What if your financial challenges aren’t just about money? After more than two decades of working with clients (and doing my own inner work), I’ve come to understand something that completely changed the way I approach personal finance:
Your relationship with money isn’t one-dimensional. It’s multi-layered.
In fact, it can be understood through four elements:
- Earth – the practical, tangible side of money
- Water – your emotions and behaviors
- Air – your thoughts, beliefs, and mindset
- Fire – the spiritual energy and purpose behind how you use money
Most financial advice focuses on just one or two of these. And for a long time… I did, too.
Where I Started: The Numbers
When I first became a financial coach, I was focused almost entirely on strategy: budgets, debt reduction, saving, and investing.
I introduced myself as a Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor, and I was very good at what I did.
But I quickly noticed something: People knew what to do… and they still weren’t doing it. That realization changed everything.
The Emotional Layer
I began to see that people weren’t struggling because they lacked knowledge. They were struggling because they were overwhelmed by their emotions.
Stress. Shame. Anxiety. Avoidance.
That’s when I stepped into a new identity: The Financial Lifeguard. I helped people who felt like they were drowning financially find safety and stability.
Because you can have the best financial plan in the world, but if your emotions are running the show, that plan won’t survive.
The Mindset Shift
From there, I went deeper. I became fascinated with the neuroscience of money: how our thoughts shape our financial behavior. That led to the creation of my Magnetic Money Mindset® system and my evolution into a Financial Dignity® Coach.
Because if we don’t change the way we think about money… We don’t change how we feel.
And if we don’t change how we feel… We don’t change what we do.
"Finally," I thought, "I have all the pieces in place for true Financial Dignity®, both for my clients and for me!"
But I was mistaken.
Because even with all of that in place, something still felt incomplete. There was a depth to money that I hadn’t fully named yet… but I could feel it.
And once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. That’s when the fourth element revealed itself.
The Final Layer: The Spiritual Side of Money
And now, I’ve reached what I believe is the most overlooked and most powerful element of all: The spiritual side of money.
This isn’t about religion. It’s about alignment.
It’s about recognizing this: Money takes on your morality… and amplifies it.
Money is not the source of your character.
It’s a mirror of it.
If you operate from fear, scarcity, or avoidance, money will magnify that.
If you operate from generosity, integrity, and purpose, money will expand that too.
A New Question to Ask Yourself
Most people ask: “How do I make more money?”
But a more powerful question is: “Who am I becoming in my relationship with money?”
Because your financial life will always reflect that answer.
If you’ve ever felt like:
- “I know what to do, but I’m not doing it.”
- “There’s something deeper going on with my money.”
- “I want to feel more peace and alignment in my finances.”
You likely need to align all four elements of your money.
What’s Next
This realization has sparked a new evolution in my work. A deeper, more integrated approach to money. One that fully embraces the connection between finances, identity, and purpose.
There’s a new identity emerging. A new space for this conversation. And a new way to experience this work. I’ll be sharing more about that in my next solo podcast episode.