I recently dove into Lynne Twist’s book, “The Soul of Money,” and let me tell you, it’s been a revelation. While it sounds like a book about money, it’s actually a profound exploration of our soul via our relationship with money.
I saw it recommended in a Twitter thread by Alexandra, and I’m very grateful to have seen it.
A Lesson from Mother Teresa: Opening Our Hearts to All
One of the early chapters recounts Twist’s moving encounter with Mother Teresa in India. Twist is surrounded by orphaned babies, many with severe disabilities including lost limbs and blindness, in Mother Teresa’s orphanage. Twist is caring for these children and absolutely feeling in bliss being of service. (This surprised me since my overwhelming initial feeling just reading the passage was despair and grief of babies without arms or legs).
Later, she finally meets Teresa herself, experiencing a powerful heart connection.
Then, a wealthy couple arrives, demanding a photo with Mother Teresa, acting quite rudely. Twist finds herself consumed by anger and judgment, her feelings of love and compassion vanishing.
On her way home, consumed by guilt, she writes Mother Teresa an apology, confessing her reaction. The response she receives is stunning. Mother Teresa points out that Twist had closed her heart to the wealthy, emphasizing that they, too, suffer and need care.
This profoundly shifted Twist’s perspective. She realized the truth in Mother Teresa’s words: the wealthy often experience their own unique pain – isolation, loneliness, and the ever-present fear of scarcity, despite their material abundance.
Mother Teresa’s life reminded me as an inspiring example of truth and compassion. It’s too far common for me to get cynical and think such saints never existed. My heart feels touched remembering human goodness can reach incredible heights.
I actually closed the book for the day feeling overwhelmed at how much compassion to devote a lifetime to orphans and also have compassion for the wealthy.
Money as a River: Embracing the Flow
Another powerful story involves Twist meeting with a high-powered CEO. In a brief 15-minute meeting, he hands her a pre-printed check for $50,000. It’s clear his motive is purely PR, a way to clean up his company’s image after a recent scandal.
Later, at a fundraising event in Harlem, Twist hears a woman describe money as a river. For some, it’s a raging torrent; for others, a gentle trickle. We don’t own the money, we simply steward its flow towards what our soul values. This woman, despite having only a “trickle,” joyfully gives all the cash she has on hand – maybe $50.
Twist realizes the stark difference between these two donations. The $50, given with intention and love, felt infinitely more valuable than the $50,000 check. The next day, she returns the CEO’s check, stating she’s only seeking committed partners. (This act has a significant impact later on, but I won’t spoil that part for you!)
Three Key Takeaways (So Far!)
Just from these initial chapters, “The Soul of Money” has offered me three invaluable insights:
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The Heights of Human Goodness: Mother Teresa’s life reminds me of the incredible potential for compassion and service within each of us.
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Open Hearts, Even to the Wealthy: Those who seem to “have it all” often carry their own burdens. They, too, deserve our empathy and understanding.
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Money as Flow: Instead of hoarding or obsessing over money, we can view it as a flowing resource that we steward. By consciously directing this flow towards our values, we can experience greater joy and fulfillment.
“The Soul of Money” is challenging me to rethink my relationship with money. I’m only a 1/3 finished through and already got a lot out of it.