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Let’s admit that we all have a money worry. Something that bothers us about the way we spend, earn, save or even give. More often than not, it’s a worry we choose to deal with ourselves rather than seeking a solution by sharing it with friends and family.

Will you tell your mother that you earn enough but save nothing by the end of the month? Or will you share with your spouse that you donate each time you get an anonymous call for charity to a hospital patient? Or will you be able to tell your husband that all the money you earn is sitting in a savings bank account because you are too afraid to trust any advice on where it should be invested? If your answer to these questions and other similar ones is a yes, then you have to start doing things differently.

Understand that sharing your money anxiety can have a much more positive outcome than keeping it stored only in your mind. After all, storing anxiety can ultimately result in stress, stress that you’d be better of avoiding.

What are the benefits of sharing your anxiety? Why make others anxious along with you?

Interestingly, unlike what you may think, talking about your money worries does not result in others getting worried too. What it does do, is help you unload a burden and many a time, it can bring you closer to a possible solution.

Sharing to gain possibilities

When you share money anxiety or a financial problem you may be facing, you will find that others around you too get emboldened to share their own money stories. Not just theirs, your friends and family will end up sharing the money stories they have heard from their other friends and family members. As a result, firstly, you will no longer feel like you are the only one carrying a financial burden. Secondly, you could well garner a solution from others’ experiences. You may have to customise it, but the fresh perspective can help you resolve or at least address the anxiety with actions that can help you reach a positive outcome.

Sharing to help others

It’ unreasonable to think that you are the only one with money anxiety, there are others who are possibly in the same frame as you or have similar issues to deal with. Your sharing can help them resolve their own financial hurdles. Of course, you will not be comfortable sharing financial details with everyone, be sure to go to those you trust. Your immediate family and your spouse can benefit greatly if you share what financial problem is playing in your mind.

Sharing to change behaviour

It is possible that the money anxiety you are facing is either due to a typical money behaviour you have, like spending more than you earn or even spending too little. Or it could be that you need to change your behaviour to bring change in this aspect that makes you anxious. In both cases, an outside voice can help bring sanity to the debate that goes on solely in your mind space. Talking to someone other than yourself about your money worry will let you see this problem also from an outsiders perspective. In just speaking out loud the words, you will also see your own actions that hinder or help this situation. Often it is the change we can bring in our own actions, which results in a change in the outcomes we seek. Unless we change our actions, the outcome will not change. Till we keep the worry only within us, change will be elusive. It’s only when we have someone else who is also looking out for the change do we get up to the actions that are required.

What if you do not have any friends or family who you can trust or who will understand your situation without judging you? If this is the case, it’s time to reach out to a professional Money or Financial Coach who can listen actively and empower you to bring that change in your life and lifestyle. Money Coaches or Financial Coaches are trained and equipped to help you find solutions to money worries that impact life significantly.

Ultimately, you will have to take the first step, admit your problem, acknowledge it and then make sure you share it.