how you’ve been treating yourself financially, physically, and emotionally.
Ask yourself:
“What emotions come up when I think about money, my health, or my life choices? Do I treat myself with love, respect, and care?”
In your letter…
Express gratitude for how money has supported your journey thus far, while also setting intentions for how you want to engage with money moving forward. Remember, just like in any healthy relationship, you need to nurture and respect your connection with money, your health, and your life choices. This means creating clear boundaries to protect your energy and your well-being. Go on a solo date!
Creating a Ritual to Check In with Your Finances, Health, and Life
Regularly checking in with your finances is crucial, but so is checking in with your health and overall life investments. Make it a ritual to review your financial situation, your physical health, and your mental well-being. Ask yourself: **How am I investing in myself today?** This might mean revisiting your budget, ensuring you’re saving for the future, or simply making time to rest and recover.
A powerful affirmation to remember is:
“My spending, saving, and investments in my life and health do not define my self-worth!”
This reminder helps us detach our value from our financial status or health struggles. Our worth is not determined by how much money we have or how healthy we are today—it’s a reflection of the love, care, and effort we put into our lives.
Watching Your Investments in Money, Health, and Life
Investing isn’t just about money—it’s about the overall investments we make in our lives and health. We often focus on financial wealth, but investing in our well-being, relationships, and growth is equally important. Women are often conditioned to give, give, give to others, but it’s essential to also invest in ourselves—whether that’s through education, exercise, mental health care, or taking time to simply relax.
The reality is, **financial freedom and life freedom go hand in hand.** When we invest in ourselves—whether through better financial decisions, prioritizing our health, or nurturing our growth—we are building a solid foundation for the life we want to create. We can’t pour from an empty cup, and we must remember that we deserve to THRIVE, not just survive.
Ultimately, our relationship with money is deeply intertwined with how we invest in our overall lives. As Vanessa’s session reminded us, “Reframing our beliefs can change our financial outcomes.” It’s time for women to invest in themselves—mind, body, and soul. By building a healthy relationship with money and investing in our health and life goals, we create a future full of abundance, peace, and fulfillment.