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In this episode of the "I Come First" podcast, host Amie Barsky welcomes financial wellness coach Katy Chen Mazzara. Katy shares her unique perspective on money, emphasizing its role as an exchange of energy and its connection to self-worth. The conversation explores how childhood experiences shape our financial beliefs and the importance of aligning money decisions with personal values. Katy offers practical advice on managing finances, including tracking income and expenses, and the significance of slowing down before making major financial decisions. She also discusses the emotional aspects of debt and the importance of self-forgiveness in achieving financial freedom. This episode is packed with insights to help listeners develop a healthier relationship with money.

What We Explored This Episode

00:05:33: Connection Between Self-Worth and Finances

00:10:17: Understanding Childhood Money Stories

00:13:29: Defining Money and Its Value

00:14:20: Practical and Energetic Approaches to Money

00:16:08: Methods for Tracking Finances

00:17:32: Making Money Conversations Fun

00:19:04: Discussing Money in Relationships

00:21:52: Emotional Connection to Money

00:22:15: Concept of Money Not Being Real

00:24:13: Evaluating Purchases and Personal Value Systems

00:26:03: Aligning Money Decisions with Core Values

00:32:47: Steps to Manage Newfound Wealth

Memorable Quotes

"Money represents freedom, and that's all it represents. The more money I have, the more freedom I have. It's that freedom of choice as well."

"Our self-worth is about who we are and what we bring to the table. If you know this, you can let things go a lot easier. Your financial success is built upon how good you feel about yourself."

"The faster way to pay off debts is applying two things: slowing it down and only applying as much as you need to per month, and doing an energetic clearing out by forgiving yourself for those debts and releasing feelings of shame and guilt."

Resources Mentioned

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - https://juliacameronlive.com/the-artists-way/

Connect With Katy

Katy’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katychenmazzara/ 

Katy’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-chen-mazzara/ 

Katy’s Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/767774630314880 

Connect With Amie

Download My Free Breathwork Practice

https://www.amiebarsky.com/free-breathwork

Website: https://amiebarsky.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amie-barsky/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiebarskycoaching/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmieBarsky?sub_confirmation=1

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Katy Chen Mazzara

0:00 - 0:38

We have to, like, look at this from both that soul level, the spiritual level, as well as the practical level, right? All of the vision boards and all of those things are not going to help you to bring in money because money is an earthly thing. However, you do want to apply like some energetic frequencies, you know, because I do believe that money is this exchange of energy, right? Like, you have something I need or want and I'm going to exchange this currency, whether it's a credit card or cash, to actually get it right. And so you have to be in the same energetic frequency in order to make more money.

Amie Barsky

0:46 - 3:28

Hello, hello and welcome to the I come first podcast, where putting yourself first is not selfish, it's self care. And self care is essential. Yes, you heard me right. Here we are flipping the script and I'm going to show you how. I'm your host, Amy Barsky, and I'm so excited you're here. If you're tired of feeling overworked and underappreciated, this is a sanctuary where I'll share my entire journey as a guide to help you break through your patterns, limiting beliefs and societal pressures. To be perfect, these juicy weekly conversations with myself and guest experts will be filled with practical tools, advice, inspiring stories, and unstoppable energy. So if you're ready, then buckle up. It's time to ignite your inner fire and make I come first your new daily mantra. Hello my beautiful friend. It is your host Amy Barsky here, and I'm actually coming to you live from Austin, Texas. I'm in town for one of many trips to come over this year long training that I'm going through to uplevel my coaching skills. However, I will spare you any attempt at my silly southern accent. What I am excited for you to hear today is this new episode on the I come first podcast. Today I have a beautiful guest joining me. She is a dear friend and colleague, Katie Chen Mazzara. Prepare to have your mind blown as Katie shares her money isn't real concept and her mantra that money actually gets to be fun. This episode might have you questioning by the end everything you thought you knew about money. Katie is a trauma informed financial wellness coach and she is dedicated to helping creative freelancers and entrepreneurs make more money, worry less, and achieve true financial freedom so that you can live the dream life that you desire. You might be wondering, well, why would a money coach need to be trauma informed? This is exactly what you'll discover on this eye opening episode. Katie drops truth bombs about how your self worth is directly related to your net worth. She also shares three simple steps on how to develop a healthy and thriving relationship with your finances. Get ready to have your assumptions shattered as Katie proves that money can actually be a fun filled fuel for all of your ambitions. Let's dive in and get started. And before we jump into today's episode, here is a quick and exciting announcement. All right, so, Katie, I'm so excited for this conversation. I would love to dive right in. Could you give us a beautiful snippet of how you got to where you are as a beautiful money mindset coach?

