MJP-013: Honoring Our Life-Hours – A New Story About Money

Unknown Speaker

Welcome back to the Mind Jedi Podcast, everyone. I’m Kaia, and today we’re diving into something that rewired how I see every dollar I spend. Forget budgets and spreadsheets—this is deeper.

Unknown Speaker

José Mujica, the former president of Uruguay, said something that hit me in the gut: “When we buy something, we're not paying with money—we’re paying with the time from our lives we had to spend to earn that money,” And “Life is the one thing that money can’t buy,” Think about that. Every dollar isn’t just currency. It’s time. Energy. Life

Alexis

That always hits, Kaia. And hey y’all—I’m Alexis. Nobody ever broke that down for me growing up. But sometimes? I don’t regret it. I spent six hours’ wages on a concert once—but that memory still makes me smile. Some trades are worth it.

Tyrone Jenkins

Facts. I’m Tyrone, and I once blew three hours of life-energy on a glow-in-the-dark cat lamp at 2 a.m. That’s not a memory—that’s evidence.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

I’m Dr. Nolan, and Tyrone, you just made someone feel seen. But here’s the truth.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Some exchanges give back. Some drain you. But every transaction is life-energy. Money is crystallized time. Time is activated by energy. And respect? Is shown by how wisely we spend, share, or borrow it.

Unknown Speaker

Yes. When I started seeing my wallet as a pocket of life-hours, my whole relationship with spending shifted. It’s not about guilt—it’s about clarity. “Is this worth 90 minutes of my life?” That’s a different filter than “Can I afford it?”

Tyrone Jenkins

Real talk—my old mindset was “money’s fire—burn it before it burns you.” Now? It’s light. Aim it. And know what you’re lighting up.

Unknown Speaker

That part. And it’s not just our own spending—we’ve gotta think about who’s spending our life-hours too. Dr. B?

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Exactly. When someone borrows money, or even expects favors without thought, they’re spending your energy. If you respect your life-hours, it’s fair to expect others to do the same. Boundaries aren’t petty—they’re sacred.

Tyrone Jenkins

Okay yeah, that’s hitting. Free samples at Costco now feel like edible guilt. That muffin? Somebody’s prep shift went into that. I’m just out here collecting karmic calories.

Alexis

(Laughing) Not karmic calories, Ty! But yeah, in a world of tap-and-go, it’s easy to forget money = effort. We don’t pause. We don’t reflect. Maybe we should.

Tyrone Jenkins

Alright, here’s the thing nobody wants to admit—most of us are still making money moves based on scripts we picked up as kids. I grew up where if you had it today, you used it today, ‘cause tomorrow wasn’t promised. That “never enough” mindset? Survival mode on loop.

Alexis

Facts. My house was chaos. Even when things were stable, I was bracing for something to break. So now, even with a steady paycheck, I get anxious over buying anything “extra.” It’s not math—it’s muscle memory. That little voice still whispers, “Better save it… just in case.”

Dr. Nolan Bishop

That whisper? It’s not irrational—it’s ancient. The ACE Study—Adverse Childhood Experiences—shows instability in youth wires the brain for survival, not strategy. You’re not bad with money. Your nervous system is just trying to keep you safe using old code.

Unknown Speaker

I can see that, doc. I’ve got unopened gear on my shelf—stuff I swore I needed. Truth was, I wasn’t buying gadgets—I was buying the illusion of progress. If I owned it, maybe I was ahead. But unopened boxes just proved I was trying to buy peace of mind.

Alexis

Same here. I used to buy dinner for people just to feel needed. Like, “If I pay, they’ll want me around.” That wasn’t generosity. That was me outsourcing self-worth.

Tyrone Jenkins

Alexis, say that again but slower—for the ghosts in my bank account. Me? I used to treat dinner bills like emotional down payments…“Here’s $42 and a garlic naan—please validate my existence.”

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Emotional IOUs—we’ve all written them. But here’s what most people don’t realize: Overspending, avoiding bills, buying stuff you don’t need? It’s not always sabotage. Sometimes, that’s your nervous system just trying to feel safe.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

It’s not weakness. It’s grief—for the things you never had, or were too scared to lose again. And until you name that grief? It’ll keep running the show… from backstage.

Unknown Speaker

Yes. I saw this with a student I mentored. First paycheck hit—and her nervous system screamed: “Buy everything you never had.” That wasn’t a splurge. That was reparenting. A click away from collapse.

Alexis

That part. Even when your account says you’re safe, your body still believes you’re broke. That panic? That’s not about money. That’s about history.

