Hello, my friend!
I’ve got some lovely news today.
The doors are officially open for the next round of my flagship, 3-month financial therapy course, The Art of Money, beginning on May 1st, 2025.
In celebration of the opening of registration for this next round of the program, as is tradition around Art of Money headquarters, over the next week and a half, I’ll pop into your inbox a little more often than usual, bringing you a handful of free, chocolate-infused, caffeinated money teachings I affectionately call…
Money Mochas
The heck is a “money mocha,” you ask? They’re short, sweet, 10-ish minute jolts of financial therapy goodness—mini-tastings of the teachings and practices you’ll find inside The Art of Money.
Each Mocha gives you one simple, actionable step you can start using immediately to make your relationship with money healthier, easier, and even joyful.
My intention with these Mochas is to offer you practical guidance on your money journey, whether or not you choose to hop on board with the wonderful folks already signing up for this upcoming round of The Art of Money.
Of course, I’d be delighted to welcome you into this upcoming round of the program, but I know timing doesn’t always align perfectly for everyone. And that’s completely okay. I’ll still share plenty of helpful insights throughout this Money Mocha series to support you exactly where you are.
You know, after typing that last sentence, I’m realizing something important:
In my 24 years of doing this work, I’ve never met anyone who said, “Nah, I’m good. I’m totally happy with my stressful, anxiety-filled relationship with money that keeps me awake at night.”
So, let’s be real: we all crave something better, especially given the uncertain, unpredictable economic environment we’re navigating right now.
Periods of financial uncertainty like this remind me of the wisdom of the Stoic philosopher Epictitus, who famously advised, “Focus on what you can control and let go of the rest.” Pretty insightful for a philosopher from nearly 2,000 years ago, right?
This idea feels especially relevant today, as so many of us are seeking greater peace and resilience around money and life.
I feel these uncertainties about the future too. They’re always there, like our shadow on a sunny day.
I don’t know what’s over the horizon with the global economy, the national financial situation here in the U.S., or even the twists and turns of my own family’s money life. But here’s what I do know:
I’ve been teaching my 3-phase financial therapy method since 2001, through all kinds of life’s ups and downs—earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, stock market crashes, pandemics, and even that tragic day Mumford & Sons totally changed their unique sound (hey, we all have our limits!).
Through all of life’s beautiful, messy complexity, the Art of Money method has stood strong. It’s tried and true.
It’s been road-tested on the highway of life by over 5,600 incredible souls across 25 years. The results? They’re real, lasting, and life-changing.
The Art of Money framework equips you to build a healthy, supportive relationship with money, no matter what life throws your way.
It won’t soften the blow if your favorite band drastically changes their sound, but it will help you construct a new money foundation that lasts a lifetime.
Speaking of that, let’s get to the first Money Mocha in this new series of free, chocolatey money teachings! (Some folks tease me about my frequent chocolate references, but I’m here to tell you that whatever the question is, chocolate is the answer.)
Money Stories
Whether you’re cozied up with your morning brew, settling in after a long day, or stealing a quiet moment between errands, I invite you to pause with me for a sip of something rich and nourishing. It’s time for your first Money Mocha.
These short, sweet teachings are like little shots of money wisdom — gentle but potent. Designed to warm your heart, awaken your curiosity, and support your journey with money, one soulful sip at a time.
And this first mocha? It’s a foundational one. We’re going right to the roots, my friend.
Let’s talk about your Money Story.
Yes, we all have one (or many, to be more precise.) And they’re far more layered and alive than most of us realize.
Your Money Story is the whole tapestry of your relationship with money: woven from early memories and ancestral threads, the beliefs you inherited and the ones you’ve outgrown, the quiet moments that shaped you, the big turning points, the griefs and the celebrations.
It’s the Saturday afternoon you watched your mother pay bills at the kitchen table, her brow furrowed. It’s the first time you earned your own money, maybe babysitting or mowing lawns, and the satisfaction that welled up when you opened your first bank account and deposited the money you earned. It’s the story of not being told, not being taught, not being included in money conversations that mattered in your family.
These stories live right in your body. They shape your decisions. They whisper to you, sometimes without you even realizing.
But here’s the beautiful part: they can be rewritten.
In this first Money Mocha, I share how to begin getting intimate with your own Money Story. We’ll explore where it comes from, why it matters, and how you can start untangling the old threads with compassion.
Because when you understand the story you’ve been living, you open the door to writing a new one…one that’s more honest, more empowered, and more you.
So pour yourself a cup. Wrap up in something cozy. Let this first sip guide you gently home to yourself.
Your next chapter is waiting.
🎧 Listen Here:
Transcript:
Simply put, your “Money Story” is the entirety of your relationship with money. The pain, the joy, and the learning. It is as unique as you are. It includes all of the historical facts of your financial life. The emotional wounds and triumphs. The tough conversations. The beliefs and habits inherited from your parents and lineage, the ways you adopted them, and the ways you rebelled against or even transcended them. It includes your strengths and challenges with money, arising from your unique circumstances, wiring, and personality type. It includes all of the sensations and emotions and bodily reactions that money stirs within you. Your money story … is the whole shebang. Past and present. The big plot points and the subtle moments that still linger in your heart. Those memories of your mother paying the bills at the kitchen table on Saturday afternoons … when you could feel her anxiety. The moment on the school bus when you realized that your family had a lot more money than your friends’ families … or a lot less.
The pride you felt that winter break when you made $200 shovelling snow in your neighborhood — and opened your first bank account. Listening to your father talk about investment strategies with your brother and wondering why he never talked to you about all of that “money stuff.”
