Redefine Wealth for Yourself: How to Stop Chasing Money, Finally Live Your Life's Purpose and Find Fulfillment
A faith-based guide to building a full life on six pillars: health, relationships, organized surroundings, belief, purposeful work and money, with money placed last because the other five support it.

Table of Content
1. Introduction
59 sec
If you chase money while your health, your relationships and your home slide, you can end up rich in one area and poor in all the others. In Redefine Wealth for Yourself, podcast host Patrice Washington, writing with Candice L Davis, argues that real wealth rests on six pillars: fitness, people, space, faith, work and money. Money comes last on purpose, because the other five decide whether you can attract it and enjoy it.
Washington’s guidance is openly shaped by her Christian faith, yet most of it is practical. It covers a checkup you have been postponing, a drawer of unmatched socks, a would-be rapper who mistook passion for a gift, and a budget that counts every credit purchase. Each pillar gets a reason it matters and a small step you can take this week. The reward is a clear way to tell whether you are building a full life or only a bank balance, and where to start fixing it.
2. Get your body ready for the life you want
2 min 03 sec
Imagine your dream job or ideal partner arriving this afternoon. Washington learned in an emergency room that getting what you want is not the same as being able to live it.
3. Let a belief system steady you through setbacks
1 min 54 sec
Washington is open about her Christian faith, yet her idea of faith reaches well beyond one religion. It explains how she waits for opportunities without trying to control exactly how they arrive.
4. Earn from your gifts instead of chasing passion
2 min 08 sec
Follow your passion and the money will come, or so the advice goes. A would-be rapper who has given decades to the dream shows what that advice can quietly cost.
5. Build relationships that support you when it counts
1 min 59 sec
In a 2018 survey, more than half of participants said the people around them were not really listening. Washington’s own daughter caught her doing exactly that, and the lesson reaches far beyond the family kitchen.
6. Turn cluttered rooms into spaces that lift you
1 min 46 sec
Washington once looked around her office and saw a room that belonged to someone else entirely. What she changed began with a sock drawer and ended with a new way to start each day.
7. Put money last and watch it grow
1 min 57 sec
Most financial advice opens with the numbers. Washington saves them for the end, and when she finally reaches them, the first thing she asks you to examine is not your income.
8. Conclusion
1 min 16 sec
The book opens with a test of priorities. Offered money alone, or money plus good health, close relationships, a lovely home and inner peace, nobody picks the first. Yet many people live as if they had, chasing income while everything else slips. Washington’s answer is to treat wealth as a structure with six supports, where money is placed last because it rests on the others.
That changes what progress looks like. A good month is not only a higher balance. It is a checkup kept, a friend truly heard, a desk that suits who you are becoming, a value acted on, an offer negotiated from your real gifts. Each pillar feeds the next, and a weak one drains the rest.
If you want a first move, pick the pillar you have neglected longest and do one small thing there this week: book the appointment, clear the drawer, write the budget, or name the people you are called to serve. Then watch whether money starts to feel less like the goal and more like what follows when the rest of your life is in order.
Washington’s hospital scare says it better than any balance sheet: an opportunity is only worth what you are able to bring to it.
About this book
What is this book about?
Many people put money first and let health, relationships and peace of mind slip, then wonder why success feels empty. Patrice Washington, writing with Candice L Davis, argues that this is a narrow and costly definition of wealth. In its place she offers a framework of six wealth pillars, covering fitness, people, space, faith, work and finally money. Each one gets practical steps. Keep the medical checkups you keep postponing and use affirmations to strengthen your mindset. Listen properly to people and give before you ask. Clear and redesign the rooms you live and work in. Practice a belief system that keeps you steady. Build work around your gifts, not your passion. Only then turn to money mindset, spending habits and a detailed budget. The approach is openly shaped by Washington's Christian faith, though she defines faith broadly as belief in a higher power. Readers get a way to see which area of their life is draining the others, and small, concrete actions to strengthen each one.
Book Information
Who it's for
Well paid but drained
Professionals earning well but feeling drained, whose health, home or relationships have slipped behind their careers.
Stuck chasing unpaid passions
People stuck chasing a passion that does not pay, who want to build work around their real gifts.
Matching money to faith
Readers of faith who want money advice that fits their spiritual values.
