Once net worth is tied to identity, money decisions can become emotionally loaded. People may overwork to prove they’re “enough,” avoid looking at statements to escape embarrassment, or spend to signal success, all of which can keep them trapped in cycles that look like financial problems but are fueled by self-judgment.
In that sense, the captivity isn’t only debt or low savings—it’s the constant anxiety of being evaluated. Orman’s point implies that separating worth from wealth reduces shame, and that reduced shame makes honest budgeting, realistic goal-setting, and course correction possible. [...]