That summer in college when your job fell through and you lived on Ramen noodles.
That triumphant moment when you raised your rates — and your people actually said yes.
All of your ancestors who worked themselves to the bone, yet somehow remained cheerful and creative … who sing in your very DNA when you find the silence to listen.
You see…Getting to know your Money Story is courageous, vulnerable work. Most of us aren’t conscious of our Money Story — or at least most of it. But whether we look it in the eye or not, it is there: running like silent software in the background of our consciousness. Driving decisions, fueling fear, and whispering hypnotic truths we can’t possibly out-logic. That’s why this is some of the most foundational work I do with folks who want to understand, honor, and transform their relationship with money. It’s square one.
Many people, when they first start looking at their Money Story, feel a lot of shame. This is all really normal. As we pull our Money Story out of the closet (and all the secrecy and silence), it’s easy to focus on the bad stuff, first. Yet we all have challenges and strengths around money — and our Money Stories contain traumas and triumphs, pain and joy. Becoming intimate with our Money Story means looking at, understanding, and honoring all of this. Sound hard? It is. But the more we get honest about our Money Story, the more empowered we are in effecting real, lasting transformation.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that our past does not have to equal our future. Especially when it comes to our Money Stories. I’ve seen this too many thousands of times to ever doubt it again: in my own life, in stories from my dear community, and not least of all, in my dear husband’s own evolution around money.
You have the power to write new chapters in your Money Story. I’m going to say that again… You have the power to write new chapters in your Money Story.
It takes some work. But it is oh so worth it.
Here’s how you can start to get to know your Money Story…
If you want to create a new relationship with money — one founded on loving awareness, honesty, and empowerment — there are so many tools and practices that can help you to move forward.
But at a certain point, as you move forward, you must look backwards, too. In order to write a new chapter in your Money Story, you need to get honest about those previous chapters. (Or at least the highlight reel.) This doesn’t need to be traumatic, although it’s always helpful to have a Somatic Therapist by your side if you need additional support. And it doesn’t need to take years on a therapist’s couch, but again, it may be helpful to bring this Financial Therapy work to your therapist. If you’re ready and willing, you can take a few steps today, on your own, to get intimate with your Money Story: 1. Look back. What’s your first memory about money? See if you have any money memories pop up? The first time you received money as a gift. The first time you made money at a job. The first time you were aware of your family’s economic class? The first time you remember talking about money or learning about money? Let yourself journal about this…
2. What money beliefs have you inherited? What did your parents, grandparents, siblings, church, or community teach you about money? Are these beliefs or habits still guiding you, today? What money patterns or habits did you learn from your parents or grandparents? (negative or positive, conscious or unconscious). What money role did you take on early on with your siblings (who was the saver or the spender)? Let yourself journal about this…
3. How “grown-up” are you, with money? Only you can define what being “grown up or adult” with money means to you. Over the years, many of my community members admit, at a certain point, that they don’t feel like adults with money. Some feel like rebellious teenagers; others feel like toddlers; still others feel like nonverbal newborns! Where do you feel you are, within your own Money Story? Are you just getting started? Douse yourself with compassion, here — any answer you discover is truly OK. Let yourself journal about this….
4. Be present, present, present. All of these insights, even if they’re about the past, can only come to you in the present moment. Let yourself notice what money emotions are coming up for you? Anger, shame, grief, fear, anxiety, guilt or joy, excitement, hope. Learn how to do a Body Check-in. Journal. Dance out your emotions. Have honest conversations with trusted friends. Let yourself notice what money emotions are coming up in the present moment. Journal about this…
5. Forgive. I understand that forgiveness is a big concept. Forgiveness can take years or happen in a flash, in an instant. Forgiveness can be an important practice here to add in when you are ready. Try it out. Forgive yourself. Forgive your parents — they were doing the very best they could. Forgive your community. Forgive that testy IRS agent. Forgive, forgive, forgive. Let yourself journal about this…
So please: begin to make peace with your own Money Story. Say hello when it shows up. Share some cocoa with it and thank it for what it’s allowed you to do. Bless the hard times, honor the gifts of grit … and gently show those unhelpful patterns to the door. And always, always: celebrate yourself for showing up to this work. It is rare. And, oh so brave.
Own your Money Story. Bless it. And realize: you now hold the pen in your hand.
Here’s to writing something beautiful. With as much love as you can muster.
If you’re feeling ready and excited to secure your seat in this May 2025 round, registration is open right now.
You can learn more about The Art of Money: A 3-Month Financial Therapy Program and claim your spot right here.
I’m raising a mug of warm sipping chocolate in celebration of your beautiful new financial reality this year.
Sending dear wishes,
P.S. Stories like this are why I do this work:
“I was doing pretty well with the nuts and bolts parts of my money life, but I lived with a hum of money panic in the background. Every time an unexpected bill arrived, my business hit a low month, or any kind of letter arrived from the IRS, that panic would spike. I’d snap at my partner, fall into catastrophic thinking, and lose any sense of safety or belonging in this world.
Then came Bari and the Art Of Money. By going through the AOM program and receiving mentoring from Bari, I was able to create a grounded, honest and loving relationship with money. I’ve discovered the places where that panic came from (it’s closely tied to my sense of self and fear of not belonging), walked through healing, and created practices around caring for my financial life. I’m never going back to that hum of panic.
When a tough moment shows up, I know how to return to my AOM tools and stay open and loving with myself.”~ Annie Schuessler
