Have you ever felt like managing your finances is more about survival than fulfilment? I’ve been there too. For years, I carried the invisible weight of financial responsibility - not just for myself but for everyone around me. It was exhausting, overwhelming and honestly, it left me feeling really stuck.

But here’s what I’ve learnt: when you align your money with your heart - your values, your purpose and what truly matters to you, everything changes. You stop chasing and start creating. You move from scarcity to abundance, from “I hope this works” to “I know this is aligned.”

I want to share how I’ve embraced Heart-Led Finance to create financial goals that feel deeply connected and achievable. Let me walk you through the HEART framework I use to make my financial life not just functional but meaningful.

Why Heart-Led Finance Matters to Me

For so long, I approached money with fear. Fear of not having enough, fear of failing, fear of letting others down. My language reflected it: “I need this to work,” “I hope this happens,” or worse, “I can’t do this.” These words carried an energy of desperation that seeped into every area of my life.

But then I realised something: hope isn’t a strategy. Purpose is. When I started asking myself not “What do I need?” but “Who am I here to serve?” everything shifted. My finances became less about numbers and more about alignment, about creating a life that reflects my values and dreams. 

That’s why I developed the HEART framework. A way to set financial goals that inspire action and feel truly aligned with who you are.

The HEART Framework: How I Set Financial Goals That Stick

1. Holistic: Nurturing Every Part of Life

For me, financial goals aren’t just about dollars in the bank. They’re about creating harmony across every area of my life: emotional, physical, spiritual, work and fun. It’s not about balance (because let’s face it, life isn’t perfectly balanced), but about flow and alignment.

Some examples from my own journey:

• Building an emergency fund gave me peace of mind and reduced stress during uncertain times.

• Allocating part of my budget for personal growth, like retreats or wellness activities has helped me reconnect with myself guilt free.

• Designing a financial plan that allowed me to step back from full-time work so I could focus on my business and family brought a sense of freedom I’d never experienced before.

2. Enduring: Creating Long-Lasting Impact

Enduring goals are those that stand the test of time because they’re connected deeply to what truly matters to you. For me, these goals aren’t about quick wins, they’re about building something meaningful and lasting.

Here’s what that looked like for me:

• Drawing that line in the sand and paying off debt so I could build a stable foundation for my family’s future without the weight of financial stress.

• Investing in environmentally conscious businesses because it aligns with my values of sustainability and legacy-building.

3. Aspirational: Goals That Light Me Up

Aspirational goals are tied to your dreams, the ones that make you excited to take action because they align with what lights you up inside.

For example:

• Saving for a passion project like writing a book or for me, expanding my business in ways that inspire me every day.

• Planning unforgettable family holidays that creates memories which are cherish forever.

• Building a financial cushion so I could take a career break and lean into work that feels deeply meaningful.

4. Really Matters: Connection To My Core Values

These are the goals that reflect what’s most important to me, not what society says I should do but what feels authentic to who I am at my core.

Some examples include:

• Prioritising experiences over material possessions because connection matters more than things.

• Setting boundaries around spending on trends or purchases that don’t align with my values.

5. Timeless: Flexible Yet Consistent Goals

Timeless goals allow for flexibility while staying committed to long-term consistency. They are a game-changer for someone like me who used to feel trapped by rigid plans.

Here’s how this plays out in my life:

• Instead of setting strict deadlines for savings goals, I focus on consistent monthly contributions that ebb and flow with life’s changes.

• Building wealth over time through steady investments rather than chasing quick wins has helped me stay grounded and focused.

How You Can Start Creating Heart-Centered Goals

If this resonates with you, here are some steps you can take today:

1️⃣ Reflect on Your Values: Ask yourself, What brings me joy? What guides my decisions? How do I want to feel about money? Journaling or even just pondering these questions can bring clarity.

2️⃣ Visualise Your Ideal Financial Future: Close your eyes and imagine achieving your financial goals, where are you? What does it feel like? Use this vision as motivation.

3️⃣ Reframe Your Language: Replace scarcity-based thoughts like “I can’t afford this” with empowering ones like “How can I create the resources for this?” Shift from “I need” to “I choose.”

4️⃣ Write It Down: Download my free Heart-Led Financial Vision Workbook (details below) and map out your goals using the HEART framework.

5️⃣ Take Small Steps: Focus on one aligned action at a time. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to move you forward.

Heart-Led Finance has changed everything for me. It’s helped me move from fear and scarcity into confidence and abundance. And now, I want the same for you.

Download my Heart-Led Financial Vision Workbook and start building financial goals that reflect who you are and what truly matters most. https://www.erindavis.com.au/HeartLed