Beyond the Numbers: Finding Purpose and Joy in Your Finances
Align your finances with your values and purpose in 2025.
When I chose the credit card for my holiday travels, I was thrilled about the travel perks it offered—great deals, no annual fee, and rewards that made our family trip more enjoyable. But what started as a celebration of smart spending soon led me to a deeper question: Where does my money really go?
Using my new IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, we stayed in a clean and comfortable suite near my sister’s home in Philadelphia. The dining area for breakfast was large and well-maintained, with a variety of delicious choices. Even my youngest, who isn’t easy to impress, raved about how nice the accommodations were.
While I felt proud of finding such a great deal and enjoying the perks, I started to think about costs that don’t show up on my monthly statement. What was I indirectly funding with my spending choices?
The bank behind my credit card is JP Morgan Chase (Chase), and their scores, particularly regarding environmental impact, are concerning. As the largest American bank, managing $3.58 trillion in total assets, they have immense resources—money that can be used for good or ill.
According to the Banking on Climate Chaos report, Chase is the world’s largest fossil fuel financier. Similarly, the Good Shopping Guide rates them 17 out of 100 for their environmental and ethical practices—a stark reminder of the broader impact financial decisions can have.
This reflection reminded me that financial goals aren’t just about points or perks. They’re about aligning money with what matters most. To help myself—and others—take a more holistic approach, I developed a Five Ps framework.
The Five Ps of Financial Goals
Purpose: Your core mission—why you’re doing what you’re doing.
I see purpose as the North Star that guides your journey. You may get off track here and there, but if you know your purpose, you can reorient and make surer progress.
For me, my purpose is clear: reminding sensitive soulpreneurs of their extraordinary value. This clarity has helped me navigate my goals with greater ease and confidence. What is your purpose? How can you more fully live into it this year?
Principles: Values and ethics that align your actions with integrity.
Principles closely follow purpose. Who are you at your core? What do you really value? What causes matter most to you?
Being clear on your principles can help you be the person you want to be. I like to keep my principles in mind by reviewing them, at least, weekly. My core values are: joy, discovery, authenticity, harmony, and simplicity. What are yours?
Profitability: Ensuring financial sustainability and growth.
It’s hard to have a sustainable business without profits. If you’re always running out of money, something is likely amiss with your profit equation. Are you generating enough income? Are your expenses eating away at your earnings?
That said, focusing only on profitability can leave other important aspects neglected. Balance is key.
Popularity: Resonating with your audience’s needs and desires.
Discovering what’s popular with your audience—what they need, desire, and find frustrating—can lead to better outcomes for everyone. How can you tune into their feedback and create something that serves them well?
Pleasure: Infusing joy into your goals and creating fun for yourself and others.
Having a good time makes the journey so much sweeter—and sustainable. What small, joyful activities can you incorporate into your work this month?
Looking Ahead to 2025
When it comes to setting financial goals for the year, it’s tempting to focus solely on numbers. How much do you want to make? How many people do you want to add to your list? While these metrics are helpful, taking a holistic approach can lead to deeper fulfillment and lasting success.
As you take a look at the year ahead:
Purpose: What is the deeper reason behind your work?
Principles: How can you align your money choices with your values?
Profitability: Are your current prices sustainable?
Popularity: How can you better serve your audience?
Pleasure: What’s one way to make your work more joyful?
Prosperity is about more than numbers. By aligning your goals with the Five Ps—Purpose, Principles, Profitability, Popularity, and Pleasurable experiences—you’re not just building a business. You’re crafting a life of meaning, joy, and impact.
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Have you set financial goals for 2025? Let me know in the comments!
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