Pause for a moment and ask yourself: what are the words that come up for you when you hear the word "debt"?

Be honest. For many of my clients, their immediate response is a flood of negative emotions and associations. Words like trapped, never-ending, horrible, embarrassment, shame, and even imprisonment come up. Sound familiar?

Debt has become synonymous with guilt and dread, a yucky, heavy thing we carry around. But debt itself isn’t inherently bad. It’s our associations, our learned beliefs, and the cultural narrative around debt that make it feel so suffocating.

The Fear-Based Mentality Around Debt

Culturally, debt is often framed in fear. Think about it: the way debt is taught to us is rooted in this idea of avoidance and failure. And let’s not overlook the systems that perpetuate this fear. Many forms of debt—credit cards, payday loans, and more—are structured to prey on vulnerable people. Debt collectors? Their sole purpose is to get their money back, and they use fear as a primary tactic. It’s an industry built on intimidation.

Debt can also feel incredibly polarizing. For some, it’s so available it’s like candy in a convenience store. For others, it’s a privilege reserved for the wealthy or specific groups. No wonder it’s so loaded with meaning and judgment. And for most people, debt is boiled down to one core belief: Debt is bad.

A New Perspective on Debt

Let’s take a step back and redefine what debt actually is. At its core, debt means "to owe" or "a duty." That’s it. Neutral words with no emotional charge—until we give them one.

To owe can simply mean, I owe $15 for this shirt, so I’ll go pay it. Neutral, right? Similarly, duty can be interpreted in a variety of ways. It can feel burdensome, but it can also feel purposeful. A duty can mean obligation, but it can also mean responsibility and honor. Think about it: you might feel a duty to your family, your community, or your country. That duty can be motivating. It can give you a sense of purpose.

I feel a duty to you, to share everything I know about breaking free from debt because it changed my life. For me, that duty is energizing, empowering, and deeply fulfilling. It doesn’t feel heavy; it feels like a gift I get to share. And when you begin to reframe your relationship with debt, it can start to feel that way for you, too.

Shifting the Narrative

When you start this work, you’ll notice how often negative thoughts about money and debt creep in. Catch yourself. Replace “I’ll never get out of debt” with “I’m taking steps to honor my financial commitments.” Replace “Debt is ruining my life” with “Debt is giving me an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Debt doesn’t have to define you. It doesn’t have to be your cage. It’s just a thing—a thing we can work through, reframe, and overcome. The power to change how you see it is entirely yours. Let’s turn debt from something that holds you back into something that propels you forward. 

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