Money = Part 3 of our Intention Wheel™
This section of our wheel is about our RELATIONSHIP with money. What would make your relationship healthier? What is an unhealthy relationship with MONEY? It is when we hold it too tight, chase it and chase it. Or we think we don’t ever have enough. Or we consistently over spend. Or we don’t make it with joy. We can’t seem to make enough, we dont think we have the value or believe we have the value but no one is willing to pay.. these are all ways people are in relationship with money… as you can see some of them can be rather unhealthy.
A healthy relationship with money is one where you feel in control of your finances, rather than money controlling you. It means using money as a tool to support your goals and well-being without stress, guilt, or fear. Here are some key signs of a healthy financial mindset:
1. Awareness & Mindfulness
You understand your income, expenses, savings, and debts.
You track spending without obsessing over every penny.
You make financial decisions intentionally, not impulsively.
2. Balanced Spending & Saving
You spend on needs and wants in a way that aligns with your values.
You save consistently for both short-term and long-term goals.
You enjoy your money without guilt but also plan for the future.
3. No Money Shame or Fear
You don’t feel guilt or anxiety around spending or saving.
You see money as a tool, not as a measure of your worth.
You’re open to discussing money without stress or avoidance.
4. Smart Debt Management
You use debt strategically (e.g., mortgages, student loans, investments).
You avoid high-interest debt or have a clear plan to pay it off.
You don’t feel trapped by financial obligations.
5. Confidence & Education
You make financial decisions based on knowledge, not fear.
You seek financial advice or education when needed.
You understand basic investing, budgeting, and wealth-building strategies.
6. Generosity & Gratitude
You can give or donate without it causing financial strain.
You appreciate what you have rather than always wanting more.
You find joy in using money for meaningful experiences or to help others.
7. Future-Oriented Thinking
You plan for retirement, emergencies, and major life goals.
You make decisions with long-term impact in mind.
You set financial goals and take steps to achieve them.
A healthy money mindset isn’t about being rich—it’s about feeling secure, informed, and in control of your financial future. Would you say your relationship with money is in a good place, or are there areas you’re working on?
Another think I like to think about in this area is: What is Financial Freedom? There are many ways we can think about this… some say it is: having enough money to not work any more. I say it is doing what we love and wanting to work because we love what we do. And designing our lives so we can keep working IF WE WANT TO. Look at people like: Tony Robbins who keeps writing books, he does it because he is passionate. Look at people like Jane Goodall, who is constantly working to make the world healthier for all living things because she is passionate about it. She does not do it for money. Think of our favorite singers who are in their 80’s and keep performing for us live in concert. Do they do it for the money? I think they do it for the love of sharing their music. They all have missions they love. They are making the world better - because they are alive they are on their mission.
Are you feeling caught on a hamster wheel? Needing to work and work and work to make ends meet? Our relationship with money is normally the root cause of this. We often feel that we never have enough, so we need to keep on plugging doing the same old same old -with very little passion. This is torcher. So what is it you can do to love what you do to create value in the world and LOVE the contribution? Because I know there are gifts in everyone of us that need to be out in the world. And no matter your age, you can start something that you are passionate about. If you have an idea that you’ve been keeping inside you all these years, it’s time to bring out, shine it up and offer it to the world.
On the other hand, If you are working hard and not having fun, this too is another indication that your relationship with money is —- well, off a tad. Are you feeling the such a strong need to make money that is more important than our relationships both at home and at the office? If we are constantly pushing harder and harder to earn more and more and more - that is an endless chase too. It’s exhausting and not fulfilling - it’s no fun! And earning money really can be something we are having fun doing. Some feel instead they they’d rather work hard, not have much fun for 30 -40 years then retire. That is a choice and there is nothing wrong with it unless you are complaining about it, because YOU created it.
Money is a a tool, it is a thing - we need it in this world. But it is just a simple trade for the value we put out to the world… I love this poem:
“I bargained with Life for a penny,
and Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;
Life is a just employer.
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial's hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid”―Jessie B. Rittenhouse
It is super important for us to realize the value we bring, then bring that value to what we are offering in the world. So the worth we create, it’s really an inside job, inside of us, to determine if we believe the value we are bringing to the table. And it takes persistence, introspection, consistency, being willing to self reflect, fine tune, and to remain steady with our vision but to also co-create with the universe and what it wants and needs to have happen.
Our relationship to money matters and our relationship to money is often a reflection of how we see our own value in the world. So if you want to change your relationship to money, first ask yourself: What does the relationship feel like? Does money come easily? Do you feel there is never enough? Do you feel you have to work extra hard? Do you not respect it and spend it as fast as you get it? Do you not savor it for a rainy day? Do you share it generously? Or are you stingy with it - afraid it will be all gone? We get to design our relationship with money and they are often based on how we were raised. So what would it look like to have a healthier relationship with money?
