STOP and SHIFT Worksheet
W - reWrite Your Money Story
The STOP and SHIFT technique is a powerful pattern interruption tool designed to help you break free from automatic financial reactions and create new, empowering responses. This worksheet will guide you through the process of implementing this technique in real-life money situations.
How to Use This Tool
- Learn the framework by reviewing the STOP and SHIFT steps below.
- Practice with past situations using the exercises in this worksheet.
- Apply to real-time triggers as they occur in your daily financial life.
- Track your progress by documenting your experiences in the Growth Tracker.
The STOP and SHIFT Framework
Use this framework whenever you notice an old money script activating:
Physically pause before making any financial decision. This interrupts your automatic pattern and creates space for conscious choice.
A deep breath creates space between trigger and response, activating your parasympathetic nervous system and reducing stress reactions.
Name the script that's running. Simply identifying the pattern reduces its power and activates your prefrontal cortex.
Ask yourself: "What else could be true?" This opens your mind to alternative perspectives and new choices.
Choose a new response aligned with your financial goals and values. This is where transformation happens.
This isn't just positive thinking—it's strategic rewiring of your neural pathways. Each time you practice STOP and SHIFT, you strengthen new neural connections that support your financial transformation.
Practice Exercise: Past Financial Triggers
Think about three recent financial situations where your money scripts were activated. Apply the STOP and SHIFT framework to these situations retroactively to practice the technique.
Planning for Future Triggers
Identify three common financial situations that typically trigger your money scripts, and proactively plan your STOP and SHIFT response.
Implementation Commitment
To ensure this technique becomes part of your financial life, commit to specific practice opportunities this week:
Set a daily reminder to review your STOP and SHIFT practice. Note any patterns, successes, or challenges in your Growth Tracker. Remember, transformation is a practice, not a one-time event.
