Unapologetic Wealth

Money. Why does it feel complicated?

Be sensible. Don’t be greedy. Don’t talk about money. Don’t want too much, and don’t have too little. And definitely don’t flaunt it if you do have it. These are messages many of us have absorbed throughout our lives.

You are smart, hardworking, and responsible. Perhaps you already earn a good income, or maybe you want to earn more.

No matter where you are right now, why, after spending time earning, saving, and doing your best (or trying to), does it still feel like there’s a layer of discomfort or disconnect you can’t shake when it comes to finances? Even if you have systems in place or people helping you, why do you sometimes feel uncertain about what you are supposed to do with your money?

Money is a complex subject. You have tried to make practical decisions, followed advice, and avoided reckless mistakes. You have budgeted, saved when possible, and worked hard to build some stability, even if debt remains part of the picture. Maybe you even have a financial advisor or a partner who “takes care of the money stuff.” Yet, somewhere beneath it all, there is still a quiet feeling that you are not truly in control of your financial life—that you are orbiting it rather than owning it.

If any of that sounds familiar, you are not alone.

Before we move on, let’s take a moment to check in. Reflect on where you believe you are right now and consider any changes you’d like to see in your financial situation or in your life overall. This will serve as your baseline. Later, at the end of the book, you’ll do a similar exercise to assess whether your perspective has changed after reading and engaging with the exercises and reflections at the end of each chapter. Having this starting point makes your progress visible and reminds you that even small shifts add up.

As you work through the exercises and questions, you may notice patterns, strengths, or areas that feel ready for change. Whatever comes to mind, let it land and trust that this is the first step toward something better.

Quick Check-in

Find a comfortable seat and take a few deep, cleansing breaths.

Then answer these questions without censoring, judgment, or criticism. Simply write (or think through, if you’re not in a good place to write) whatever comes to mind.

List three things that characterize your current financial or life situation. (These may be positive, negative, or neutral.)

List three things you would like to change about your current financial or life situation.

So many people, especially women, feel disconnected from their money, not because they are incapable or uninterested, but because something deeper stands in the way. They often believe they need more information, better tools, or a clearer plan. And sometimes this is true. But more often, what truly holds them back are harder-to-identify factors: limiting beliefs rooted in the past and feelings of money guilt.

Limiting beliefs, such as “I’m not good with money” or “It’s selfish to want more,” often run so deep that we don’t even recognize them as beliefs. They feel like truths. However, most of them were shaped by generations that didn’t have the same opportunities we have today. We have internalized caution as wisdom and self-denial as virtue. While these lessons may have been necessary in the past, they no longer serve us well today.

We stand at a cultural crossroads where the scarcity-based beliefs we inherited meet the opportunities for abundance now within our reach. On one side are the women who came before us, those who had to focus on survival. On the other is a world where we can build wealth boldly and on our own terms. And yet many of us still carry the emotional weight of the past. If we don’t shift this mindset, we risk passing it down, even as the world around us changes. It is our responsibility to break this cycle, not only for ourselves but for the generations that follow. If we remain stuck in inherited fear and limitation, we are not only holding ourselves back; we are also passing that burden on to our daughters.