Why Fixing Your Actions Alone Won't Change Your Money—Shift the Roots, Not the Leaves

Take a step back from your latest financial frustration, like the credit card statement that makes your stomach twist, and instead of jumping straight to budgeting apps or tough self-talk, pause and peer beneath the surface. Imagine your financial life as a tree: you can prune dried branches and sweep fallen leaves, but if the roots are strangled by old beliefs and past hurts, the fruit will always be stunted. It's easy to focus on what you can see—the numbers in the bank account, the late payments, the missed opportunities—but behavioral science reminds us that real growth starts unseen, underground.

Many of us react to money problems as if they’re random or the fault of outside forces—a harsh boss, a weak job market, or just bad luck. In truth, early-life conditioning shapes how our subconscious 'roots' respond to money long before we consciously choose what to do. You might have watched your parents fight about spending, or grown up hearing stories that rich people are selfish, and without realizing it, these roots shape your automatic responses to saving, earning, or investing.

The roots metaphor comes alive when we see that every external 'fruit'—a struggle or a win—originates inside, at the level of mindset. You can enroll in financial workshops, download every tracking spreadsheet, and read all the latest books. Yet, until you dig up and examine the roots, lasting change seems frustratingly elusive. One woman kept losing money in the stock market despite being diligent, only to realize that, deep inside, she associated investing with her father's angry rants and financial failure. Once she recognized the root, she could consciously plant a healthier belief.

Cognitive-behavioral research consistently shows that beliefs, often silently formed in childhood, produce emotional reactions, which then trigger habitual behaviors. The outcomes we see—the visible parts of our lives—are only as healthy, stable, and abundant as the stories and emotions we feed beneath the surface.

To start, pick one area where you feel stuck, like always blowing your budget or missing out on career chances, and instead of blaming yourself, pause to write down the hidden stories and beliefs you absorbed growing up. Find the most limiting message—maybe 'money causes pain' or 'rich people are bad'—and admit to yourself that it's been running the show. From there, choose a new belief that feels supportive and say it out loud, grounding yourself by touching your heart or looking in the mirror. Every time the old thought pops up, swap it for your declaration instead, and watch as your results—like the leaves—begin to change above ground.