Hi everyone,
Last month, I led a morning meditation on Zoom. The room wasn't full. Honestly, it was almost empty. Just me and one other person, sitting in silence together, breathing.
And then I asked them to talk to their toes.
It sounds absurd, I know. But there we were, eyes closed, seated in comfortable silence. And I said:
"Hey, toes. I'm aware of you. What can I do to make you feel more relaxed? More comfortable?"
Amused smiles. Bodies shifting in seats. And then something happened.
We sat with it. And in the silence, the question shed its absurdity. It became simply… real.
By the time we reached the chest in our body scan, something was different. We weren't just relaxing. We were listening. Really listening to our bodies.
And then came the question that shifted everything:
"Could it be that we are not our bodies? That we are simply the observer of our body, living in it for this lifetime?"
In the silence, you could feel the weight of that. Not as philosophy. As direct experience. For a moment, everyone in that room was not their tense shoulders or their tight forehead. They were just the awareness behind it all.
I've been thinking about that moment all week. About what it might teach us about money, about leadership, and about the exhaustion so many of us carry.
This Week's Quote:
"This is the gift of the observer. Not that the stress disappears. But that you are no longer identical with it. From the place of the observer, you can look at the budget—the tight months, the uncertain grants, the payroll that never sleeps—and see them clearly, without being consumed by them."
— Cristof
Personal Finance Tip of the Week: The Toe Check-In
Before you open any financial app, any email about money, or any budget meeting this week, pause and check in with one part of your body.
Your toes work beautifully—they're far enough from your thinking brain that they bypass the mental chatter.
Ask yourself:
Hey, toes. I'm aware of you. What do you need right now?
Are you tense? Relaxed? Cold? Comfortable?
Just notice. No fixing required.
That's it.
Then, after that pause, open the app. Open the email. Enter the meeting.
What you might notice: The body knows things the mind forgets. Financial anxiety doesn't start as a thought—it starts as a physical sensation. By checking in with your toes, you catch the sensation before the spiral. You remember that you are not your anxiety. You are the one noticing the anxiety.
And from that place, you can meet your money with clarity instead of contraction.
It sounds absurd. That's the point. The absurdity cuts through the heaviness and reminds us that we're humans having a human experience—not machines executing a financial plan.
Try it this week. One toe check-in. See what you notice.
Upcoming Opportunities to Practice Together:
We have three upcoming events designed to be different. They aren't about getting rich quick. They are about getting clear first. They are safe spaces to explore, ask questions, and connect with a community that values awareness over anxiety.
Here's what's on the calendar:
1. Mindful Relief for Money Anxiety
When: Wednesday, March 11th @ 2:00 PM ET (Online)
Why attend: Do you feel anxiety and worry about money holding you back? This session offers a complete mind-to-money solution. Learn a 3-part system to stop financial anxiety in its tracks: catch it early with mindfulness (Catch & Release), elevate your state of mind through directed imagination (Elevate & Fortify), and fortify your financial foundation with a practical Emergency Fund plan. You'll leave with both inner tools and outer strategies for lasting peace. Led by Cristof and Sophia.
Registration Link
2. Morning Meditation for Mindfulness
When: Thursday, March 12th @ 7:00 AM ET (Online)
Why attend: Greet the day with clarity and calm. This one-hour session offers a 30-minute guided meditation focused on anchoring in the breath, cultivating a quiet mind, and fostering loving-kindness—followed by a live Q&A to integrate the practice into your life. Whether you're new to meditation or deepening an existing practice, this is a gentle, supportive space to start your day with intention. Led by Cristof.
Registration Link
3. 5 Ways Mindfulness Can Boost Your Wealth
When: Wednesday, April 8th @ 2:00 PM ET (Online)
Why attend: You've done everything right. So why doesn't your net worth feel like wealth? If you're financially comfortable but emotionally stretched thin—if you lie awake wondering how much closer you are to freedom, or hide purchases from yourself more than your partner—this workshop is for you. This isn't about budgeting. It's about awareness. Join Cristof for a free 60-minute session exploring how mindfulness transforms your relationship with money from stress to genuine fulfillment.
Registration Link
From the Blog: What My Toes Taught Me About Non-Profit Burnout
This week on the Project Mindful Money blog, I wrote about that meditation, hospice leaders, and what happens when we learn to listen differently—to our bodies and our organizations.
In it, I explore:
What happens when you ask your toes what they need
Why the body scan might be the perfect metaphor for organizational health
The difference between leading from contraction vs. expansion
How to scan your organization the way you'd scan your own body—with curiosity, not fixing
I also share the story of the hospice leaders who said yes before I even finished asking. Not because they needed another framework. Because they were ready to listen.
If that resonates, I'd be honored if you read it.
As always, there is no pressure, no pitch. Just an open invitation to explore this journey with us, at your own pace. When you're ready to go deeper, we're here.
With gratitude,
Cristof
Founder, Pine Ridge Wealth
Cristof + Sophia
Project Mindful Money is a community initiative of:
Pine Ridge Wealth LLC, Registered Investment Adviser, Fuquay-Varina, NC, USA