Welcome to the Blooming Mindset, a weekly dose of clarity, mindset, and practical wisdom to help you stay consistent, think more deeply, and build a life aligned with your identity and purpose. I'm Ruth Rieckehoff, and I'm so glad you're here. Please share this newsletter with a friend!
Beloved Architect of Identity,
I grew up thinking money was the boss of everything.
Where we went.
What we ate.
What we wore.
In my mind, it dictated every decision, like a shadow following us around, whispering “not enough, not enough.”
We lived paycheck to paycheck. No vacations. No sports teams. No eating out unless it was a rare treat. I didn’t even see a dentist until I was 18.
My dad sometimes had to take out loans just to buy us school supplies. And even then, we’d reuse backpacks and notebooks while everyone else showed up with shiny new gear.
I wore glasses, and I still remember the sting of needing a new pair but knowing it was a financial burden.
My parents gave us what they could. They taught us values, grit, and resilience. I am deeply grateful. But the reality is that money had a big say in our lives..
At some point in high school, I hit a wall.
I thought, I don’t want to live like this anymore.
So, I made a decision. I’d go to college. I’d get a good career. I’d figure money out.
Well, things started rough, pretty rough.
I worked two jobs while juggling school. I was pretty broke during that season.
Eventually, I moved to California. I had to borrow money from family and friends to cover the costs of flights, the apartment deposit, and initial living expenses.
My career took off. I started to earn and save a bit. There was a bit of safety, but I knew things weren't entirely secure. I was spending a lot. I had ages to go.
After being laid off, I eventually decided to study money as if my life depended on it. Saving. Investing. Starting a small business. Building stability.
Little by little, things shifted.
Now? I don’t worry about whether I can go to the doctor. I don’t panic when my parents need help. I can say yes to travel, to eating out, to buying good shoes without guilt.
That weight is gone.
And here’s what I learned: money itself isn’t the end goal. It’s the foundation.
Once you solve the money problem, or at least stabilize it, you free up space to focus on bigger things.
Vision. Purpose. Dreams. Legacy.
Because when money stops running the show, you get to.
So let me ask you:
Where in your life are you still letting money make the decisions?
And more importantly, what would open up for you if that weight was finally lifted?
Here’s to building stability, creating freedom, and living from purpose, not fear.
I’m rooting for you always,
Ruth
Reflect
- In what ways does money currently limit your choices or keep you playing small?
- If those financial pressures were lifted, what decisions would you make differently today?
Reframe
Old Belief: Money is always scarce. It controls what I can and cannot do.
New Belief: Money is a tool I can learn to manage. When I master it, it frees me to focus on my vision, relationships, and growth.
Actionable Transformation
- Start small, but start now. Track your income and expenses for the next 30 days. Awareness is the first step to freedom.
- Build a buffer. Even a modest emergency fund removes constant stress and gives you breathing room.
- Invest in your growth. Whether it’s learning a skill, starting a side project, or understanding the basics of investing, see money as fuel, not a chain.
Products & Resources
Trust Yourself Again: A self-guided journey to rebuild self-trust from the inside out, so you can stop second-guessing and start showing up with quiet confidence.
Bounce Back Blueprint (Free): Feel like you've fallen off track? This powerful reset guide helps you regroup with compassion and get back into aligned momentum your way.
From Reactive to Rooted (Free): Tired of putting out fires? This mindset and action guide helps you shift from scattered to strategic, so your days flow from clarity, not chaos.
P.S. Free yourself from the weight of money so you can fully step into the weight of your purpose. If you want more of these bite-sized lessons and mindset shifts, I share daily over on X. Come hang out with me there → Follow me on X.
