Episode 313: But What About the Money? Why Your Nervous System Determines Your Income
Every year feels the same, doesn’t it? You tell yourself this year will be different. You’re going to hit your income goals, expand your business, and finally create the financial freedom you’ve been working toward. Maybe you’ll even eat salad on January 2nd. Go for that walk. Organize your workspace.
Then the old patterns settle in. Because we’re human. This happens to all of us.
But here’s what most people don’t tell you: turning the calendar to a new year doesn’t reset your nervous system. All the vision boards in the world won’t rearrange your limiting beliefs about money. And until you address what’s happening inside of you? Nothing changes on the outside.
Watch the full episode
You can only earn at the speed of safety. When your nervous system feels unsafe, you physically cannot show up at the level required to grow your business.
The Truth About New Year’s Resolutions and Money Mindset
As a business coach working with women entrepreneurs, I see this pattern every January. Excitement builds. Goals get set. Vision boards come out. Then by February? Those same limiting beliefs about money creep back in.
Why does this happen? Because motivation fades. What doesn’t fade is the internal work—the kind that actually shifts your money mindset from the inside out.
What Happens When Your Nervous System Feels Unsafe Around Money
This phrase has become foundational to how I work with women entrepreneurs: you can only earn at the speed of safety.
Here’s what happens when your nervous system feels unsafe—it goes into survival mode. You start spinning with “what if” scenarios. Your brain second-guesses everything. Your pricing. Your sales conversations. Your worth. Playing small feels safer than showing up fully.
So the question isn’t whether you’re capable of earning more. The question is: does my nervous system feel safe enough to receive it?
How I Discovered My Hidden Money Fear
Okay, so this year, something interesting happened. Earlier in 2025, I sat down and wrote out everything I wanted in a life partner. Four pages, you guys. Detailed. Specific. My boyfriend jokes about it now—it’s literally four pages long!
I put it in what I call my “God box.” That’s where I put my wishes for the universe to deliver because I’m keeping my agreement with it. Basically, I show up and share my gifts with the world, and the universe has my back.
Here’s the wild part: everything on that list showed up. Every. Single. Thing.
If I could manifest a life partner with a four-page list, why not do the same thing with money?
So I sat down to journal about exactly what I wanted financially for 2026. As I started writing, though, a fear surfaced that I hadn’t fully reconciled.
If I become truly wealthy, will people think I’m a bad person?
There it was. Despite running a successful coaching business, helping hundreds of women build profitable businesses, this fear was still operating beneath the surface.
The Realization That Changed Everything
Then came a realization that shifted everything for me.
Every single day, women are starting businesses. They’re eager to learn. Ready to invest in themselves. And you know what? Many of them are purchasing from people who are actually slimy. The guys who rent private jets for photo shoots. Empty promises about “six figures in six weeks.”
Those women are buying from them because they’re not hearing my voice at that table. Why? Because I didn’t want to appear too focused on money. Because I was worried about what people might think.
Meanwhile, women who could benefit from my heart-centered approach to sales and business growth? They were finding other coaches. Coaches who weren’t afraid to talk about money.
What if staying quiet about money wasn’t protecting my integrity—it was actually keeping my message from the women who needed to hear it most?
How to Actually Address Your Money Fears (Not Just Avoid Them)
So when I looked directly at my fear—“What if people think I’m a scammer?”—I did something simple. I asked myself: what would actually happen?
Would I still have my beautiful children? Yes.
My home? Yes.
My incredible relationship? Yes.
My amazing clients who get real results? Yes.
My circle of friends? Yes.
All of that would still be there. Someone on the internet might think I’m a scammer. And you know what? Suddenly, that fear wasn’t so scary anymore.
A Real Example: How One Client Dissolved Her Money Fear in Minutes
Okay, so this is the kind of work I do with my clients. Recently, I worked with this woman who helps other women find their voices and share their stories. Beautiful work, right?
She was this close to hitting her $10,000/month goal. She’s since reached it—cue the confetti! But at the time of our call? She couldn’t breathe. Anxiety had completely taken over.
During our session, we identified two main fears:
“What if it all falls apart?”
“What if my depression returns?”
So first, I asked her: “Let’s say it does fall apart. What would you do?”
“Well, I’d probably get a job if I had to. Although honestly? I don’t think I’d need to. I’d just create something new.”
“How long would it take you to sell that new offer?”
“Three hours.”
