Overview of The Identity Shift That Unlocks Wealth | Jen Sincero
Lewis Howes interviews best‑selling author and coach Jen Sincero about the psychological and practical shifts required to create financial abundance. The conversation centers on identity change—moving from “I can’t afford it” and scarcity beliefs to an abundant mindset—plus concrete practices (mantras, visualization, coaching, generosity, and daily “spiritual gym” work) that helped Sincero transform her life after age 40 and build lasting wealth and impact.
Key topics discussed
- The moral stigma around wanting money and why wanting wealth is not the same as greed.
- How upbringing and family dynamics tie emotional wounds to money (Jen’s experience with her father).
- The identity shift required to accept and receive wealth (moving out of a “familiarity zone”).
- Practical mindset tools: mantras, visualization, writing a “love letter to money,” and fear lists.
- The role of coaching and accountability in accelerating financial and personal growth.
- How to handle unsupportive friends/family when you change: choose growth, create space, find new peers.
- Money as energy: treating money with appreciation and generosity.
- Common fears at different wealth levels (scarcity, taxes, losing it, not knowing how to manage large sums).
- Criteria for alignment: is the work fun, energizing, and meaningful?
Main takeaways
- Identity change is central: consistent self-talk and identity reinforcement (what you say about money) shape your financial reality.
- Feel the truth before you fully believe it—use feeling-based mantras (e.g., “Money flows to me easily and freely”) to shift frequency.
- Do the scary thing every day: regular, fear‑based action expands your comfort zone and accelerates results.
- Treat money like a living energy—appreciate it, speak about it openly, and be generous to stay in the flow.
- Coaching is often the fastest route to change because coaches see your “forest” without your emotional trees and help you act.
- Healing emotional blocks tied to money (family stories, scarcity narratives) is necessary to enjoy and keep wealth.
- Build systems and a financial team early (bookkeeper, advisors) to avoid being “buried” by money when it arrives.
Notable anecdotes & insights
- Jen lived in a one‑car garage and repeatedly told herself “I can’t afford it” until she deliberately adopted new mantras and imagery (visualizing an Audi, claiming abundance).
- At 40 she hired a coach (put the cost on a credit card), followed direction fully, tripled her income in months, and scaled through continued investment in coaching.
- A pivotal moment: she asked to make $10,000 in two days to clear debt; an old client emailed and bought a $12k package—an example of aligning intent, action, and openness to receiving.
- Key book that changed her: Wallace Wattles’ The Science of Getting Rich—“to think what you want to think is to think the truth regardless of appearances.”
- Family healing example: resolving fear that wealth would “kill” her father’s way of showing love by reframing and visualizing his pride and relief.
Actionable practices and recommendations
- Create a daily “spiritual gym” (15–20 min): meditate, read, journal, or listen to material that raises your frequency—consistency beats intensity.
- Write a “love letter to money”: surface beliefs and contradictions (e.g., “I love you but I don’t trust you”) to identify blocks.
- Build a fear list: write the things you’re afraid to do and take one small scary action daily.
- Use feeling-driven mantras: prioritize how a new belief feels (ease, flow) over immediate intellectual belief.
- Be public about giving (partly): sharing acts of generosity can normalize wealth use and inspire others.
- Invest in coaching or mentorship when stuck—be an active, committed student to get results.
- Get professional help for money management early (bookkeeper, financial planner) so you can sleep at night and let abundance scale.
Common fears and how to address them
- “I’ll lose it” / tax anxiety: hire advisors, set up financial structures, and educate yourself to reduce uncertainty.
- “It will bury me” (too much, too fast): create a financial “nest” (systems, team, plan) so influxes are manageable.
- Shame or family backlash: reframe family narratives, visualize supportive responses, and do internal healing work.
- Social friction when you change: decide whether you’ll shrink for others or grow; seek new peers aligned with your next level.
Notable quotes
- “What you speak, you want to prove.”
- “Money is currency and currency is energy.”
- “To think what you want to think is to think the truth regardless of appearances.” (Wallace Wattles, quoted)
- “Do the scary thing every single solitary day.”
- “The highest currency for me is peace.”
Resources & where to find Jen Sincero
- Books: You Are a Badass (and other titles on money, habits, etc.).
- Course / coaching: Group coaching and 8‑week live program at jensincero.com (includes weekly videos, PDFs, live group coaching calls and meditation/guided content).
- Social: JenSincero on Instagram (preferred platform), Twitter, Facebook.
- Recommended reading referenced: The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles.
Final quick checklist (to start shifting your money identity today)
- Replace scarcity phrases (e.g., “I can’t afford it”) with feeling-based mantras.
- Do one small scary action toward your financial goal today.
- Write a short letter to money to reveal hidden beliefs.
- Commit to 15–20 minutes daily spiritual gym work for mindset upkeep.
- If stuck, hire a coach or find an accountability partner and assemble basic financial help (bookkeeper/advisor).
This episode blends practical money steps with inner work—identity, daily practice, and healing—showing that financial change often requires becoming a different person before the money can follow.