Your Emotions Behind Debt

Julie Murphy • July 30, 2013

Not many things are more American than debt. If you really think about it, it’s amazing how easily we as a nation became so comfortable with it. We’ve gone so far as to classify our debts as good (student loans) and bad (credit cards) with so many things in between (mortgages, car notes, medical, etc.). Yet all of us struggle with the negative emotions attached to our money, especially our debt. And we find ourselves making major life choices based on the state of our finances.

You have a responsibility to go to work and pay that debt down until its paid in full. This causes you to put money in the spotlight, along with how many hours you work, how much you make, how hard it is to get ahead, etc. And don’t let something bad happen – a dead car battery, a busted furnace, a medical emergency – because you have to both take care of both your “right now” issues and still pay your debt.

You see how this affects our emotions? From anxiety to fear to hopelessness to anger, we constantly find ourselves trapped in a dangerous cycle, and our negative feelings about money are at the center of it all. Those feelings and thoughts will eventually turn into negative words and actions. Often, this self judgment may come off as logic, truth and reality. You know what you’ve said to yourself:

“I won’t spend any money until all my debt is paid off.”

“I hate this job, but I can’t leave it. I have too many bills to pay.”

“I can’t afford it, but I’ll just charge this dinner. I want to make my friends happy.”

Those statements above are examples of ways we trick ourselves into thinking we’re doing something good. Drastically cutting spending or staying at a job we hate to pay off debt on the surface are great ideas. In practice, it’s impossibly difficult and it invites negativity. We’re essentially punishing ourselves right now for our past choices. Some people take a total opposite approach and choose to spend freely on themselves and the people they care about, even if that is at the expense of their own financial stability.

These negative thoughts wrapped in seemingly positive actions do more damage than they do good. Debt has a strong affect on our psyche. Fortunately for us, however, our minds are incredibly powerful. We need to start using that to our advantage, not our detriment.

Action step

Are you ready to tackle your debt and other financial obstacles? Don’t let your head be filled with anything but positive thoughts. Remember, positive thoughts lead to positive actions. Our perceptions create our reality. Learn to recognize self-defeating thoughts and words. It makes an enormous difference in your ability to make changes in your life – financial or otherwise.

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How to End the Year Like the Wealthy Do

By Julie Murphy • December 10, 2025

Reset Your Money Energy for 2026 Every December, we all feel that pull, the desire to “be better with money next year.” But here’s the secret I’ve seen again and again after nearly three decades of walking alongside people from all walks of life: Financially wealthy people don’t just plan their next year — they energetically complete the one they’re leaving. They close loops. They clear emotional residue. They realign their energy field before they set a single goal. And you can absolutely do the same. As I share in The Emotion Behind Money , wealth is never created by logic alone. It comes from managing the emotions behind your money and understanding that money itself is energy. And in Awaken Your Wealth , I remind readers that energetic shifts begin when you consciously picture yourself stepping into a new reality, while compassionately acknowledging the one you’re standing in now. So let’s walk through the simple year-end process I teach my clients — one that spiritually, emotionally, and financially resets your money field for a powerful 2026. 1. Review Your 2025 Wins & Losses With Compassion Before you step into the new year, look back with the most loving, nonjudgmental eyes possible. I call it neutral observation . Wealthy people don’t spiral into shame when something didn’t go perfectly. They get curious. Ask yourself: Where did I expand financially this year? Where did I contract emotionally or economically? What choices were truly aligned with my values? Which ones came from fear, scarcity, or old patterns? In Awaken Your Wealth , the “Accepting Reality and Awakening” step of PACT teaches that awareness without judgment is how we break old money patterns for good. So breathe. Notice. Write it down. No shame. No spiral. Just truth. 2. Forgive Any Money Mistakes Here’s a truth most people never consider: Every financial mistake carries emotional weight and emotional weight blocks money flow. From my work in The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money , we know that your heart’s energy is more powerful than your brain’s logic, and intention is what redirects energy back into alignment. Forgiveness, of yourself, your past self, or others involved, releases stagnant money energy. Try this: Write down any money decisions from 2025 that still feel heavy. Place your hand on your heart. Say: "I forgive the version of me who made this choice. She/he did the best they could with what they knew at the time.” Forgiveness isn’t about letting mistakes slide. It’s about resetting your emotional money field so you can co-create something new. 3. Create an Energetic Closing Ceremony for the Year This is where wealthy people truly separate themselves; they honor the transition. You can create your own year-end ceremony using whatever resonates from your spiritual toolkit. Here are a few ideas inspired by the intention-setting and clearing practices throughout my work: Light a candle Symbolize releasing the old year and calling in the new. Write a “completion list” Include everything you’re ready to release: debts you’re no longer carrying shame over, relationships you’re energetically cutting cords from, patterns you’re finished reenacting. Burn or bury the list This physical act tells the Universe: “I’m done living from this version of myself.” In The Emotion Behind Money , we explore how inherited beliefs and emotional patterns repeat until they are consciously released. This ceremony is your line in the sand. End with intention Close with one powerful intention for 2026, aligned from your heart: “I choose a new flow of abundance.” “I trust that money comes to me with ease.” “I allow myself to receive the wealth I’ve been working toward.” As The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money reminds us: “The Universe responds to action.” Your ceremony is your spiritual action. Ready to Step Into 2026 Aligned, Clear & Empowered? If you’re craving deeper support with your financial reset, join me for my Emotions Behind Money Workshop in January. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to recalibrate your relationship with money, this is your moment. Let’s make 2026 the year your inner wealth and your financial reality finally match. You deserve abundance and you’re closer than you think. With love, alignment & a whole lot of possibility, Julie ✨