Mindset Isn’t the Problem...Avoidance Is
Stop hiding behind mindset talk when action is what’s required. There are seasons where thinking positively, visualizing, or “getting your mind right” won’t move the needle. Mindset tools are helpful, but trust me, they won’t fix real problems or pay bills.
Too often, mindset talk becomes a safe hiding spot, a way to feel like you’re doing something without actually doing the uncomfortable work. The way I see it, action matters more than intention. Movement matters more than motivation. I learned this lesson during a season that demanded everything from me.
When Life Forces Your Hand, Action Comes First
About 10 years ago, life shifted under my feet, faster than I could process, and I was scrambling to figure out what to do next. A sudden split from my marriage left me responsible for bills, expenses, and financial decisions I had shared with my ex. I found myself left to handle everything alone. Fear was real. During our marriage, we split costs, and while I knew more about managing finances, I let him take the lead in some areas. I allowed mistakes in the name of letting him be “the head of the household,” and those choices while well-intentioned left me in debt, rebuilding, and needing a plan immediately. There was no room to wait for the perfect moment or the perfect mindset; I had to act.
The Question That Changed Everything
What changed for me? Glad you asked. What shifted everything wasn’t a mindset breakthrough. It wasn’t a motivational speech or a journal exercise. It was a choice. A decision I made when I realized waiting wouldn’t solve anything. I asked myself the simplest, yet hardest question: what can I do right now? That question moved me from panic to progress. I took control of my finances because I had to, not because I felt confident or even ready.
Clarity didn’t come first; action did, and clarity followed. That is the principle I want you to remember: clarity is a byproduct of action, not the prerequisite.
What Action Looked Like in Real Life
I couldn't just sit around I had to take action. Here’s what that action looked like in practice. I immediately took steps to reduce financial strain. I switched to a prepaid phone plan, cut cable, reduced my grocery bill by cooking differently and eating leftovers, and stopped spending on unnecessary items. I adjusted my car loan to combine debt in a way that lowered monthly payments and gave me room to breathe. I prioritized what mattered most and eliminated what didn’t. Every small decision compounded, giving me back control over my finances and my life.
Discipline Beats Motivation Every Time
Along the way, I learned that strict discipline is powerful when paired with smart strategy. I needed rules, steps to follow in that season. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t about deprivation, it was about prioritization.
I made simple changes like upping my internet package to access free streaming apps and relied on family to share resources. Every adjustment reinforced the principle: you can make real progress without waiting for perfect circumstances. You just have to act, even when uncomfortable. Discipline in action creates results; waiting for motivation creates excuses.
Why Behavior Changes Before Confidence
When I finally took the time to step back I came to a realization that goes deeper than money. Most people aren’t stuck because they lack information, but they’re stuck because they’re avoiding discomfort. Identity doesn’t change first; behavior does. Most of us wait for confidence, clarity, or readiness before we move, but the truth is: movement produces clarity. When you act differently, your mind, perspective, and confidence start to shift. This the high level insight I want you to take away: doing creates thinking, not the other way around.
Stop Waiting. Start Where You Are
If you’re in a season where life is demanding more from you than you feel ready to give, ask yourself this honestly: are you ready to do what you need to do, or are you still waiting on that mindset shift? You don’t need a perfect plan or perfect timing, you need a starting point. Take one practical step today that moves your life forward, no matter how small. I'll start you off with these.
Here are practical, no-excuses steps anyone can take today:
1. Identify one financial pressure point
- Ask yourself, what bill, expense, or habit is causing me the most stress right now?
- Not all of them. Just one.
2. Make one uncomfortable cut
- Cancel or downgrade one subscription
- Pause one nonessential expense for 30 days (do you NEED all of those streaming platforms?)
- Switch to a cheaper alternative (phone, internet, insurance, groceries)
Discomfort is not a sign you’re doing it wrong. It’s a sign you’re doing something that matters.
3. Create breathing room before chasing big goals
- Lower monthly obligations first
- Reduce payments or consolidate where possible
- Focus on cash flow before savings, investing, or “dream goals”
Stability comes before strategy. This is what I teach my clients to do.
4. Replace “I need a plan” with “What’s my next move?”
- Write down the very next action, not the whole plan
- Example: “Call the cable company,” not “Fix my finances”
5. Act before motivation shows up
- Don’t wait to feel confident
- Don’t wait to feel calm
- Don’t wait to feel ready
Take the step first. Let confidence catch up later.
Think about it this way: If mindset talk worked, you’d already be where you want to be. Action is what changes things. If you made it this far and you're saying but I'm not like you. I can't do this on my own. Well neither did I. I knew when to ask for help. I had a finance coach and a mama who was quite money savvy.
I tapped into their resources and never looked back. Let me be your resource. Tap in with my social media content where I post money tips all the time. Also download my newest baby, the Pink Purse Playbook. It's a 30-page money savings challenge workbook guaranteed to make saving both fun and easy. You're gonna love it! And if hand-holding and accountability is what you need then tap into my W.E.A.L.T.H. Builder coaching program. It's a 6-month program that costs less than your last Amazon order.
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