Boom. The first fear dissolved. She realized she had skills, resilience, and the ability to create income whenever she needed to.
Then we tackled the second fear. She’d battled deep depression years ago—the kind that knocked her out for months. Understandably, she worried it might happen again.
“Okay, let’s say you notice that starting to happen. What would you do?”
“Oh, well, I’d call you. I’d reach out to my therapist. I’d tell my partner. I’d get support lined up.”
“How long would it take you to do that?”
“Maybe five minutes.”
“And how long before you’d recognize something was happening?”
“Probably a day or two.”
You guys, I watched her shoulders drop. Within minutes, she went from panic to peace. The fears that felt overwhelming became manageable once we looked them in the eye.
Simple Techniques to Calm Your Nervous System (So You Can Actually Make Money Decisions)
After we addressed those fears, my client asked the best question: “Okay, but what do I do now? I’m still feeling nervous and anxious.”
Here’s the truth: when your nervous system is activated—spinning mentally, worrying about everything from business metrics to random tasks you forgot—you need to bring yourself back home to your body.
These techniques work whether you’re brand new to business or you’ve been at this for years:
Quick Grounding Techniques You Can Do Anywhere
Rub your fingertips together. Notice the sensation. Feel the ridges of your skin. This simple action brings immediate awareness.
Wiggle your toes. Whether you’re in shoes or barefoot, connect with that physical sensation. Ground yourself right now.
Put your hand on your heart. Feel it beating. Tens of thousands of miles of arteries and veins, all working to keep you alive. You’re safe.
Take a few deep breaths. Inhale for four counts, exhale for six. Just breathe.
You guys, these simple actions drop you back into your body. Your nervous system recognizes there’s no immediate physical danger. It can relax. And from that calm, grounded space? You can start making clear decisions about money. You can work on the beliefs that have kept financial growth at bay.
Remember: you only earn at the speed of safety. If your nervous system isn’t online, neither is your ability to receive abundance.
The Common Money Fears That Keep Women Entrepreneurs Stuck
Most of us carry variations of the same money fears. See if any of these sound familiar:
“If I make more money, I’ll become a bad person.”
“People will judge me for talking about sales.”
“What if I lose it all?”
“I’m not smart enough to manage wealth.”
“That level of success is for other people, not me.”
These beliefs usually started around age 10, 11, or 12. Messages came through—sometimes direct, sometimes implied—about who you were. “I’m stupid. I’m lazy. That’s not for people like us.”
Here’s the thing: these generalizations are ridiculous. You cannot define your entire being based on one day. One choice. One mistake. Yet somehow? We do it all the time.
The good news? Once you identify these fears and look at them directly, they lose their power.
Why Positive Thinking Alone Won’t Fix Your Money Problems
There’s plenty of talk in the coaching world about manifestation. About thoughts becoming things. But here’s what I want you to understand: having a bad thought doesn’t ruin your ability to create wealth. Having a rough day doesn’t mean you’re only going to attract garbage.
You’re allowed to have hard days. Life happens. Bodies get sick. That doesn’t mean you asked for it or “manifested” illness.
The universe understands your overarching intent. It knows your heart. You don’t have to be perfect—you need to be honest with yourself about your fears.
Keep your nervous system regulated. Show up to share your gifts with the world. That’s the real work.
Your Talents Were Given to You for a Reason
Your expertise, talents, and gifts? They were given to you so you could use them and make a living with them. They weren’t given to you so you could give them away for free while resenting your day job.
Money is necessary to survive in this world. That’s simply the reality. And to build a healthy relationship with it, you need to understand three things:
How you use money
Why do you want it
What you’re afraid might happen if you actually have it
This is exactly the work we’re going to tackle together in 2026.
An Exercise: What Would You Want If No One Could Judge You?
Here’s something to try right now. Ask yourself: What would I actually allow myself to want financially if there was no judgment?
For most women entrepreneurs I work with, it’s not about private jets or luxury handbags. You’re more interested in:
- Making a real difference in the world
- Creating beautiful experiences with your family
- Exploring this extraordinary planet
- Finally taking that cooking class you’ve been eyeing
- Pursuing a master’s degree in something that fascinates you
- Having the freedom to say yes when opportunities arise
What would you want if no one was watching? If no one could judge you?
Really follow that through. Write it down. Get specific.
That’s exactly what I did with my own money fears. When I realized I could use increased income to bring more amazing moms onto my team—women who work hard and provide for their families through this business—my fear of judgment disappeared.
