The Jane confidence brief
The 24hr decision rule
Fear isn’t the problem
Let's start with something you might not expect from a financial confidence series…
Fear isn't the enemy.
Fear is a signal. It shows up because something matters to you: your security, your family, your freedom.
And this is worth listening to.
The trouble starts when fear stops being a signal and starts becoming the decision maker.What you can do today to move closer to your financial goal
That story you tell yourself about why your financial goal is so elusive? That's not your history. That's your resistance. And resistance is exactly where the opportunity for transformation lives - transformation into the new financially confident you.
The story blocking you generally has the key to the pathway forwards and friend, it’s time to use it to change your story. We have an exercise here, in this newsletter, to help you start.
Let's go.
Fear has two moves
Last month we talked about the freeze: that "I'll wait until I'm certain" instinct that can cost you simply by keeping you out of the game.
Fear has a second move, and it looks like the opposite. Act now. Sell it, move it, sign it, fix it, get it off the table so the feeling goes away.
Both feel like protecting yourself. Both are really your nervous system looking for relief, not for the best outcome.
What the research says:
Fear doesn't just feel bad. It changes how your brain actually functions.
Researchers studying sugarcane farmers found something striking. Before harvest, when money was tight, the farmers' cognitive performance measurably dropped. After harvest, once they were paid, their thinking sharpened again.
Same people. Same intelligence. Different financial pressure.
Further research backs this up: Financial stress is linked to more short-term, risk-averse decision making.
In other words, when money feels frightening, clear thinking becomes harder to access right when you need it most.
The Jane Pause
Here's what we know: you don't have to get rid of fear to make a good decision. You just have to stop it signing the paperwork.
Before any big money move, try this:
Name it. Finish the sentence: "I'm afraid that..." Say it plainly, out loud or on paper. It's harder for a feeling to run the show once it has a name - shining a light on fear removes the shadows.
Check the clock. Is this genuinely urgent, or does it just feel urgent? Real deadlines exist. But pressure to act right now is worth noticing, especially when it comes from someone else. What’s their agenda?
Give it 24 hours. Sleep on it. Take a walk. Call the friend who stays calm. Then decide on your next step.
Ask the calm question. "What would I decide if I felt safe?" Then do that.
If your answer is the same after the pause, move with conviction. If it's different, you may have just saved yourself from a decision made by a feeling.
Your move this week
Think of one money decision on your mind. One you've been avoiding, or one you're tempted to rush. Write down the fear underneath it, then run it through the rest of the four steps.
You're not trying to be fearless. You're trying to be the one holding the pen.
Remember
Fear can tell you what matters. Calm decides what to do about it.
A note from Jane
Thank you for being part of our founding waitlist. You will be among the first women in Australia to access the Jane platform when we launch. We’re building a financial experience designed to help you understand money, build financial confidence and take action. Over time, and subject to the relevant licensing and regulatory requirements, our vision is to bring education, investing, financial planning and other financial services together in one place with a community of shared values. Every newsletter in this series is part of that journey. Browse our archive here - one continuous story about what it actually takes to build financial confidence. We are glad you are with us.
And if there's something you'd like us to cover next month - a block that keeps coming up, a market story you want us to break down - reply and tell us. We read every response.
Until next month,
Julia Scott
CEO and Founder of Money by Jane
Chartered Accountant with 20+ years helping build wealth and financial confidence
Information provided by Money by Jane is general in nature and does not take into consideration your personal financial situation. It is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice nor financial product advice in any way. Remember, the value of any investment can go down as well as up. Before acting, you should consider seeking independent personal financial advice that is tailored to your needs from an appropriately licensed or authorised financial adviser. 