
From basic life essentials to luxurious things, we need money — making it difficult for us to believe on the saying that ‘money is not everything’.
Over the years of business and economic evolution, our dependence on money has grown wild, turning us into slaves of money.
While it is true that money runs the world, it doesn’t mean that our lives must be controlled by it. There is more to life than making more money like building meaningful relationships, faith, and thriving mental and emotional health.
The challenge to us now is to live a meaningful and purposeful life not dictated by money, despite the pressure from today’s extreme materialism and desire for wealth. This lifestyle is not impossible, though. I have heard stories of people who pursue their sacred missions and succeed.
If you know my story, from choosing a career I was not passionate about for a competitive salary to embracing my sacred mission as a writer, I am now sure that money ain’t everything.
However, temptations of money are more prominent when you are living in an unconventional way. You may get discouraged every now and then with money problems and scarcity. To counter fears and worries, here are 10 inspiring reminders that money is not everything.
10 Inspiring Reminders That Money Is Not Everything
1. Money cannot buy true love, peace, and joy.
The most precious possessions we need in life are intangible and cannot be bought with money. A purposeful life requires love, peace, and joy which we can only get from nurturing ourselves inward.
— Buying a luxury car can give you temporary happiness but not eternal joy.
— You can give expensive gifts to the person you love, but you cannot force that person to love you back.
— You may have peace of mind in securing the future of your family, but because life is not a straight path, your money cannot stop challenges from coming around.
I have seen a lot of self-proclaimed money gurus on social media and other internet platforms convincing people that you need to be an expert at money to be successful. While it is not wrong to be a money expert, I disagree with them.
There is success in a life filled with love, peace, and joy. Do not spend all your time and energy on growing money. Give time to nurture your mind and heart as well. Learn how to love sincerely, be calm and joyful even in difficult times.
2. Being contented is more powerful than being rich.
Do not give in to the world’s narrative that money makes people powerful. Instead, learn to be content with the things that you have and don’t have.
When you conform to the standards of the world, you are setting yourself to a war where nobody wins. Do not let your ego dominate your life because it will never make you satisfied. Let the goodness in your heart lead you in choosing the life you are called to live instead.
Contentment is the state of being satisfied with your current situation. It doesn’t care whether you have less or more. When you are content in your life, you will see everything as a success no matter how big or small it is – and this is true power.
In the book The Seat Of The Soul, Gary Zukav talked about authentic power:
“Authentic power is a power that loves life in every form that it appears, a power that does not judge what it encounters, a power that perceives meaningfulness and purpose in the smallest details upon the Earth.”
You become powerful when you have contentment in your heart.
3. Your worth does not depend on the amount of money you have.
Have you seen newborn babies who just came into the world without anything, yet so precious? You were once like them, a newborn baby, full of value and worth just the way you are.
I know this is hard to believe because of the false conditionings and judgments thrown at us growing up. Our worth is corrupted and we try to retrieve it through money, power, and possessions.
Equating your worth with the money you have is the ego at work. Remember that our ego is the false perception of ourselves. By looking inward instead of settling for the shallow understanding of the ego, you will see that you are more than your physical looks, accomplishments, and wealth.
And like a newborn baby, you are valuable and worthy, and nothing can take them away from you.
4. You leave a legacy by how you treat others, not by spending money on them.
People will remember you for how you treated them and not for lavishing them with material things.
- A company owner will not be remembered for giving people cash incentives but for listening and empathizing with them.
- A boy will not remember his father by the toys he buys, but when he says, ‘It’s okay, I still love you,’ despite breaking the toys in his play.
People will respect and look up to you because of good character, and not how rich you are.
Pursue compassion, gentleness, and kindness – these are the traits that are difficult to erase from the memory of people that you’ve touched.
5. Being grateful is what makes you abundant, not material possessions.
Gratitude is the key to a happy and fulfilled life. When you are grateful for small and big things, you will never feel inadequate and lacking in life.
Abundance is a state of mind and heart. When you appreciate what you have, you only focus on what is good and present in your life. There is no room for comparison and fear of the future.
