Use this six-word phrase to avoid stress and be more confident with money, according to a financial therapist – NBC Los Angeles

From mounting credit card debt to unexpected emergency expenses, many things can trigger money worries. And the key to overcoming it lies in your mindset, says Aja Evans, financial therapist and author of Feel Good Finance.

That’s why she advises many of her clients to say one sentence to themselves “as much as possible”: I can cope with my financial situation.

“That’s a blanket statement,” Evans tells CNBC Make It. “No matter how good it is, no matter how bad it is, tell yourself, ‘I can handle my financial situation.'”

Stress over money is often rooted in concerns about whether you are safe. But this phrase can remind you that you are capable of managing any financial situation you find yourself in, she says.

Here’s how to “retrain” your approach to financial challenges.

The power of positive affirmation

Our brains are constantly taking in information and adjusting our behavior accordingly, says Evans. So what you tell yourself is important.

By repeatedly telling yourself, “I can handle my financial situation,” you begin to reprogram your brain to respond to financial challenges with confidence rather than panic. It also helps you break free from negative thought patterns around money.

But it’s not enough to just say this sentence to yourself, you have to really internalize it.

“The gist of it is that you have to believe it,” Evans says. “That’s what helps you strengthen yourself so that when the crisis comes, you’re really confident that you can overcome it.”

How to change your attitude towards money

In addition to telling yourself, “I’m coping with my financial situation,” Evans recommends writing down previous times when you overcame financial problems. This way, when you tell yourself that you can handle anything, you have evidence to back it up.

“You remind yourself that you got through all your hardest days and you can do it again,” she says.

It’s also important to take concrete steps to prepare for the unexpected, such as increasing your emergency fund.

“I don’t want anyone to think that money just ends up in their account because they do their affirmations,” Evans says. “Ensure you are secure and financially stable while validating yourself.”

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