Katy Chen Mazzara

3:29 - 4:26

Yes. There are two reasons that I am doing what I'm doing now. First of all, I was a tv producer, a freelance one, for 15 years. So I really understand what it's like to have that up and down feeling of having money and then not having money. So I really learned the process for myself. And then a lot of people that I talked to actually told me, oh, how do you do that? So I really went on a discovery path for myself first, and then I started to do it with clients. And then the other reason I do what I do is a more personal reason. It's actually because I've known three women in my life who stayed in abusive relationships because of the lack of money. And they. Yeah, they didn't work outside the home. They had young children to take care of, so they felt like they were stuck in their situation. So my mission has always been to empower people to make decisions not based on money.

Amie Barsky

4:26 - 5:31

Thank you for sharing. I can definitely relate. Clients of my own in the past have definitely been in very similar situations where they're like, what would I do? How would I even survive without that relationship with money and to that partnership? Wow, wow, wow, wow. And I can only imagine the magic you create in so many lives because of that. Because I have a feeling it's a very familiar story for many women. So can we get right to the meat of this? Because money can have such a icky feeling and energy to it for a lot of people, myself included, for most of my life, and that has been my work personally, in my relationship with money over, let's say, the past five years or so, and really up leveling in the past two years. It's just been, like, skyrocketing to recognize how it is currency. It's a flow, it's a dynamic of, it gets to come and go. We get to give and receive and bringing that energy in and out. So will you paint me a picture on how money is connected to our self worth?

Katy Chen Mazzara

5:33 - 6:45

Yeah. I always tell people our self worth really is about, first of all, who we are and what we bring to the table. It's a very quiet, powerful, knowing deep down inside of you. If you know this, then a lot of times things will just, you can really let things go a lot easier. And then also in terms of knowing who you are and what you bring to the table, then all of a sudden, the other stuff doesn't get stand in the way. Right? Like, our successes are only built upon, like, how good we feel about ourselves and in relationship to the foundations that we've created in terms of our own worth. Right. And so that gets reflected with our finances. You know, the other way isn't true. Like, I think a lot of people with high net worth will perhaps not have, who don't have high self worth. They're not going to do as well eventually, right? Eventually. They're the ones that, you know, you hear those studies about how people lose their lottery winnings within three years. Like, 70% of lottery winners lose it within three years.

Amie Barsky

6:45 - 6:47

And sports professionals, I heard, too.

Katy Chen Mazzara

6:47 - 7:13

Right, right. And it's not because of, you know, like, anything that they really want or don't want, because I'm sure every single one of us is like, oh, if I won the lottery, I wouldn't lose that money. But it comes down to our self worth, right? Because if you feel like, oh, I don't really deserve this money, or if you're somebody who has the belief system that I have to work really, really hard in order to make money, I'm.

Amie Barsky

7:13 - 7:17

Raising my hand for those who are listening and not watching.

Katy Chen Mazzara

7:18 - 7:43

Oh, my God, you know, that's when it happens, right? If you win the lottery, it's all of a sudden it's like, oh, I don't deserve this money. Like, not on the surface, not consciously, but unconsciously, you're like, I don't deserve this because I didn't work hard to get it. And then there's so many ways for it to just go out, right? You're going to give it away. You're going to spend it on things. You're going to take all the development courses.