Some random person on the internet might think I’m a schmoozer. Honestly? I don’t care. I know the truth. And that relationship with myself, that growth in self-trust, only becomes available when my nervous system is calm, when beliefs are actively being worked on, and when fears are being addressed instead of avoided.
Why You’re Designed to Keep Growing (And Why That Matters for Your Income)
Here’s something you need to know: as humans, if we don’t feel like we’re growing, we start to shrink. Depression sets in. Anxiety creeps in. We’re designed to expand—it’s literally mapped out in our DNA.
This is why your nervous system needs constant attention as you grow your business. Consider this progression:
You hit your first six-figure year. Then what? Your brain immediately asks, “Can I hit $250K?” Of course it does. Because your confidence has increased. Your competence has increased.
Every time you create a new gap—a new level you want to reach—you have to deal with why you’re not there yet. And usually? The reason you’re not there yet is fear. It’s your nervous system hitting a new level of expansion and freaking out.
Your nervous system’s job is to keep you safe. When you’re reaching for new levels of income, it screams “Danger! We don’t know this territory yet!”
This is normal. This is expected. You need someone by your side saying, “Yes, that’s going to happen. It’s okay. It’s normal. Here are some tools to help you work through it.”
About Sarah Walton
Sarah Walton is a business coach, podcast host, and mentor who helps women entrepreneurs build businesses they love. She's the creator of the Abundance Academy, Effortless Sales, and the Game On Girlfriend® podcast. Sarah's mission is to put more money in the hands of more women while teaching authentic, heart-centered business strategies.
Join the “But What About the Money?” New Year’s Day Workshop
Listen, I don’t want you spending New Year’s Day hungover. Wondering why you ate so much. Feeling groggy. Telling yourself you’ll start tomorrow.
Instead, I’m inviting you to a New Year’s Day workshop where we’ll address the question that’s probably been running through your head throughout this entire post: But what about the money?
What We’ll Cover Together
In this workshop, we’ll:
- Look at what needs to shift for you to make more money in 2026
- Identify what you’re actually afraid of when it comes to expansion
- Reframe the beliefs that have been keeping you stuck
- Learn practical tools to keep your nervous system regulated as you grow
- Get coached by me directly on your specific money blocks
This isn’t about motivation that fades by January 3rd. This is about the inside-out work that creates actual, lasting change by February, March, and beyond.
Click here to register for the the New Year’s Day workshop. Grab your spot today.
Keep Going: Related Episodes You'll Love
If this episode resonated with you, these Game On Girlfriend® podcast episodes will take your money mindset work even deeper:
- Episode 263: How Your Nervous System Shapes Your Money Habits with Stephanie Crochet - Learn practical somatic practices to reshape your money habits from the inside out. Stephanie shares how your nervous system needs a felt experience to integrate new patterns around money.
- Episode 197: Money Beliefs That Hold You Back from Making More - Discover the specific limiting beliefs keeping you stuck financially. This episode tackles the exact beliefs that prevent women entrepreneurs from earning what they deserve.
- Episode 98: "You Shouldn't Charge for What You Do." Um, WHAT? - Address the guilt and fear around charging well for your services. You'll learn why women have been conditioned to undervalue their work—and how to step into your worth.
Make 2026 Your Year
2026 can truly be the year you change your relationship with money. This can be the time you decide you’re going to be as wealthy as you’ve always wanted to be.
There’s nothing between you and the life you really want—except the fears and beliefs you’re carrying that don’t belong to you.
From my heart to yours, from my family to yours: Happy New Year. I hope to see you on New Year’s Day.
Let’s step into the strongest, most powerful, most self-assured version of you. So you can start playing on the level you deserve in 2026.
Listen to the Full Episode
Ready to hear the complete conversation? Click here to listen to Episode 313 of the Game On Girlfriend® podcast or click here to watch the full episode.
This episode will help you understand why your nervous system determines your income—and give you practical tools to reset your relationship with money for 2026.
Binge More Game On Girlfriend™ Podcast Episodes
GRAB MY FREE FREEDOM CALCULATOR SO YOU CAN:
Learn the exact number you need to feel FREE!
Know exactly what you need to do each day to make more money.
Make tracking your numbers easy with my revenue tracking tool (the same tool I use every day in my own business!)
Learn the TOP 2 mistakes most business owners make when it comes to tracking revenue
It's time to move from "fingers crossed" to clear and successful.