About the Author
Patrice Washington
Patrice Washington hosts an award-winning podcast that has been downloaded more than 20 million times. Her co-author, Candice L Davis, has worked in publishing for more than fifteen years, with traditional publishers and independent ones. She began as a literary fiction writer, won an Emerging Voices fellowship from PEN America, and has published in journals such as descant and Obsidian III. She hosts Nothing but the Words, a podcast on writing books well.
Ratings & Reviews
Ratings at a glance
What people think
Listeners find the book to be insightful, with one noting that it offers hands-on lessons from life experiences and methods for achieving wealth. They overall describe the work as an outstanding and simple read.
Top reviews
This book is a total game-changer for anyone who feels like they're grinding for a paycheck but losing their soul in the process. Patrice Washington flips the script on what it means to be truly 'wealthy' by putting money at the very end of her Six Pillars list. I was deeply moved by her focus on well-being as the original definition of wealth. The way she breaks down the pillars makes so much sense, especially the parts about mental fitness and the People pillar. It’s not just another dry personal finance manual about spreadsheets; instead, it’s a soulful guide to living a life that actually feels good on the inside. To be fair, if you are looking for complex stock market analysis, you won't find it here. However, if you want to align your purpose with your bank account, this is the blueprint you need to read right now.
Show morePicked this up after hearing Patrice on a podcast, and I’m so glad I decided to invest in the hard copy. This isn't your typical 'hustle harder' business book; it’s an invitation to slow down and build a foundation that can actually sustain success. The Six Pillars—Fitness, People, Space, Faith, Work, and Money—offer a comprehensive view of life that most financial experts completely ignore. I especially loved the section on the Space pillar and how our physical environment reflects our internal standards. It motivated me to finally organize my home office to match the person I am becoming. The faith-based approach is woven in beautifully without being overbearing or exclusionary. It’s rare to find a book that addresses the heart and the wallet with equal grace. This is definitely a resource I will be returning to every year to check my alignment.
Show moreAfter hearing Patrice Washington speak online, I knew I had to get my hands on this book. It completely redefined my understanding of what it means to be successful. We are often taught that money is the goal, but this book proves that money is actually the result of having your life in order. The 'Work' pillar really resonated with me, especially the idea that we should seek a professional culture that fits our lifestyle. I’ve been chasing a 'passion' that wasn't paying the bills, and this book gave me permission to pivot toward my actual gifts. The prompts and suggestions are so easy to digest and apply immediately. I ended up buying the Audible version too because her voice is so soothing and encouraging. Highly recommend this for anyone who wants to stop chasing money and start chasing purpose.
Show moreImagine a life where you earn more without ever feeling like you’re 'chasing' the dollar. That is the promise of this book, and Patrice delivers it with such authenticity and grace. The way she incorporates her Certification in Financial Psychology into the text is brilliant. She doesn't just tell you to save money; she helps you understand the heart of why we behave the way we do with our finances. I loved the section on neuroplasticity and how we can literally rewire our brains for abundance. The faith-based elements provided a wonderful sense of peace and grounding throughout the journey. In my experience, I was skeptical at first, but the holistic approach is the only way to build a life that actually lasts. It’s an excellent, easy read that I’ll be recommending to all my friends and family.
Show moreAs someone who has always prioritized my career over my physical health, the section on the Fitness pillar hit me like a ton of bricks. Patrice shares a scary story about a routine doctor's visit revealing dangerously low hemoglobin, and it made me realize how much I've been neglecting my own body in the pursuit of success. The truth is, we can't enjoy our money if we're too exhausted or ill to function. I loved the blend of faith-based wisdom and practical life lessons throughout the chapters. The writing style is warm and encouraging, like a conversation with a wise mentor who actually wants to see you win. My only gripe is that it can feel a bit repetitive at times. Regardless, the focus on using affirmations to rewire your brain is fascinating and something I’ve already started implementing in my morning routine.
Show moreThe chapter on 'Space' was exactly what I needed to read this month. I never realized how much my messy desk was actually blocking my creativity and making me feel like I didn't deserve a higher income. Washington explains that our surroundings reflect the standards we think we deserve, and that really stuck with me. After reading, I spent the weekend purging my house of things that no longer serve me. The book is written with a lot of heart, and the tone is incredibly empowering for women who want more than just a big balance. Some of the advice on affirmations felt a little repetitive, but the core message about 'expectancy' is gold. It’s a 4-star read because it’s highly actionable, even if some of the stories felt a bit long-winded. Overall, it’s a great tool for anyone feeling stuck in a cycle of lack and scarcity.