Amie Barsky

7:44 - 7:45

I don't know what you're talking about.

Katy Chen Mazzara

7:45 - 7:47

I don't know what you're talking about.

Amie Barsky

7:48 - 8:05

You're, like, holding up a mirror right now, you know? And I shared in the beginning of my journey as a podcaster that I would be fully transparent. And so I'm really owning and honoring that was my journey for so long. For so long and still working on it.

Katy Chen Mazzara

8:05 - 9:02

Yeah. And I say I tell everyone this too. Just because I'm a money mentor and a coach now, financial coach, it doesn't mean I haven't had those stories, right? And, you know, there was. My story is actually a grandmother who really kept money so tightly. Like, she would say things like, oh, when I die, I'm gonna be buried with all my cash and nobody's gonna get that money. Right? Yeah. And then she accused all of us of stealing her money at one point. And so I grew up thinking, I'm never gonna be like her. I don't wanna be like her. So then in my twenties, I was just spending money like crazy. Even when I went to college, I went to NYU in New York, and I was taking cabs everywhere. Like, no college student is taking cabs everywhere. And I was buying my friends drinks and going out all the time and acting as if I made a million dollars, when in fact I was like, you know, on scholarship and working three jobs.

Amie Barsky

I can so relate to the similarity of what you were taught with from your grandmother. Is that what you said? Similarly, in my family, it was my mom. We always had everything we needed. We always had, you know, a roof over our head, clothes. We went to catholic school for twelve years, which is high intuition, right? We never had brand names of things, and there was always a sense of scarcity, even though we had what we needed, right. There was always a sense of scarcity. And so money was very important in my upbringing. And when there was arguments in the household, it was about money for the most part. And so I swung the pendulum the other way and I was like, fuck money. I don't care about it. It doesn't matter. And I went down the starving artist route. I was a professional dancer, and being in the creative field and all of that, I very much played into. If you're an artist, it's just the starving road that you walk down. And that's the way it gets to be. Even as a lot of healers, a lot of spiritual teachers, a lot of coaches, they think, oh, I'm of service, therefore I don't deserve self included. So tell me more about this belief system and how we start to unpack it in the next 20 minutes.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Right, exactly. Well, it definitely starts with understanding what your stories are. Right? Like going back into your childhood. And even I would say that everybody has something that may be keeping them from making as much money as they want to make. Even the people I've talked to in the beginning, people will always say to me, well, I had a great childhood I did have everything I needed and wanted and I don't think, you know, and my parents didn't really fight about it. They didn't talk about it, but they didn't really fight about it, right. And then there would be something, something comes up, right. Something comes up around whether or not it's the things that are unsaid, right. The things that are sort of in between those moments or, you know, I had, I talked to this guy one time in a workshop and he said those similar things. And then what really came through towards the end of our conversation was all of a sudden he remembered, oh, when he was going off to college, his mom or dad said, well, we love you, we support your career. However, just get a minor or something just in case, right. And that little piece of just in case kind of just went through his whole entire life and then it's like.

Amie Barsky

A seed plant, it takes root and.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yes, and he could make money doing everything except for his art. Right. And his acting. Yeah. Every single thing he did besides acting was making money. And then just with his acting it was all for free. And it was mainly this rooted belief that kind of came into his mind, you know. And so start with that. Start with like really understanding your story, writing that down, remembering all those little moments.