Tyrone Jenkins

Like Kaia’s student story — trauma don’t budget, it swipes like there’s no tomorrow. That’s why a raise doesn’t feel like a win—it just feels like breathing room you’re scared to trust.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Exactly. Until you rewrite those scripts, they’ll ghostwrite your decisions. Brad Klontz calls them “money scripts”—internalized beliefs like, “There’s never enough,” or “Spending is how I show love.”

Unknown Speaker

And most of us didn’t choose those scripts. We inherited them. From parents, from poverty, from panic.

Alexis

Broke isn’t shameful. Broke just means the system broke you—and blamed your wallet.

Tyrone Jenkins

Whew. Bars. Can we get that on a T-shirt?

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Here’s the reframe: “You’re not bad with money. You’re grieving with money.” And healing starts when you stop asking, “What’s wrong with me?” And start asking, “What pain am I carrying that money can’t fix?”

Unknown Speaker

That’s where the real freedom starts—not with a budget, but with a truth.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Now, let’s talk structure. Because mindset sounds fluffy until you put it to work. Here’s where the Diamond Model comes in—a mental map for how we spend, waste, or multiply our life-energy. Picture a diamond with four points: Consumables – hours vanish forever. Assets – hours that may return with interest. Entitlement – spending someone else’s hours. Free – always costs something, somewhere. At the center? Respect for life-energy. Think of a baseball diamond — home plate is Respect; first is Consumables, second Assets, third Entitlement, and the outfield fence is “Free.”

Unknown Speaker

Yeah. Once you start viewing money through the lens of life-hours, even tipping a barista becomes sacred. You're not just giving cash—you’re circulating respect. That’s what abundance looks like. Thoughtful energy in motion.

Tyrone Jenkins

Let’s talk Consumables. That corner of the Diamond? That’s where your life-hours go to die. Like I said, my cat lamp story was three hours of my life traded for nothing. That’s not a splurge. That’s a ritual sacrifice.

Unknown Speaker

I used to rack up subscriptions I barely touched—apps, streaming, all of it. At first it felt small, but then I realized: that’s hours of my life funding buttons I don’t even press.

Alexis

For me, it was Target runs. I’d get overwhelmed, and suddenly I’m “rewarding” myself with candles, snacks, apps I won’t use. I called it self-care, but really? It was a smoke screen. I was trading peace for 20 minutes of dopamine.

Tyrone Jenkins

That third doubles? That wasn’t dinner. That was an emotional support meal—with extra pepper.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

(Laughing) You’re not wrong. And here’s the thing: Consumables aren’t “bad.” We all need beauty, pleasure, comfort. But if most of your money goes toward things that vanish and never return value? That’s not freedom—it’s erosion. Every mindless consumable is an hour of your life… gone.

Alexis

I hear that, doc. I started pausing and asking: Was that moment of convenience worth the slice of life I traded for it?

Dr. Nolan Bishop

And that pause, Alexis? That was the beginning of abundance. It’s not about deprivation—it’s about discernment.

Tyrone Jenkins

Yeah, doc. It’s not anti-joy—It’s just being done letting cheap joy bankrupt yuh real peace.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Let’s sit with Entitlement for a moment—because this one cuts deeper than most people realize. Quick distinction — needs‑based asking in community is healthy. Entitlement says, “I’m owed relief now, no matter the cost to tomorrow‑me or others.” A mindset that someone else should fix, fund, or carry what we won’t face.

Unknown Speaker

Right, Dr. B. That “Somebody Else” mentality. Like— “Somebody else should clean up my mess.” “Somebody else should cover the bill.” “Somebody else should figure it out.” It’s subtle, but it bleeds. And it says, “Your hours exist for my comfort.”

Tyrone Jenkins

I feel you, Kaia. That mindset? It’s disrespect squared. It treats your gas, your day off, your peace—like it’s a public resource. Like I’m Google Calendar for everyone’s problems.

Alexis

And the wild part, Ty? When you set a boundary, suddenly you’re the problem. They don’t see the dozens of micro-sacrifices you made before the “no.” They just hear the stop sign and act like it's betrayal.

Unknown Speaker

I’ve totally felt that sting, Alexis—when you make someone else a priority, and they treat you like you’re optional. That’s not just hurtful. That’s dehumanizing.

