Particularly in American culture, people tend to measure their self-worth by their earning potential, how much money their parents had, how much money they have, the size of their houses or cars, the expensive clothing they can afford (or go deep into debt to acquire), or their bank balances. For many formerly married women, these measurements were applied to their husbands, even though it's a skewed way of measuring value.

The myths about women and money are worse — primarily that they don't understand it, that they can't manage it, and that they'll never earn enough to become rich. In fact, women have been trampling those myths for generations. Nevertheless, don't assume you're free and clear of cultural subterfuge. It's important for you to sift through the cultural and personal myths that may be undermining your own feelings of self-worth and how they are intertwined with money.

Take time to write down any myths that your culture — and especially your family — perpetuated, and then reevaluate the message. Does it match with your experience? Do you know it to be completely false? Does it fashion a positive image that serves you?

Here are a few common misrepresentations to get you started thinking about the myths that may be negatively influencing your ability to handle complicated financial matters:

• Women aren't very bright.

• Women aren't good at math.

• Women don't have a head for business.

• Men don't like women who make a lot of money.

• Men like dumb women they can dominate.

• Men are better at earning, managing, and investing money.

• A rich husband will take good care of you.

• Money is too dirty for women to worry their pretty little heads about.

• Money doesn't make you happy.

• Women are compulsive shoppers.

• Women have champagne tastes on a beer budget.

With the advent of credit cards in the 1970s, Americans embraced immediate gratification, a cultural attitude their grandparents didn't have. People of that earlier generation bought what they needed only when they had cash to pay for it, and they rarely indulged in buying things they didn't need.

Since those days, people have all been led to believe that they can afford to use credit cards or borrow money to get what they want, and advertisers have become very rich by preying upon their insecurities.

Many people fear that they're not measuring up. Overspending then becomes an addiction that staves off the fear of being “less than.” On some level, many people have come to believe that they are not full, complete, worthy human beings without the appearance of a certain status in terms of looks, money, or possessions. Unfortunately, they end up trading their hard-won money for a few minutes of pleasure or a boatload of unnecessary goods or services.

Contemporary culture sells the belief that owning certain “stuff” will guarantee social acceptance. Ironically, when you go into debt to obtain those lifestyle markers, you are simultaneously lowering the chances that you'll ever actually be rich. Don't trade tomorrow's financial independence on a feeble, completely unnecessary attempt to keep up with your neighbors.

Even fears about death can affect the way you manage money. When those pesky fears arise, you might be tempted to slap a piece of plastic on the table to obtain something that you think will enrich your life. What you're really doing is buying the “buy now, feel better” philosophy that — in reality — rings false. People often run around like hamsters on a treadmill, acquiring stuff that eventually ends up in the garage, gathering dust. If you want true financial freedom, you need to realize that all that stuff is never, ever going to make you happy. Embracing who you are and seeking ways to nourish your soul creates the only wealth worth pursuing.