Money isn’t just math. It’s emotions, habits, hopes, and pain, all wrapped into daily choices and long-term dreams.
If you’re feeling stuck or anxious about your finances, you’re not alone—almost everyone carries hidden stories and unexamined beliefs that shape their entire financial reality. Lewis Howes’s Make Money Easy invites you to confront and rewrite those stories. Instead of chasing an abstract number in your bank account, you’ll learn to build a life that actually feels rich—one with freedom, purpose, and genuine contentment. The path starts inside, but quickly becomes practical and actionable. Let’s walk through the key lessons and steps.
The Hidden Story Behind Your Money Worries
Money problems rarely come from “just” the numbers. For most people, financial stress is tangled up with old memories, family patterns, and beliefs picked up along the way. Maybe you grew up hearing arguments about bills, or watching parents stretch every dollar. Maybe you were told that wanting more was greedy—or that financial success was only for “other people.” These experiences form a hidden script. Without noticing, you start to believe you’re not worthy of abundance, or that money is always scarce.
This invisible “money story” influences everything: what jobs you chase, how you spend or save, and how you react to success or setbacks. Some stories whisper, “I’m not smart enough for this,” or, “People like me never get ahead.” Others are sneaky, convincing you that there’s never enough time to manage your finances, or that you don’t have the connections required to break through.
The first step is simply to notice these stories. Ask yourself: What do I believe about money, and where did those beliefs come from? Did you learn, early on, to see money as a source of shame, tension, or even guilt? By shining a light on your personal money story, you loosen its grip and open the door to new choices.
At the same time, consider your true definition of a “rich life.” Is it just about a number in your bank account? Or does it include experiences, relationships, freedom, and the chance to support what matters to you? Clarity here becomes a compass, steering you toward what actually matters—rather than what society or your past tells you to want.
Heal Your Relationship with Money
Once you see your money story, you can start to heal it. Many people carry what Lewis Howes calls “money wounds.” Maybe you remember the sting of being unable to afford what your friends had, or feeling left out because of family finances. Maybe you lost money and felt shamed, or watched others fight over cash. These memories get stored as emotional triggers—flaring up as anxiety, avoidance, or even reckless spending.
Healing begins with attention and intention. Instead of treating money as an enemy or a source of stress, try seeing it as a neutral tool—or even as a partner in your journey. For example, when you receive money, pause and offer gratitude, no matter how small the amount. When you spend, try to do so with thanks for what you receive in return, instead of focusing on loss or resentment. This gratitude practice, inspired by money teacher Ken Honda, helps you shift from scarcity to abundance, one small act at a time.
It’s also essential to forgive—both yourself and others. If you’ve made financial mistakes (and who hasn’t?), let go of the shame and accept those missteps as part of the learning process. If someone else hurt you financially, release that old anger so it doesn’t control your future. You may want to journal about your money history, talk honestly with a supportive friend, or even seek professional guidance. What matters is bringing your fears, habits, and triggers into the open.
Finally, healthy boundaries are vital. Make sure your money decisions reflect your values and aren’t simply attempts to please others or replay old family patterns. As you heal, you build a new, conscious relationship with money—one rooted in clarity, self-respect, and intentionality.
Give Your Money a Purpose
After repairing your relationship with money, the question shifts from “How much can I get?” to “What’s it for?” Chasing wealth for its own sake rarely brings satisfaction. People who hit their financial goals without a sense of meaning often feel strangely empty, as if the finish line moved the moment they crossed it.
Howes urges readers to connect money to a personal mission—a sense of purpose that lights you up and energizes you. Maybe you want to travel, support your family, create art, build a business, or make a difference in your community. Your mission doesn’t have to impress anyone else; it simply needs to matter deeply to you.
When you clarify your “why,” money becomes fuel rather than the final prize. For instance, imagine someone passionate about health and fitness. If money is always a source of stress, their ability to help others is limited. But with a healthy, positive money mindset, they can grow their work, reach more people, and expand their impact. Money becomes an amplifier.
It may take time to align your income with your mission. Sometimes you’ll need to work a practical job while building your passion project on the side, or invest in new skills to make your dream financially sustainable. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can’t make money doing meaningful work—or that earning money for your passion is somehow wrong. If people who care about positive impact avoid building wealth, resources stay concentrated in the hands of those less interested in helping others. Making money from your mission is not just okay—it’s often necessary.
Build Habits for Financial Ease
Now that you have a healthy mindset and a clear mission, you need habits that make financial freedom your new normal. It starts inside, with two foundation stones: gratitude and generosity.
Each day, practice noticing the good things in your life, no matter how small—sunshine, a warm meal, a friend’s support. Gratitude shifts your focus away from what’s missing and toward the abundance already present. Generosity naturally follows: when you feel full, you want to give—whether it’s your time, knowledge, or a small donation. Acting generously, even in small ways, plants seeds for more abundance.
Next, become a planner. Don’t just hope things will improve—map them out. Define clear, specific financial goals: how much do you want to earn, by when, and for what reason? Break big goals into smaller steps. If you want to save $12,000 in a year, that’s $1,000 a month, about $33 a day. Clear targets make progress measurable and concrete.
But don’t just plan for money—plan for experiences and growth, too. Schedule time and money for the things that make life rich, whether it’s travel, learning, or time with family. If you wait for “someday,” you’ll always find excuses to postpone what really matters.
Monetize Your Value and Master Your Money
Once your mindset and planning are in place, take outward action. The first practical habit is learning to recognize and communicate your value. If you don’t appreciate what you bring to the table—your skills, perspective, and energy—others won’t, either. Identify what you do well (especially what feels easy or natural) and ask how it can solve real problems for others. Package and present your value clearly, and don’t be afraid to ask for fair compensation.
With self-worth comes the drive for mastery. Financial freedom requires ongoing learning. No one is born knowing how to save, invest, negotiate, or manage a business. Read, listen, seek out mentors, and ask questions. Open, honest conversations about money help dissolve shame and confusion. Treat every setback as a lesson—success comes from curiosity and adaptation, not perfection.
Finally, remember: sustainable wealth and impact often require partnership. Seek out supportive communities, learn to delegate, and build networks that multiply your efforts. The journey is personal, but you don’t have to walk it alone.
Conclusion
Make Money Easy isn’t about shortcuts or “get rich quick” schemes. It’s about changing how you see money, rewriting the stories that hold you back, and using your resources to build a life of purpose, fulfillment, and real abundance. The path involves healing the past, clarifying your mission, building new habits, valuing yourself, committing to learning, and reaching out to others. Money becomes easy—not because life is free from effort, but because you’re finally in partnership with your goals, values, and truest self.
About the Author: Lewis Howes is a New York Times best-selling author, keynote speaker, and host of the hit podcast The School of Greatness. A former professional athlete, Howes draws on his own story of overcoming adversity to help others unlock their potential. His other books include The Greatness Mindset and The School of Greatness.
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