I'm trying to figure out whether, and how, my self-esteem and sense of self might be influenced by money: How much I have, how much I feel I can get, how much I wish I had. Idealistically, I'd love to say that money is not a factor in how I see myself. Honestly, though, I'm not sure that's true. Have I internalized the money = personal value ethos of capitalism? If so, that would be a pretty direct connection between money and my self-esteem. I think there might also be indirect impacts on my sense of self. For example, I carry worry about money, and that worry contributes to me seeing myself as "a worried person". How about you? Does money influence your self-esteem?

Share questions:

• Does your financial position affect your self-esteem? How? 
• Has your self-esteem fluctuated during times when your financial state fluctuated? Please describe. 
• Does the topic of money intersect with other autism-related concerns, like executive function, "high/low performance", masking, material security/insecurity, ableism, meeting/missing "life milestones", or other? 
• Has any episode in your life related to money noticeably improved your self-esteem (negotiating a raise? Being able to buy a house or car? The sense of providing for a family? Other?) 
• When you imagine "your ideal self", does that include any ideas about money? 
• Any tools, resources, or strategies that helped with this? 
• Anything else to share?