You have to be the best thing that ever happened to your money. – Cassandra Cummings
There’s a quote by Suze Orman that hits right at the heart of personal finance:
“Power comes from who you are, not what you have.” Money has no power of its own, you alone are the power source. You are the one who makes the choices to spend money, to save money, to borrow money. That’s why money is such an amazing teacher: What you choose to do with your money shows whether you are truly powerful or powerless.
And if anyone knows the truth behind those words, it’s her.
In her 30s, Suze started making serious money. The kind of money that turns heads and upgrades lifestyles. She had the fancy car. The high-end designer clothes. The luxury watch that cost as much as a house down payment. From the outside, it looked like success. But on the inside? It was anything but powerful.
Why did she buy all those things?
Because she was dating a wealthy man and felt the pressure to keep up with his high-net-worth circle. She dipped into her 401K to afford the Cartier watch. When that ran dry, she turned to credit—and ended up $60,000 in debt. That wasn’t power. That was chasing validation with a price tag.
And then came the wake-up call.
She realized she had confused external power with inner worth. She learned the hard way that money doesn’t make you powerful—it reveals how powerful or powerless you feel.
But here’s where it gets real and redemptive.
She slowed down. She reflected. She started watching how she used money—and why. She gave herself (and her money) the respect they both deserved. And in doing that, she stopped running, stopped comparing, and started living her truth. No more keeping up with the Joneses. No more pretending. Just peace, clarity, and real power.
Here Are the Money + Mindset Lessons We Can All Learn:
1. Money will always reflect your relationship with yourself.
If you feel not enough, your spending will try to fill that void. But no handbag, watch, or luxury car will fix what self-love must build.
2. The urge to impress is expensive.
Living above your means for image will drain you emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Impressing others should never come at the cost of your peace or your future.
3. You are the power source—not your bank account.
What you choose to do with your money says more about your confidence than the balance in your account. Money doesn’t make you powerful. But using it intentionally and with clarity does.
4. Self-worth builds net worth—not the other way around.
When you stop trying to prove yourself and start honoring yourself, your money habits shift. You build, you protect, you grow—and you thrive.
5. Living within your means is the new luxury.
There’s nothing more magnetic than someone who knows who they are, spends with intention, and doesn’t need approval from anyone to feel worthy.
So, to the women out there hustling, building, earning, and evolving—may this be your gentle reminder:
You don’t need to buy your way into belonging. You already belong.
You don’t need to spend to feel seen. You’re already worthy of being witnessed.
And you don’t need to compete to be powerful. You already are.
Respect your money. Love yourself fiercely. That’s the real flex.
With all my heart,
Salima
