Yes, it's quite hard to live in that "survival state" all the time... among other things because it leaves you feeling like you have few options, regardless of how well-intentioned you may be, and how much desire to change your situation you may have.

Part of my own financial education was definitely developing a sense of what my personal financial perspectives were about... rather than just accepting the greater societal "shoulds" as my own. Money, to me, has never been about having "stuff" or status... but about buying security and removing uncertainty from my world, to whatever degree possible.