Amie Barsky

And like you said, you know, some people, I had a great childhood or I don't remember any of that. The invitation I would encourage you to do is listen to your body. Listen to your. Because our body is always talking, there's always a language underneath going on. So that could be something simple. When someone mentions the word money, how does it feel? What is the visceral, the felt sense that do you go, oh and you start to collapse or do you go, oh yeah, more money, show me. Haha. Like, yes, rain, let it rain, let it rain. You know, and it's that game, it's that game of receivership has been one of my words recently. How can I create energy to be in the more in the choosing, not the wanting? We were having this interesting conversation the other day around choosing and wanting. I choose more money, I choose more of whatever. I choose more love, I choose more joy, I choose more bliss versus I want it, I want it, I want it. And I know there's different, you know, I desire it and you know I need it. Oh, I need to share with my partner what my needs are. And you know, we could play with words all day long because they are energetic, right? And so we're playing with this idea of the choice because power is our greatest choice in anything we do.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yes. And so speaking of choice, we all get to decide what choice would you like to make about money, right? How would you like to feel about money? How would you like to define it for yourself? Right. You know, now, for me, money represents freedom, and that's all it represents. So the more money I have, the more freedom I have. And it's that freedom of choice as well.

Amie Barsky

And how would you navigate if someone was stuck in the loop of. I get what you're saying mentally, Katie. I get it, Amy. I get the mental. Yes. Affirmations, you know, positive words post its everywhere around the house, and nothing's to shifting what happens then.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Well, so there's twofold on that. I mean, you know, the reason I work with people, both on a spiritual level and on a practical level is because money is of this earth. We can't take it with us when we pass. And so you do have.

Amie Barsky

Wait, is your grandma still living? I was just curious, did she take it with her?

Katy Chen Mazzara

I don't know. We have no idea because my dad says he didn't inherit any. So we have to, like, look at this from both that soul level, the spiritual level, as well as the practical level, right? All of the vision boards and all those things are not going to help you to bring in money because money is an earthly thing. However, you do want to apply, like, some energetic frequencies, you know, because I do believe that money is this exchange of energy, right? Like, you have something I need or want, and I'm going to exchange this currency, whether it's a credit card or cash, to actually get it, right. And so you have to be in the same energetic frequency in order to make more money and make money doing what you love. You know, you got to get on that same energetic frequency to have consistent income coming in. And then you want to apply some practical things of looking at tracking, first of all, like, it's so important to have clarity around your finances, right? Really know what is coming in, what is going out, and then what it is that you truly want, you know, because if you don't know those things, the universe can't give that to you, right? Like, you just can't bring that in.

Amie Barsky

And for your clients, does that look like a spreadsheet? It's like one of my most undesirable things to create in my life.

Katy Chen Mazzara

It looks like whatever you want it to look like. It can be a spreadsheet for sure. It can be also an app. There's some really fun creative apps out there. It can also be just writing it in a notebook, what came in, what went out, you know, like, it doesn't have to be anything that is super complicated or feels like you're doing a lot of math, because to be honest, I was really terrible at math growing same.

Amie Barsky

Well, that's good to know. I felt in my body when you said that, a sense of like, ah, relief. Okay, cool. I don't have to sit on a computer and try and type in those little tiny lines and figure out how to get to the next line. Can you tell that I'm not an avid spreadsheet user?

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yes, exactly. Most people I work with are not. Right. Most people I work with are more creative minded. And so spreadsheets are not an easy thing. And so that's why I tell everyone, you find your own method of doing this, even if it feels like more fun for you to write things down with a crayon or magic markers. You know, do it. Right, exactly. You know, do that. Right. Because whatever makes it easier, more fun for you, then you'll continue to do it.

Amie Barsky

And I love that you brought in the concept of fun because generally speaking, the conversation of a topic with money and the conversation of a topic with fun are not generally mixed together.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Not for most people. Right? For me, yes. And then I also think, you know, because I work with a lot of couples as well. Yeah. And so, and I always tell people, like, if you're going to have a money date, which is a lot, you know, in the zeitgeist, people talk about money dates all the time. However, I'm telling people, like, it doesn't feel like a date if it's not fun. So make it fun. Right. Start with having either wine. If you don't drink, then have some fun beverage.

