Money is a tool

I believe money is our most valuable partner in creating and living a richer life – a life of greater value, meaning, and purpose.

Money, in and of itself, is neutral. It has no meaning until we give it meaning, no value until we assign it value, and no purpose until we determine its purpose. How we choose to earn, spend, save, borrow and give money away illuminates its value, meaning, and purpose to us.

When we are mindful of our choices, they reflect back to us our conscious intentions. When we use money mindlessly, our choices mirror our unconscious beliefs, attitudes, fears, and habits.

If we want to experience harmony in our relationship with money, we need to align it with our vision for our life and our most deeply held values.

Money is a tool, not the goal. It’s not about how much we have—it’s about how we use what we have.

When we shift our mindset to see money as a tool, it opens up new possibilities for us.

When we are intentional with how we choose to use money in service to living a richer life, our actions allow us to truly take care of ourselves.

When we are mindful of each transaction, and we take time to discern whether or not it is supporting us in living the life we’ve imagined, we begin to make more intentional choices. Every positive choice allows us to experience more of what we want to experience.

Stop reading for a moment and ask yourself, “if money is a tool, how do I want to use it?”

PAUSE. Take a few breaths in and out, and ask again. Write down anything that comes up.

Pausing and reflecting on this question allows you the opportunity to define what is important to you - your values. It gives you the space and time to get clear about the lifestyle you desire - your vision.

Using money as a tool means being mindful about how you use what you have.

It means being intentional with how you earn, spend, save, borrow, or give money away. It means aligning your financial decisions with your vision and values. It means having a plan and honoring that plan by prioritizing yourself, your needs, and your wants. It means spending your money on the people, experiences, and things that are meaningful to you. It means saving for your dreams and investing in your future.

What do you want to build?

That is the big question!

What is your vision for your life?

How do you want to spend your time and your money?

Take time to sit with these questions and get clear about what is important to you. Start by identifying the experiences and things that are fun, meaningful, and fulfilling to you. Jot down your dreams for the future. Create a list and add to it. If you’re visual, make a vision board.

Choose to be mindful from this point forward!

Each time you interact with money, check-in with yourself to determine if you are using it as a tool to honor yourself and your vision, or if you are working against yourself and what you say you value. Be honest.

Each time you choose in favor of yourself, your vision empowers and supports you in using money as a tool to build the life you want. Acknowledge yourself!

Each time you do the opposite of what you say you want, you reinforce old reactions and responses that keep you from living the life your envision.

When this happens, notice how this feels. Be curious and compassionate with yourself. Using money as a tool to transform old habits takes time. Learn from your reactions and responses and choose to make a different choice the next time.

You are building the life you want with every choice you make.

Be intentional. Use money as a tool to create and live the life you want - one choice at a time.