TRANSFORM YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY
LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE, CONNECT WITH YOUR VALUES, DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

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All Posts | Meaning/Purpose | Resilience | Happiness | Mindfulness | Financial Psychology

BUILDING YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AROUND MONEY

Money choices are never just about numbers. Building emotional intelligence helps you notice feelings, stay grounded, and make wiser everyday decisions.

HOW EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE SHAPES YOUR MONEY DECISIONS

Money choices aren’t just about numbers. Emotional intelligence helps you turn what you know into what you actually do.

WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMES FIRST IN FINANCIAL DECISIONS

We don’t follow advice just because it’s smart—we follow it when it feels right. Emotional intelligence helps us make decisions that actually stick.

MONEY IS EMOTIONAL: WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MATTERS

Money isn’t just math—it’s emotion. Learn how emotional intelligence can help you make clearer, more confident financial decisions.

BEING HUMAN STILL MATTERS

AI can give advice, but it can’t replace feeling seen, heard, and supported. Here’s why emotional connection still matters.

IS AI HELPING YOU GROW?

AI can be an incredible helper—but only if we use it with care. This article explores the subtle shift from tool to crutch, and why preserving our human skills like reflection, presence, and empathy matters more than ever.

WHY AI CAN'T REPLACE HUMAN CONNECTION

We live in a world of fast messages and AI replies—but real communication is slower, deeper, and more human. This article explores the 93% of connection that can’t be typed.

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."
-Buddha

RECENT MEANING/PURPOSE POSTS

FACING LIFE'S CHALLENGES

We all face challenges; they're guaranteed. There is a difference between setbacks and obstacles. It's helpful to understand the difference.

AMERICAN DREAM? OR YOUR DREAM?

Many of us learned some version of following the American Dream. While this may be a good starting point, it won't leave you satisfied.

MONEY IS A TOOL

It's common to view money as a goal. Money is worthless in and of itself, though. It's only a means to an end. Money is a tool you can use.

FINDING DIRECTION IN LIFE

Having goals, systems, or a purpose in life gives you direction. It gives you something meaningful to do with your time.

YOUR WHY HELPS WITH HOW

Having direction in life gives you clarity when life transitions knock us around because it helps us reorient to what's important.

"To invent your own life's meaning is not easy, but it's still allowed, and I think you'll be happier for the trouble."
-Bill Watterson

RECENT RESILIENCE POSTS

MONEY IS EMOTIONAL: WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MATTERS

Money isn’t just math—it’s emotion. Learn how emotional intelligence can help you make clearer, more confident financial decisions.

WHEN LIFE DOESN'T GO AS PLANNED

Plans change. Life surprises us. Acceptance helps us let go of what “should’ve been” and move forward with what is.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AFTER SETBACKS

Reframe setbacks by asking "What now?" instead of "Why?" Focus on what you can control to build resilience and move forward.

FINDING BETTER PROBLEMS

Life is an endless stream of problems, and wishing otherwise is another problem. Since they're guaranteed, we might as well find better ones

GROWING YOUR COMFORT ZONE

The old saying is that there's no growth in the comfort zone. Putting yourself out there is how you find opportunities to grow and thrive.

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."
-Carl Rogers

RECENT HAPPINESS POSTS

GROWING YOUR COMFORT ZONE

The old saying is that there's no growth in the comfort zone. Putting yourself out there is how you find opportunities to grow and thrive.

AMERICAN DREAM? OR YOUR DREAM?

Many of us learned some version of following the American Dream. While this may be a good starting point, it won't leave you satisfied.

MONEY IS A TOOL

It's common to view money as a goal. Money is worthless in and of itself, though. It's only a means to an end. Money is a tool you can use.

UNDERSTANDING LIFE TRANSITIONS

There's an old saying that the only constant in life is change. How we handle change determines the quality of our lives.

SATISFACTION: LIVING YOUR VALUES

We feel a sense of satisfaction when we are living in alignment with what's most important to us. Thus, we need to know what's important.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."
-Steve Jobs

RECENT MINDFULNESS POSTS

IT IS WHAT IT IS: THE POWER OF WITHHOLDING JUDGMENT

Letting go of judgment helps us see clearly. Not everything needs to be labeled good or bad—it can just be what it is.

TRAINING YOUR MIND

Most of us talk to ourselves without realizing it. Mindfulness helps us notice, refocus, and respond with more clarity in everyday life.

ACCEPTANCE AND ACTION

Embrace life’s surprises—ditch the “but” and say “and, so.” Accept the unexpected and turn challenges into opportunities.

BEFRIENDING YOUR INNER VOICE

Many of us view our inner critic as something that has to be beaten or fought against. Recognizing that it wants what's best for you helps!