Amie Barsky

Little mocktail, for sure.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yeah, exactly. You know, have a nice dinner, and then start by talking about your dreams. Do a little dream building before you actually get into the nitty gritty of, like, what are we doing with our finances? Right? Like, what are all the, you know, the statements, the bank statements?

Amie Barsky

I love all of this. This is beautiful. Have the setup, have the intention. Now, I would love to, because what's coming up for me, and I was like, ooh, pre date, pre any of that, if there's already a closure or a collapse, energetically, when it comes to money, you could sit me down and give me a whole bottle of wine. I'm still not going to talk about it, you know, like, I'm still going to be, like, sticky, you know? So then, like, then what?

Katy Chen Mazzara

Well, I would say start with just even asking each other, you know, what did things look like growing up? You know, did your. Yeah. How did your parents operate around money? Right. Like, just being curious about that with your partners. Because the more curious we are with our partners, the more things grow anyway, the more our relationships grow. And this may be something that helps us to understand. Oh, this is why, you know, my husband thinks about money in a different way. Right.

Amie Barsky

He only uses a little stip of toothpaste versus the whole Colgate, you know, the role.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Right. You know, I've seen that over and over again with the couples that I work with. Yeah.

Amie Barsky

And I love, I feel. And again, this is my perception, is the world is changing when it comes to not only relationship with money and self, but in the dynamics of partnership to actually have those conversations. And my assumption of my experiences is because when my parents talked about it, it was mostly arguing over it or fighting or something about there wasn't enough or stress over it, and then seeing them work 40, 50, 60 hours overtime, double time, triple time, you know, all of that when I was married. I guess, like, really, in most of my adult relationships, you just didn't talk about it.

Katy Chen Mazzara

You just.

Amie Barsky

It wasn't normal, it wasn't comfortable or for me, anyway. So I never did. And I see how. I can see how that was extremely disempowering and did a huge disservice to the relationship as a whole. I see that so clearly now.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yes. It makes sense, because why would you want to go into it if your parents were fighting about it all the time? Right? My parents fought about it all the time.

Amie Barsky

I'm operating from a belief system that's a, you know, of fear. Fear based.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yeah. It doesn't feel safe to actually go into that space. Right. And so that's the place where we get to work on ourselves, because in every good relationship, we have to have a good relationship with ourselves. Right, exactly. And that's where that self worth piece comes back into play that we were talking about. Right. So we're expanding our sense of safety and security, you know, and money is tied into safety and security for those feelings of safety and security. And that's why there are so many emotions around it and why there's so much fear.

Amie Barsky

Ooh. You just said the word emotion, so it sparks something inside. How does one not to disassociate? Because I don't want to go down that avenue. I don't feel like that would be supportive. But how do we take the emotion out of money.

Katy Chen Mazzara

It's challenging. First of all, I just want to admit that it is challenging because I do believe that our emotions are tied into our finances and, you know, our financial life is only a reflection of that, you know, of our emotional life. However, the thing is to really remind yourself, I like to remind everybody that money isn't real.

Amie Barsky

Ooh, tell me more. Wait, wait, wait. Tell me more.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yeah. Well, we as humans, made it up, right? Like, we made up this currency. We made up all of the values of the currency. Like, a US dollar isn't the same as the australian dollar or the canadian dollar, right? We call it the same thing, but the value is totally different. And so just in the same way that, like, you know, governments to decide what values to put onto everything, we can also decide and make that choice and say, what do I want to make this mean for my life and for, you know, how I want to think about money.