Show moreFinally got around to finishing this, and I have to say, the focus on 'Pillars' is a great way to organize your life. I’ve always been good with money, but my 'Fitness' and 'Space' pillars were a complete disaster. This book helped me see that my physical health is actually a financial asset. If I’m too tired to work on my business, I’m losing money! The writing is clear and the chapters flow well, making it an easy read for a busy professional. I did feel that the 'Money' pillar at the end was a bit rushed compared to the others. I would have liked to see more on budgeting or debt repayment strategies given the author's background as a finance expert. Still, it’s a solid 4-star book for the mindset shift alone. It’s perfect for someone who feels 'successful' on paper but miserable in reality.
Show moreEver wonder why you can have a full bank account but still feel completely empty inside? That’s the core question this book attempts to answer through its holistic framework. While I appreciated the Six Pillars, particularly the emphasis on physical health, some of the advice felt a bit like 'pop culture' spirituality to me. It is a very easy read, which is great for accessibility, but I honestly wanted more technical strategies on the actual 'Money' pillar. Personally, the stories were engaging, but I felt like the 'Space' pillar could have been condensed into a blog post rather than a full chapter. It’s a solid 3-star read because the message is vital, even if the execution feels a little light on the 'how-to' for seasoned self-help readers. It’s a good starting point for a mindset shift, but don't expect it to be a deep dive into financial psychology.
Show moreWow, I didn't expect a wealth book to spend so much time talking about my relationships and my closet clutter! Truth is, the holistic approach is refreshing, but it might be a bit too 'soft' for people who are strictly looking for investment advice. Patrice argues that wealth follows when our life is in order, which is a powerful sentiment. I found the 'Work' pillar particularly interesting, especially the distinction between following your passion and using your actual gifts. That rapper example she used was a bit of a reality check for my own side projects! While the book is highly readable and filled with hope, I felt some of the sections on faith were a little specific to one worldview. If you can look past that, there are plenty of universal truths here about boundaries and personal responsibility. It’s a decent guide for life balance, just maybe not a financial masterclass.
Show moreFrankly, I found this to be a bit too basic if you’ve already read a lot of personal development or financial psychology books. The concept of 'wealth as well-being' is beautiful, but I was hoping for more granular steps on the actual money management side. It feels a bit more like a lifestyle coaching book than a wealth-building guide. Not gonna lie, I almost put it down halfway through because the tone felt a bit like a collection of blog posts. However, I stayed for the 'People' pillar, and I'll admit the advice on active listening was a good reminder. If you're new to the world of self-help, you'll likely love this. But for those looking for advanced strategies or deep financial theory, it might feel a little surface-level. It’s an okay read for a weekend, but it didn't quite live up to the massive hype for me.
Show moreQuestions about this book
What is the main idea of Redefine Wealth for Yourself?
Patrice Washington argues that wealth means far more than money. Her framework has six wealth pillars, namely fitness, people, space, faith, work, and money. Money comes last on purpose, because when any of the other five is out of balance, money matters less, and keeping them balanced is what lets you attract material wealth and enjoy it.
Why does Patrice Washington say not to follow your passion?
She argues that passion alone does not pay the bills or reveal your real strengths. Her example is a would-be rapper who has spent decades and savings on music without having a gift for it. Instead, she says to align your gifts, your purpose and your calling, so that fulfillment, impact and income follow.
Is Redefine Wealth for Yourself a religious book?
Faith is one of its six pillars, and Washington is open that she is a Christian. She defines faith broadly, though, as belief in a higher power that guides your purpose and values. She invites readers without settled beliefs to explore different religions and spiritual teachings, and most of the book’s advice on health, relationships, space, work and budgeting is practical.
How can I apply the six pillars of wealth?
Start small in whichever pillar you have neglected. Book the checkup you keep postponing, repeat a positive affirmation daily, listen to people without faking attention, and send a thank-you note. Clear one drawer and give each item a fixed place. Write down your gifts and the people you want to serve. For money, build a detailed budget that includes credit purchases.
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