UNDERSTANDING LIFE TRANSITIONS

There's an old saying that the only constant in life is change. How we handle change determines the quality of our lives.

"He who has a 'why' to live can bear almost any 'how'."
-Friedrich Nietzsche

RECENT FINANCIAL PSYCHOLOGY POSTS

WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMES FIRST IN FINANCIAL DECISIONS

We don’t follow advice just because it’s smart—we follow it when it feels right. Emotional intelligence helps us make decisions that actually stick.

UNLEARNING YOURSELF

We often live by stories others tell about us. To find your true self, unlearn these narratives and nurture your authentic identity.

FACING LIFE'S CHALLENGES

We all face challenges; they're guaranteed. There is a difference between setbacks and obstacles. It's helpful to understand the difference.

WE CAN GET USED TO ANYTHING

We think getting what we want will make us happy, or losing something will make us sad. But we quickly adapt to our new situations in life.

MONEY IS A TOOL

It's common to view money as a goal. Money is worthless in and of itself, though. It's only a means to an end. Money is a tool you can use.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Hi, I'm

DEREK HAGEN

Every Thursday I send out the Meaningful Money Memo. I write (and draw) about topics such as the psychology of money, happiness, Money Scripts, financial purpose and clarity, and values-based life design.

Learn More

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- NA

"This is such a wonderful newsletter!"

-LL

"I love Money Health Weekly. There are great posts every week. I love the drawings; they inspire me."

- DR

"I love Money Health Weekly. I always have someone in mind to share it with."

- EF

Get weekly notifications about new posts.

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Contact Derek

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out. You can also schedule a phone call.

Contact Derek

TRANSFORM YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE, CONNECT WITH YOUR VALUES, DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

Featured On

Sign up now and join over 2,000 other people who get weekly updates

All Posts | Meaning/Purpose | Resilience | Happiness | Mindfulness | Financial Psychology

RECENT POSTS

BUILDING YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AROUND MONEY

HOW EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE SHAPES YOUR MONEY DECISIONS

WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMES FIRST IN FINANCIAL DECISIONS

MONEY IS EMOTIONAL: WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MATTERS

BEING HUMAN STILL MATTERS

IS AI HELPING YOU GROW?

WHY AI CAN'T REPLACE HUMAN CONNECTION

ARCHIVE

CATEGORIES

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." -Buddha

RECENT MEANING/PURPOSE POSTS

FACING LIFE'S CHALLENGES

AMERICAN DREAM? OR YOUR DREAM?

MONEY IS A TOOL

FINDING DIRECTION IN LIFE

YOUR WHY HELPS WITH HOW

"To invent your own life's meaning is not easy, but it's still allowed, and I think you'll be happier for the trouble." -Bill Watterson

RECENT RESILIENCE POSTS

MONEY IS EMOTIONAL: WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MATTERS

WHEN LIFE DOESN'T GO AS PLANNED

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AFTER SETBACKS

FINDING BETTER PROBLEMS

GROWING YOUR COMFORT ZONE

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change." -Carl Rogers

RECENT HAPPINESS POSTS

GROWING YOUR COMFORT ZONE

AMERICAN DREAM? OR YOUR DREAM?

MONEY IS A TOOL

UNDERSTANDING LIFE TRANSITIONS

SATISFACTION: LIVING YOUR VALUES

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." -Steve Jobs

RECENT MINDFULNESS POSTS

IT IS WHAT IT IS: THE POWER OF WITHHOLDING JUDGMENT

TRAINING YOUR MIND

ACCEPTANCE AND ACTION

BEFRIENDING YOUR INNER VOICE

UNDERSTANDING LIFE TRANSITIONS

"He who has a 'why' to live can bear almost any 'how'." -Friedrich Nietzsche

RECENT FINANCIAL PSYCHOLOGY POSTS

WHY EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMES FIRST IN FINANCIAL DECISIONS

UNLEARNING YOURSELF

FACING LIFE'S CHALLENGES

WE CAN GET USED TO ANYTHING

MONEY IS A TOOL

MEET THE AUTHOR

- NA

-LL

- DR

- EF

Contact Derek If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out. You can also schedule a phone call.

TRANSFORM YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY
LIVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE, CONNECT WITH YOUR VALUES, DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."
-Buddha

"To invent your own life's meaning is not easy, but it's still allowed, and I think you'll be happier for the trouble."
-Bill Watterson

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."
-Carl Rogers

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."
-Steve Jobs

"He who has a 'why' to live can bear almost any 'how'."
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Contact Derek

If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out. You can also schedule a phone call.