Amie Barsky

So something came in for me, and I'm curious if this would be something to a value. Speaking of value, often when I go to the store, like, say, I'm, I don't know, at target or whatever, and I'm walking around and I see something I like. Let's say a sweater that I wasn't intentionally going in to buy. I was going to buy toilet paper. Let's say I see this cute sweater, and almost automatically, Katie, I put a value on it. I say, well, if it's like $15, maybe it's worth it, but if it's more than that, I probably won't get it. So I'm already placing the value before I look at this sticker price, right? And then when I look at the tag, I decide, nah, it's not worth it to me because I also don't need to buy frivolous things. And sometimes, you know, you're just, you know. And so when I do see something I really like and it fits me really well, I'll make that. If it's an investment, like, I'll make that choice. But if it's just like, oh, that's cute, and I don't see the value, then I will toss it aside. Or, yeah, this is another silly thing I do. I'll put it in my cart and walk around the whole store and get the things I did go in for, you know, the toothpaste, the whatevers. I. And then I will talk myself out of it. For the most part, I will talk myself out of buying this thing that I know I really don't need.

Katy Chen Mazzara

I mean, I don't necessarily think that the bad thing, to be honest, right. Because it helps you to evaluate whether or not you really want it, need it, you know, all of those things. And then the other side of things is to look at your own value system, right? Like, I want everybody to actually do a core values exercise. You know, there are so many of them out there, and you want to start to create, what are your core values? The things that naturally come from you. And then you get to align those money decisions based on those core values, especially bigger money decisions. For me, having a car really isn't that important. So I still drive a 2003 Volkswagen.

Amie Barsky

Solid car, though, right?

Katy Chen Mazzara

Exactly. It's still running. Everything's fine. But it's just not important to me. However, if I were to. If somebody wanted to invite me to go to Paris tomorrow, I'm like, yes, I'm gonna spend money going to Paris tomorrow. Even if it costs a lot more, right? Like, because that's part of my value system. One of my biggest values is freedom and then also relationships with, you know, people. So if it's a good friend of mine who's inviting me on a trip, you know, I'm going to try and make that happen.

Amie Barsky

I love that. I love that. And I noticed for myself, sometimes friends will get together at a particular restaurant that's not my favorite, that doesn't actually have a meal that I want or that I would really enjoy spending $25 on. But the company I'm keeping, in my eyes, is usually priceless. So I'm going for that. Not for the actual foodie experience, for that particular, you know, day or moment. Right.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yes. I'm laughing because that actually just happened to me. Friends of mine wanted to gather at a restaurant that I was like, it's okay. It's fine. But it's not what I would normally choose if I were to go out and have an experience. Yeah. However, I wanted to be there because it's my good friends and I wanted to see them.

Amie Barsky

Amazing. I love that. So what I'm hearing is really get familiar, have a relationship, one with the things you value in the world, in your life. And a lot of people value quality, time. It's not always material things, but I'm with you, though. I value travel and adventure. Sign me up. You know, if I can. I'm just yes. I'm generally 99.9%. I'm a yes. And it's happening. Like, there's no talking. You don't have to convince me to go to Bali or, you know, France. Like, just yes.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Right.

Amie Barsky

Because those are moments, like you said, you can't take your money with you. Well, I guess some people might have. I don't know. But you can't take your money with you. So why not expand on adventure and culture and different energies around the world? You know, that we just. For me, I grow exponentially when I've had an out of the country experience or even when I've had, you know, spending some time in a national park, you know, spending some time in mother nature. And so, you know, I know everyone has different values, and it sounds like, you know, just get really clear on what that looks like. And I love the fact that it sounds like you encourage your clients to. I'm going to use the word deliberately. Design your life from the financial lens. Design your life.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Right. Everything that I teach and coach on is to help you to become more conscious, to become more conscious of what you're doing. Yeah. With your finances, so that it supports the life that you really want to live rather than the life that you think you need to live because of all of these other decisions. Yeah.

Amie Barsky

I felt as a kid, we were often competing with the neighbors. They got a pool. We got to get a pool. They got a thing. We got to get a thing. And is interesting how, in our culture, it is to keep up with the Joneses game, self included. At times, I have definitely felt it myself.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Sure. We all have Fomo at times, right? And if, like, yeah, if I was looking at my neighbor, one of my neighbors, like, I think she buys or has a lease on a new car, like, every six months.

