Did you ever tell yourself “I’m good with money” and then splurged on something you didn’t need? The uncomfortable feeling that follows has a name: cognitive dissonance.

Let’s explain…

The Tug-of-War Between Head and Heart

Ever feel like your money decisions are caught in a tug-of-war?

One side is logic. The other side is emotional.
And the rope? That’s your financial life.

This shows up all the time:

• Holding onto a losing investment because selling feels like failure.
• Promising yourself you’ll “save more later”—even though time is your most valuable asset.
• Upgrading your lifestyle because “everyone else is doing it,” even if it pulls you off course.

This is cognitive dissonance—when what we do clashes with what we believe. It’s uncomfortable. It’s sneaky. And in finance, it’s everywhere.

The Good News

Once you see that tension, you can use it.

Think of it like driving uphill. Resistance is real—but it’s also part of what moves you forward.

So how do you turn internal conflict into progress?

Try this:

• Name the tension – Don’t ignore it. Call it out.
• Reconnect to your “why” – Freedom. Security. Your family’s future.
• Add accountability – A partner, an advisor, a calendar reminder.
• Automate discipline – So willpower isn’t always the battleground.

Friction doesn’t mean failure.
It means you’re climbing.

The Belief-Behavior Gap

Cognitive dissonance isn’t weakness—it’s human.

But left unchecked, it can quietly erode wealth.

The real challenge? Closing the gap between what we say we want and what we actually do.

So ask yourself:

Where’s the biggest gap between your money beliefs and your money behavior?

Awareness is the first step.

At Blackden Financial we are a firm of Swiss licensed wealth managers and we have been advising our clients in Switzerland for the past two decades on just such matters. If you would like advice on how to make better money decisions, we suggest you book a no obligation ‘discovery’ call. There is no commitment and no cost.

Contact us on +41 22 755 0800, email info@blackdenfinancial.com or complete our Contact Form here  

One of our team will contact you and arrange a suitable time to discuss whether our service may be suitable for your situation and if so how best to proceed, step by step.