Money Sense 201: Lesson 1 - Your Money Story Isn't Your Fault (But It Is Your Script): Your Money Story Isn't Your Fault (But It Is Your Script)

Everyone Grows Up in an Invisible Economic Religion

You didn't sit down one day and decide how you'd think about money. It was already decided for you.

The Inherited Scripts

Family Rules: The unspoken codes you absorbed:

• "We don't talk about money"
• "Money is the root of all evil"
• "Rich people are greedy"
• "Never say no to family who needs help"

Cultural Expectations: Community scripts that shaped you:

• How your neighborhood views wealth
• What success "should" look like
• What loyalty means in your culture

Gender Roles & Class Identity:

• "Men are supposed to provide"
• "People like us don't get ahead"
• "That's not for people from our neighborhood"

Trauma, Fear & Duty: The weight you carry:

• Parents fighting about bills
• Sudden job loss, eviction, food insecurity
• "There's never enough"
• "You owe your family everything"

You didn't choose your money story. But you're allowed to edit the ending.

How These Stories Get Inside the Body

Money stories aren't just thoughts—they're embodied beliefs. They live in your nervous system, gut, shoulders, and breath. They operate automatically, like software running in the background.

Practice: Identify One Inherited Belief That Feels Heavy

Ask yourself:

1. What did my family believe about money?
2. What do I still carry from that?
3. Is this belief still true or useful for me?

Example:

Old belief: "Asking for help with money makes me weak."

Rewrite: "Asking for help is how I build community. Strategic support is strength."

Rewriting Your Script

Take the old belief and rewrite it into something:

• True (based on reality, not fear)
• Kind (doesn't punish you)
• Usable (helps you move forward)

The Micro-Win

You realize: The story I'm living isn't the only one available. You're the author now.