Is Money Evil?
Read time: 3.5 minutes
Welcome to Mind Over Money, a weekly newsletter where I provide actionable ideas to help you transform your relationship with money to build financial confidence and independence.
Today's topic: How to rewrite "money is evil" script in your head
I remember the first time I got a big raise—more than I ever thought I would make. I smiled at my manager politely, went back to my desk and sat in silence.
I didn’t tell my friends. I didn’t call my family. I wasn’t ashamed of the work. I just felt… uneasy.
Why? The questions started swirling: What would my friends think? That I'd changed? That I thought I was better?
So I kept it quiet, as if pride in my progress was something to hide. Looking back, I see it wasn’t humility—it was shame dressed up as modesty. And it stole a moment I should’ve celebrated.
That silence revealed something I'd been carrying without realizing:
The belief that money is inherently bad.
It shows up quietly. Like the time I undercharged even though my work creates massive impact. Or when I felt awkward talking about investing because it sounded "greedy." Or when a part of me believed that too much money might change me.
Maybe you've experienced it too.
This invisible script—"Money is evil"—can feel morally noble. But it's often what's holding smart, capable, values-driven people back from building real financial freedom.
And it's just one of the five most common emotional money blocks I see. Over the next few weeks, I'll explore all five. Let's start here.
What's Really Behind "Money is Evil"
This mindset doesn’t usually start in adulthood. It’s often passed down—subtly or loudly—through:
- Religious or cultural teachings: “Blessed are the poor.” “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…”
- Family narratives: “Rich people are selfish.” “We’re not like them.”
- Social environments: If everyone around you is struggling, success might feel like betrayal.
Over time, this forms a powerful emotional association: Having money = becoming a bad person.
So even if you want financial security, part of you may feel guilty pursuing it. You might downplay your wins. Reject financial help. Avoid wealth-building opportunities. Why? Because staying small feels morally safer.
But the truth is, money doesn’t change your values—it amplifies them.
If you’re generous, you’ll be generous with money. If you care about community, money helps you support it. If you’re purpose-driven, money becomes fuel—not corruption.
How to Rewire This Block and Build Confident Wealth
Let’s break down a few practical ways to shift this belief and make space for abundance without losing your integrity:
1. Reframe Money as a Tool, Not a Threat
Start treating money like what it is: a neutral resource.
It’s no different than electricity. It can light up a home… or burn it down. The outcome depends on who’s holding the switch.
Instead of asking, “What if I become greedy?” ask, “What could I do for others if I weren’t worried about money?”
2. Study Ethical Wealth Builders
Seek out people who align wealth with values. Watch how they live, give, and lead.
Start with:
- Impact investors funding climate solutions
- Entrepreneurs creating jobs in underserved communities
- Philanthropists building schools, shelters, or scholarships
Let their stories challenge your assumptions. Wealth doesn’t have to equal selfishness—it can mean greater impact.
3. Practice Receiving Without Deflection
Try this the next time someone compliments your work or offers to pay you:
Instead of saying, “Oh, it’s nothing” or “You don’t have to,” say: “Thank you. I value this exchange.”
You’re not just being polite. You’re retraining your nervous system to receive money, appreciation, and abundance without guilt.
4. Rewrite the Script With New Affirmations
If your inner voice still says “money is evil,” give it a new line to memorize.
Try:
- “Money empowers me to create positive change.”
- “I use money to align with my highest values.”
- “I can be both generous and wealthy.”
Say them out loud. Write them down. Let them echo louder than the voices from the past.
5. Reflect on What’s at Stake
Think about the people you love. Your future self. Your community. What could you do—what could you stop worrying about—if you had financial security?
The more emotional clarity you get about your why, the more empowered your financial decisions will feel.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to choose between being a “good person” and building wealth.
In fact, the world needs more financially secure people with big hearts, generous values, and unshakable integrity. You can be one of them.
Stop apologizing for wanting more. Start seeing money for what it is: a tool, an amplifier, a doorway to freedom. The world needs more people like you to walk through it.
p.s. Have you wrestled with this belief yourself? Hit reply—I read every response.
Next week: The 2nd emotional money block—The cost of money scarcity and the path forward.