Be grateful for the people and things in your life, instead of focusing on what you don’t have. Money is not everything – it will never satisfy your heart until you learn to be grateful for what you have.

6. Money is not the purpose of your life; it is love.
Life is nothing without love. We are here on earth to learn how to love ourselves, other people, and all the things that life gives us.
Love is our true nature that is why we seek to be loved. When we are loved, we feel happy and complete. Other things won’t matter when we are seen, valued, and respected.
There is nothing wrong in growing your money but the satisfaction it gives is artificial and temporary. It will not fill the empty spaces in your heart because your purpose is to love and be loved.
7. You don’t need much money to make your loved ones happy.
Sometimes, we tend to exaggerate how to make our loved ones happy. It doesn’t have to be in the form of material gifts every time.
Be creative in thinking about how to make them happy. Receiving material things is not the only way to put smile on their faces. We also crave quality time, appreciation, and mental and emotional support. Being present for the people we love can also make them happy.
In several studies done with children and old people, the top two things that make them happy are (1) spending time with family, and (2) listening to them and making them feel understood.
Money cannot buy happiness. It is the simple things that we usually take for granted that make us truly happy.
8. Money comes and goes; your life purpose is eternal.
The problem with money starts when we anchor ourselves to it, and compromise our life purpose for the sake of having more.
The sad truth is that a lot of people let money become the foundation of their lives. We don’t see that money comes and goes quickly. When it is our foundation, we can also get destroyed in a snap. It is one of the reasons why many people are prone to depression and other mental problems, because their life is not planted in their purpose.
Being enslaved to money brings endless worries and fears, while living our purpose gives perpetual hope and inspiration to go on. Ask yourself:
What is my life purpose? Why am I doing things that I do?
Your answers to these are more important than learning to invest and grow your money.
9. Forgiveness is the best gift you can give to yourself and others, not expensive things.
Having lots of money will not remove the burdens in your heart. Getting the things we want may temporarily numb our pains and grudges, but it will never heal us.
I have a friend who failed to find healing from a painful breakup by traveling the world. She thought that time, being in different places, and meeting new people would make her forget her ex-boyfriend. And yet, she flew back home heartbroken and penniless.
Only after she forgives both of them for hurting each other that she receives healing.
Forgiveness is a powerful way to heal ourselves without costing us a single penny.

10. Money does not take away fears; it is faith.
Isn’t it ironic that we seek money to have security in life, but the process itself makes us worry and fearful?
Because money is not the answer to everything. When we are in a difficult situation and feel shaken, the only way to overcome doubts and fears is by having faith.
Take, for example, a wealthy businessman who learned that his only son has stage four cancer. He can go to the best hospitals in the world and spend millions to cure his son, but his entire wealth would never suffice to take away the fear of losing his son.
But if we have faith, we can let go of the things that we cannot control. Money cannot spare us from challenges, but faith will carry us through.
Have faith, always.
This is such a refreshing perspective! It’s easy to get caught up in the chase for money, but your post is a great reminder to focus on what truly brings happiness and fulfillment. Thank you for sharing!
I agree to an extent. There’s a certain amount of money needed to have all your needs met and then some for emergencies. An excess amount of wealth won’t make you happy though. This is a good reminder to find the middle.
I totally agree with you. As they say, ‘everything needs money but money is not everything’. We just have to find the balance between that. 🙂
Wow such a good read and so very true! I totally agree with this! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading, Terra!
I absolutely love this post, and it is such a timely read. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Sheenia! Thanks for reading and thank you for reaching out! I’m so happy to meet people who went through similar journey as mine. I’d love to hear more from you and share our stories soon! See you on my newsletters! 🙂
Such great reminders! My husband and I often discuss how money is not everything. He could easily take a job where he would make much more money…and he would be gone almost all week each week. We have 4 small kids and one on the way and it’s just not worth never seeing your family!
Thank you for reading! I’m excited for you and the entire family! Hopefully, your husband will find a job that could give the money and the quality time we need for our family. My husband used to be in this situation too a few years ago so i Know how it feels. All the best for your growing family, Katie!
I so agree – you share some wonderful points here, very thought provoking post.