Stop Waiting, Start Valuing: How to Boldly Take Charge of Your Money and Career
Take Charge of Your Money & Career | Jo Renshaw Coaching, Brighton
When Claire showed up for her Life Audit, she was—on paper—doing everything right.
She had a full-time role managing a wellness studio. She taught yoga and fitness. She offered sound healing. DJ’d on weekends. Owned her own flat. Had a dog she adored. Made time for sea swims, saunas, and the occasional ecstatic dance night.
If you looked at her life from the outside, you’d probably think, “She’s smashing it.”
But that’s not how it felt on the inside.
She felt stuck. Overwhelmed. A bit lost, if she was honest. There was this quiet undercurrent of “I should feel grateful, but something’s not right.” Like she was doing all the things—but still doubting herself, her direction, and whether she was ever going to get where she really wanted to go.
In this week’s blog, I’m sharing Claire’s story—and the simple but powerful mindset shifts that helped her:
Spot the unconscious habits that were keeping her stuck (especially around money and time)
Shift out of “I’m just winging it” and into a sense of real self-trust
Start valuing her time, skills, and energy like they actually matter (because they do)
Take the first steps toward a career—and life—that feel aligned, exciting, and fully hers
If you’ve ever wanted to know how to take charge of your money, have that feeling of being stuck in your job and thinking “this isn’t it, but I don’t know how to get out”—this is for you. This is mindset coaching for women, that shows you how to value yourself, as you make the transition to entrepreneurship. You’ll learn how to rewrite your money story, and mindset shifts for financial freedom.
The Price of Being “Grateful, But…”
Here’s where we started. Claire had been promised a raise at her job. A raise that never came. But instead of questioning it, she stayed. Why? Because the job was flexible. Because the clients were lovely. Because she could bring her dog. Because it was “good enough.”
Except it wasn’t. Not really.
She’d taken on more responsibility without more compensation. Taught more classes. Managed more operations. She felt overextended, undervalued—and guilty for feeling that way.
And so we talked about something I’ve seen a lot of women do, especially women like Claire: We wait for someone else to acknowledge our worth. A boss. A partner. A parent. We stay in situations that drain us because, well, “we should be grateful.”
But that’s not gratitude. That’s self-abandonment dressed up as humility.
The Real Culprit: A Disconnected Relationship With Herself
Pretty quickly, we started to see a pattern. It wasn’t just about the job. It was her money, too.
Claire told me she’d get paid, then spend most of it within a week. Then she’d wait, slightly anxious, for something else to come through—a gig, a loan, a last-minute booking. She’d say, “I just can’t seem to hold onto money. It’s like I don’t trust myself with it.”
Which made sense. Because under all of it—career, finances, time—was a story she’d been telling herself for years:
“I’m not someone who’s good with structure.”
“I’m a bit impulsive.”
“I’m winging it.”
Except, she wasn’t.
She was managing a business, a home, multiple offerings, a full schedule. The only thing she was really winging was how she talked to herself about it.
The Moment It Started to Shift
I asked her what a 10/10 life looked like. She paused. And then out came this gorgeous vision.
Running sound healing retreats. Producing music. Hosting sessions in her own sanctuary. Working with people one-on-one. DJing events that changed people—not just entertained them. She described the kind of day that doesn’t feel like work. A life that felt full and free and alive.
And then she hesitated.
She said, “But I don’t know if I can really make that work. I mean... is it realistic?”
Here’s the thing: we all have that voice. The one that calls our dreams unrealistic before we’ve even given them a chance to exist. But what if “realistic” is just code for “safe”? And what if “safe” is costing us our actual lives?
You can learn more about setting goals in a way that will inspire you here.
Why Avoidance Feels Safer Than Facing the Thing
Claire shared a story about a £2.50 Dartford crossing charge. She’d forgotten to pay it. And when the letter came, she didn’t open it. Then another one came. And another. Eventually, the fine was much, much more. She knew it would be. But she still avoided it.
It wasn’t because she didn’t care. It was because she didn’t want to feel the shame. Or the guilt. Or the frustration with herself for letting it happen again.
And wow—I felt that in my bones. Because I’ve done it too.
Avoidance isn't laziness. It’s self-protection. But it’s protection that builds a prison.
We talked about facing those feelings instead. What if you let yourself feel the dread of opening the envelope—but do it anyway? What if you let it be uncomfortable for five minutes, so it’s not uncomfortable for five weeks?
Building a New Identity—One Thought at a Time
We didn’t create a five-year financial plan. Not yet. We started smaller. With her thoughts.
Like:
“I’m someone who’s learning to take care of money.”
“I can trust myself to take the next step.”
“Avoiding it doesn’t mean I’m bad—it just means I’m human.”
Because here's the deal: Your identity isn’t fixed. You’re not “bad with money.” You’re not “just a manager.” You’re not “lucky to have a job.” You’re a woman with desires, talents, and infinite potential—who sometimes believes old stories out of habit.
And we can change habits. Especially the ones that are thoughts. Listen to what Elizabeth Gilbert, writer of Eat, Pray, Love has to share for anyone feeling lost and unhappy.
Self-Trust Before Strategy
We spent time anchoring into what she actually wanted. Not the version her mother thought was sensible. Not the version her boss thought was convenient. The real version. Her version.
We mapped out what a few months could look like if she cut her hours and focused on building her sound healing business. We identified ways she could earn without burnout. And we practiced feeling the discomfort of stepping into new territory—without shrinking back.
Not perfectly. Not without doubt. Just with more truth. More trust.
So... Where Is She Now?
She’s still working. But on her terms. Fewer hours. More intention. She’s planning her next sound healing event. She’s saying no to things that drain her. She’s thinking more creatively about money. And more kindly about herself.
Does she still have moments of doubt? Of course. That’s the human part. That’s the real part.
But she’s not waiting anymore. She’s creating.
If You’ve Been Waiting, Too—This Is Your Sign
So, what have we seen in this story?
That staying in a job you’ve outgrown—even a flexible one with lovely clients—can quietly drain your self-worth. That waiting for someone else to recognise your value is a gamble that rarely pays off. That avoiding money stuff (like unopened bills or unplanned spending) doesn’t make the stress go away—it just makes it grow. That when your inner narrative is full of “I’m winging it,” it doesn’t matter how capable you actually are—because you won’t feel it.
But here’s the bigger picture.
You’ve learned that all of this—your job, your money, your confidence—isn’t just about circumstances. It’s about the story you’re telling yourself.
And you can change that.
You can rewrite your money identity, and shift from “I’m not good with time” to “I’m learning to prioritise what matters.”
You can go from hoping things will change… to making decisions that move you forward.
You don’t have to wait for clarity, for confidence, for the right moment. You just have to be willing to believe—gently, even tentatively—that your value is already here.
You’ve seen how Claire began to believe that. And now, maybe, you can too.
The next chapter doesn’t need a full plan. It just needs you to stop waiting. And start valuing.
Ready to stop waiting and start valuing yourself—for real this time?
If Claire’s story resonated, and you’re feeling the nudge to make a change but not sure where to start… let’s talk.
Book a free Discovery Call and we’ll look together at where you are now, where you want to go, and what’s been getting in the way.
No pressure. No hard sell. Just a powerful, honest conversation to help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.
👉 Book your free Discovery Call here
This blog is inspired by the work I do with my clients during sessions, and brought to you in partnership with AI.
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