bahrainthismonth.com | FEBRUARY 2026 COMMERCE 74 all the financial decisions for you. You will notice, none of these are flaws. In fact, they are just adaptive patterns that once worked for you. The question is, do they still work for you or are they are a limiting blind spot? What do if I can see my blind spot? Let’s first realise what not to do. Do not dismantle your old habits and patterns. That would be like a harsh brake when it’s not needed. Instead slow down if you suspect something is a blind spot. Take a pause and ask: “Is this really serving my current life?” Soften the rigidity of a blind spot with curiosity rather than force. Allow yourself to observe and remember that blind spots surface when there is no pressure to act. Make February your month to mindfully engage with money, not to fix anything, but to notice what shifts when awareness leads the way. Explore more of her work at www.priamasson.com @coachingwithpria Mindful Money Matters When you’re driving and trying to switch lanes, there’s a small area behind your car that remains invisible in the side-view mirror. That’s the spot where you instinctively lean forward, just to be sure nothing is in your way. This is your car’s blind spot. Our lives, including our money-related behaviours, have blind spots too. This month, let’s lean in and explore what these blind spots might be, why they can quietly limit us, and how greater awareness can create change without disruption. “I know how I handle money, so how do I have blind spots?” Think about why there is a blind spot in your car. It’s there because your car was built for safety, mileage and has a certain shape and size. As part of that shape and structure, while you are in a regular driving position, there is still an area that cannot be visible to you. Making that visible could compromise other features. So, the car has a blind spot. Now think about your life and how you engage with money. Your brain learned to engage with money through repeated behaviours. Many of those became automatic for you. Some were created to keep you safe (not broke). These could be: “I need to pay as little as possible,” Business consultant Pria Masson writes about money, mindset and the habits that shape financial well-being. With a background in finance and a master’s degree in the Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health from King’s College London, she offers practical insights to help readers make more intentional financial choices. Money Blind Spots: The Patterns We Don’t Question Because They Work “I need to get the best deal,” “If it’s on sale, it’s OK to buy” or even “I don’t like to think about the small amounts I spend”. Each of these patterns has a story. All the stories work for you, and some protect you. However, some of them do limit you, and you just don’t see the limits because the whole system seems to work. You may, however, notice the discomfort of having to lean in regularly. That’s how you know you have a blind spot. How do I know what my blind spots are? You start by realising that blind spots don’t always cost money, they can be in the form of less flexibility and most importantly, they don’t feel emotional. In fact, they are almost unnoticeable because they are automatic. They are patterns you just fall into and can look like habits that seem to keep you financially safe when you don’t need safety anymore. It could also be anxiety that shows up as overpreparation and excessive research or avoiding irreversible decisions such as investing in a house or anything that can’t be sold easily. On the flip side, it could even mean avoiding decisions that could make you accountable to another person, so letting another person handle
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