Amie Barsky

Oh, wow. Okay.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yeah. So there's always a new car sitting in her driveway, right? And then here I am with my 23 year old, like Hong Kong.

Amie Barsky

Right?

Katy Chen Mazzara

Hey, you know, and if I didn't really know myself and my own values, that actually may, you know, I may question myself and say, huh, do I need it? Or should I just get rid of my car and get a new one? Because, yeah, it is old.

Amie Barsky

And you would play that comparison game.

Katy Chen Mazzara

And I would play that comparison game, but instead, it's, like, not a thing for me because I'm like, yeah, I don't care about that. I don't really care about cars.

Amie Barsky

I get it. I mean, I really do. And so when you're in a position or a situation where someone maybe comes into, you know, the lottery or an inheritance or whatever, they new to the NFL or NBA, what would you advise them? Like, what would be step one?

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yeah. Step one is to, again, understand your own story. What you really experienced in childhood? Because I have worked with a lot of people who is either who have gotten inheritances from family members or let's say they got onto a hit show or movie, and then now, all of a sudden, they're making a lot more money than they were before. And so then it's like, well, let's slow it down. First of all, let's slow it down. Let's not just, like, go crazy.

Amie Barsky

You mean not, let's not buy a $10 million house, right.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Which I think one of the lottery winners recently who won a billion dollars actually did. Like, I think he's just started to buy, like, five or six different houses.

Amie Barsky

Well, I mean, a billion dollars, maybe. No, I'm not going to justify any of it. I just think that's hilarious. Okay, so step one is to go ahead and slow down.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yes, slow it down. Don't do anything just yet. Right? Do nothing. Spend money just yet. Instead, it's like, now is the time to get super clear about what you grew up with, how you want to do things differently, looking at your values, really doing that values assessment or exercise, and so understanding what it is that's important to you, and then making a plan from that place. Right. Yeah. Because otherwise you're doing things that, again, is based off of what other people believe is important or that other people would want you to do. And then two, also impulsively, not really understanding. Okay, this is how much money I have, and now it feels like it's a lot. However, things can go really fast. I had a client recently who got an inheritance, and the first thing, because she didn't quite believe that she deserved to have this inheritance, it was like she wanted to spend it as quickly as it came in and wanted to buy a really expensive place.

Amie Barsky

And luckily, you're her friend.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Well, yeah, luckily we're working together. But also, I think the house also, she didn't even talk to me about it before she put in an offer on the spot place. But luckily it fell through. The offer fell through, and I was like, this is the universe's way of going, okay, let's slow this down so that you can be intentional about it, right. Rather than doing it based off of, like, oh, my gosh, you know, like, that unconscious thing that you and I have studied so much is like, you know, that takes over. Right. And we don't want to work from that place of the unconscious taking over.

Amie Barsky

Wow. I love that. Step one, slow down. Step two, get in alignment with your values. Amazing. Amazing. Is there anything else you want to share around the step one, step two, to close up our conversation today.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yeah, I just want to add, because speaking about slowing down, a lot of times people will get like a big check, right? Like, especially people I work with, like they'll get a residual check or something big and then they instantly want to pay down their debts with it. And this is something else that I tell people to slow down on. And here's why. Like, one, the debts will come back faster if you actually just try and pay it off as fast as possible. Because think about it, in a month or two months or three months later, if you don't have another big check coming in and then you don't have a lot of income, what are you going to do? Put more money onto a credit? Cardinal Right. So it's going to keep adding up. So that's the practical piece then the spiritual piece of debt is really looking at what is burdening us in this moment, right. And the more that we sort of blame ourselves and burden ourselves with how bad we were with money or how much money we put onto credit cards or all those things, that debt's going to stay there longer or actually even increase more, mainly because it's there to remind you of how bad you are self beat up. Exactly. You know, so it's almost like a little punishment tool. So instead, the faster way to pay off debts is actually applying two things, applying the practical, so slowing it down and only applying as much as you need to apply per month to actually pay it down. And then the second thing is to do this energetic clearing out, so starting to clear out and forgiving yourself for those debts. Right. And forgiving yourself for anything that you perceive to be a bad thing that you didn't do a great job on. Right. And then really thanking those debts for doing what it did to help you to get through a tough time or to get you through college or to whatever it is for your growth and development, any of those things, just really have that compassion and really release those feelings of shame and guilt. And I know that debt is going to melt off much faster and it's going to stay that way. Right. Like, I have clients who come to me like, you know, I've been doing this for six years now, coaching for six years now, and I've had people who come to me from six years ago who say, oh, I'm still, yeah, I'm, I don't have any debts and I'm still doing great and I'm saving all of those things. That's amazing.

