Money isn’t everything… but pretending it doesn’t matter isn’t helping anyone either.
It’s Okay to Say You Want More Money
Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that saying, “I want more money,” made us sound greedy, shallow, or materialistic. So instead, we softened it. We’ll say, “I just want to be comfortable.”‘ or say, “I don’t need to be rich.” We’ll even say, “Money isn’t everything.”
While all of those statements may be true, they sometimes keep us from admitting another truth:
“I’d like to make more money.“
There. I said it.
As someone who values rest, mindfulness, restorative yoga, and taking care of my nervous system, I’ve noticed something interesting. We spend a lot of time talking about reducing stress. We meditate. We journal. We pray. We practice gratitude. We go for walks. We unplug from social media.
And those things absolutely matter.
But let’s also acknowledge something that often gets left out of the conversation.
Sometimes the biggest stressor isn’t a lack of self-care. It’s wondering how you’re going to pay for groceries. Or whether your rent is increasing again. Or whether your emergency fund has become your regular checking account.
No breathing exercise erases that reality.
Self-care helps us respond to stress more effectively. It doesn’t magically eliminate the source of every stressor. Money isn’t everything. I genuinely believe that. Money can’t guarantee healthy relationships. It can’t buy integrity. It can’t replace purpose. It can’t heal grief.
But let’s stop pretending it doesn’t improve a lot of everyday life.
Money buys options.
It buys time.
It buys access.
It buys the ability to replace the tire instead of praying it lasts one more month.
It lets you choose the healthier groceries without calculating every item in your cart.
It lets you take a day off when your body needs rest.
It lets you help someone else without putting yourself in financial hardship.
None of the aforementioned sounds greedy to me. It all sounds like stability. I also think there’s something freeing about being honest with ourselves. If you’re building a business, asking for a promotion, looking for a better-paying job, or starting a side hustle, it’s okay if one of your motivations is simply wanting to earn more. Not because you’re obsessed with luxury, or trying to impress strangers online. Life is expensive and financial breathing room is a form of peace.
I’ve noticed that conversations around money can become strangely uncomfortable. We celebrate hustle but sometimes criticize people for wanting the results that hustle can bring. We applaud entrepreneurs until they raise their prices. We tell people to “know your worth,” but then question them when they charge accordingly.
It’s a confusing message that we definitely need to stop spreading.
Personally, I’m no longer interested in apologizing for wanting financial growth.
I want meaningful work.
I want rest.
I want purpose.
And yes…
I’d also like more money.
Those things can exist together.
For me, wanting more income isn’t about chasing status. It’s about creating a life with a little less survival mode and a little more breathing room. A life where I can give generously without worrying whether I can cover my own expenses.
A life where unexpected bills are inconveniences instead of emergencies. A life where I can choose rest because I planned for it, not because my body forced me to stop. That kind of financial stability supports the very wellness we talk so much about. Maybe the goal isn’t choosing between peace and prosperity. Maybe the goal is allowing them to work together.
So if you’ve been feeling guilty for wanting a bigger paycheck, a profitable business, or simply enough money to stop stressing over every dollar, let me remind you of something….
It’s okay to say you want more money. You don’t have to whisper it. You don’t have to apologize for it. And you certainly don’t have to pretend it doesn’t matter.
Because while money may not be everything…It sure does make carrying the weight of everything else a little lighter.
