Money shapes so much more than our wallets. It influences our stress levels, our sense of security, and can even consume our identity. By examining the pressures to “make more” and the obscure beliefs that drive financial stress, we can begin shifting from survival to flourishing and learn that true wealth is not about how much we earn, but how intentionally we live.
Rethinking Our Relationship with Money
At the heart of financial stress lies a deeper question: What do we believe money represents? For some, it’s freedom. For others, it’s pressure and the sense that we must constantly earn more to be worthy, stable, safe or successful. This mindset can quietly consume us, pushing us to chase income rather than fulfillment. The truth is, a “make more” mentality often masks fear: fear of not having enough, fear of falling behind, fear of not being enough. When our identity becomes tied to financial achievement, even success can feel empty because there’s always something more.
Mind Over Money encourages a more mindful and balanced approach to finances. Through self-paced learning, coaching, and community workshops, the program helps individuals understand their financial behaviors and stress responses. It teaches that wellness starts with the awareness of recognizing triggers like comparison, scarcity thinking, or the belief that money defines happiness. By reframing how we relate to money, we can begin to separate financial health from emotional self-worth.
True financial wellness is not about how much we make, but how aligned our financial choices are with our values and well-being. Whether that means budgeting for peace of mind, setting goals that reflect what really matters, or finding joy in simplicity, financial wellness is about living intentionally not from a place of lack and endlessly striving for more but a place of abundance.
When we shift from money as a measure to money as a tool, we reclaim agency over our financial lives. Mind Over Money reminds us that the goal isn’t to have more. The goal is to feel whole.
Written by: Jaden Abas, Class of 2025
Resources
Stanford Resources
- Mind Over Money (Stanford Financial Wellness Program): This is Stanford’s central financial wellness initiative. It provides education, coaching, workshops, and self-paced modules aimed at promoting healthy financial behaviors.
- “Understand My Finances” — Stanford Student Services: This is a Stanford site for current students and alumni offering financial wellness resources such as student billing, tuition & fees, interpreting 1098-T forms, and links into the Mind Over Money program.
- First-Generation / Low-Income (FLI) Student Success Center— “FLInancial Literacy”: For FLI students, Stanford provides tailored support for guidance on understanding your financial aid award notification, workshops (e.g. navigating Stanford on a budget), salary negotiation workshops & worksheets, and connections to the Mind Over Money program.