Amie Barsky

All right, so you heard it here. Three steps and then sweep that energetic. Clean, clean, clean, clean, clean. Hey, I keep it real here. Okay? I am so curious. What is your I come first practice that you do to make sure that you are taking care of your needs first on a daily.

Katy Chen Mazzara

I don't go a day without meditation.

Amie Barsky

Is that a morning thing, an evening thing, a midday thing?

Katy Chen Mazzara

It's a morning thing mostly. Yeah. Sometimes in the evenings, I'll do one as well, just depending on the day. However, in the morning, I studied transcendental meditation, and I love it. Yeah. And it really helps to center me. It helps to calm down my mind and to get me ready and settled for the day. Right. Rather than have that mind chatter. And then the next thing I do is a process of, like, morning pages and just kind of get out anything else that is still there, get it out.

Amie Barsky

I know I go through journaling phases where I'm in, in, in, in, in, in, and just writing pages. And then sometimes I'm like, nah, I'm too tired. I don't. It just. It doesn't inspire me. So it depends. So then I'll just have literal conversations with Gus. I say, Gus, God, universe, or spirit. So I'm like, let's have a chat, because I don't feel like writing today. But thank you so much for all of your wisdom, all of this beautiful insight into the relationship and the energetics when it comes to money and how to really cleanse the palate, to at least start get on the path of walking towards the ownership of your worth and your relationship to money and understanding that it is. It's a currency, it's fluid. It comes and goes. Is there anything else you wanted to share? How can people find you outside this space here?

Katy Chen Mazzara

Yeah, you can find me on Instagram and all the things adiechanmazara. And then I also have a guide that I'm sure you'll share in the show notes, a mindful money mastery guide where you can actually rewrite your money stories and really take a look at that. All of the things that we were talking about is in that packed guide, and it's free. And you can start diving into that and make it fun.

Amie Barsky

Yes. And so you heard it here. Money and fun. Get to have a beautiful relationship together. Thank you so much, Katie. It was an absolute joy and pleasure. Tune in next time for another epic episode. Until then, know that you are so worthy and you get to put yourself first in your life. So when you fill up your own cup, you get to give from the overflow. We'll see you next time. Thanks everybody.

Katy Chen Mazzara

Thank you.

Amie Barsky

Thanks for tuning into today's episode. I know your time is valuable and I'm so grateful that we get a chance to share this space together. If you're wanting more from myself or any of my guests right now, I am a hell yes to that. I love your enthusiasm, so let's make it happen. Simply check out the links in the show notes for all the information on the latest offerings, programs, and possibilities to connect outside this space. Or feel free to send me a DM on Instagram. Amybarskycoaching and of course, if you have any reflections or feedback, I am all ears. Also, if you feel this episode supported you, will you please leave a rating and a review. Your reviews really help people to discover the show and if you know of anyone you feel would benefit from this podcast, please pass the it along. A special thanks to my parents for always watching over me and for my team at Fullcast for making this show possible. I can't wait to be back in your ears next week. Trust me, you won't want to miss this next episode.