At any point in life, it’s natural to pause and question the rhythm of your days—how you spend your time, where your money goes, and whether those choices reflect your values. It’s easy to slip into autopilot, checking off tasks and chasing goals without asking: Is this the life I want to be building?
When you slow down long enough to ask that question, money inevitably enters the conversation. How you earn, spend, save, or give often mirrors deeper values and unconscious patterns. Understanding where your beliefs about money come from can be surprisingly empowering.
Money behaviours don’t emerge in a vacuum. They’re shaped by early experiences. Perhaps you witnessed financial hardship and vowed never to feel that stress again. Or maybe money was always available, and you came to see it as something that would never run out. These imprints influence how you make decisions today.
Exploring your money mindset isn’t about judgement, it’s about clarity. By uncovering the roots of your financial beliefs, you can reshape your relationship with money to better serve your life’s purpose.
A powerful read on this topic is The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist. She challenges the idea that fulfilment comes from endless abundance and introduces the concept of sufficiency, the quiet confidence that what you have is enough. That shift in mindset moves you from scarcity to purpose, making your spending a reflection of your values.
Ask yourself: If you won the lottery tomorrow, how would your life change? Would you need millions to be happy, or would a simpler sum bring the same joy and peace? If your answer leans toward “life would mostly stay the same, just with more choices,” you’re already aligning your values with your financial reality.
This perspective is valuable at any age, from young adults forging their path to retirees downsizing with intention. When you shift focus from chasing more to choosing what matters, life begins to feel lighter. You stop reacting and start creating.
This isn’t just financial advice, it’s life advice. Because meaning isn’t found in income brackets. It’s found in the quiet assurance that your choices, both with time and money, reflect what you truly care about.
The article above is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Please seek advice from a qualified financial adviser when making decisions about your financial situation.
The New Zealand Anglican Church Pension Board trading as Anglican Financial Care is the manager and issuer of Christian KiwiSaver Scheme, The Retire Fund, and the New Zealand Anglican Church Pension Fund. Product Disclosure Statements and Fund Updates are available on the Documents page of the AFC website (Pension Fund and The Retire Fund) and https://www.christiankiwisaver.nz/documents/ (Christian KiwiSaver Scheme).