Tyrone Jenkins

Listen to me. One time I covered dinner without hesitation, right? Not because I was balling—but because I wanted to show love. Next time, dude showed up empty-handed, late, and somehow still expected me to cover again. Nah. You don’t get to make my generosity your entitlement.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Exactly Tyrone. Entitlement breaks trust because it assumes your time and energy are disposable. That’s not community—that’s consumption. Saying “no” is saying, “I value my life-hours too much to let them be wasted.”

Unknown Speaker

Because if someone can’t honor your hours, they don’t deserve your access. Full stop.

Tyrone Jenkins

Put that on a billboard, Kaia.

Alexis

Now let’s talk about “Free,” because whew—there’s always a cost. “Free Wi-Fi”? Somebody coded through the night. “Free ride”? That’s someone else’s gas, someone else’s fatigue. We treat “free” like a blessing, but it can be invisible debt.

Unknown Speaker

Exactly. Scarcity says, “If I didn’t pay, it didn’t cost.” But that’s a lie. Energy doesn’t disappear—it transfers. Somebody always pays.

Tyrone Jenkins

Yo. That free webinar I skipped? That was two hours of someone’s life. That sandwich at the cookout? Auntie didn’t get reimbursed. I used to chase free so hard, I forgot someone still worked for it. Now? I bless up the cook. Always.

Unknown Speaker

Let’s bring it back to Assets—because this part changed how I see spending completely. Consumables eat your hours forever. But assets? They give those hours back. They recycle your energy.

Tyrone Jenkins

Yes. I made lunch at home this week. Peanut butter and plantain—not exactly luxury. But that sandwich whispered: “Future me, I got you.” That’s an asset, baby.

Alexis

Right? It’s not just about buying stocks. It's any decision that multiplies your time later. Learning a new skill. Repairing something instead of replacing it. Like Tyrone said about his sandwich — for me, rest —real rest—is an asset. It returns energy.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Exactly. Think of assets as energy investments. A well-made meal. A new habit. A kind boundary. You’re storing energy today that pays off tomorrow. That’s how you buy back your time.

Alexis

That $5 “treat” might feel small—but if it’s a reflex? It’s a leak. Abundance is saying, “Even this dollar deserves respect.”

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Structure whispers. Even a breath of awareness is sacred. That’s how you shift the script.

Alexis

So, let’s talk next-level. Because awareness is powerful, but eventually, you’ve gotta ask: What’s the story I’ve been living? And is it still mine? Most of our money beliefs? We didn’t choose them. We inherited them—from struggle, from silence, from survival. I used to think: “I’m just bad with money.” But that wasn’t a fact. That was a script. A bad one.

Unknown Speaker

Totally. I started naming my money voices—“Stingy Auntie Rita,” “Worried Uncle Larry.” Sounds silly, but once you name the voice, it stops sounding like truth. You realize it’s not reality—it’s family folklore.

Tyrone Jenkins

My script? Straight up “Broke Uncle Energy.” That man was running my budget like a WhatsApp group. Everything was urgent, chaotic, and short-term. Had to fire him as my emotional accountant.

Unknown Speaker

(Laughing) I feel that. I used to swipe my card like I was begging the universe to approve me, not the charge. Now I pause and ask: Is this the story I want to tell?

Dr. Nolan Bishop

That pause? That’s the rep. Your brain isn’t just logical—it’s narrative. So to change your behavior, you don’t just need budgeting tips—you need a new story. And you have to say the new script before you believe it. “Money isn’t scarce—it’s energy.” “I’m not behind—I’m early in the story.” “I’m learning to respect my life-hours.”

Alexis

Early in the story. That one hit me. I used to feel so behind—like everyone else got the money manual I missed. But then I realized, maybe I’m just not at the plot twist yet.

Tyrone Jenkins

Okay but pause—can we be real for a second? Reframes don’t pay rent. You can say all the mantras you want, but if your fridge is empty, that "abundance" affirmation hits different.

Unknown Speaker

True, Tyrone — like you said, reframe’s not magic. But they do free your mind to make a new move. That’s the bridge.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Yes. You’re not reframing to avoid the reality—you’re reframing to reclaim agency inside that reality. Shame yells. Structure whispers. Systems last longer than willpower.

Alexis

Preach, doc! My system was journaling every time I felt money panic. But not just “ugh I’m stressed”—I’d ask: “Whose voice is this?” My dad’s fear. My mom’s silence. Not mine. And from there: “What’s a sentence I choose?”

Tyrone Jenkins

I like the way you flip that script, Alexis. I tell my wallet, “Respect yourself—or go broke.” Sometimes I even picture Future Me giving me the stink eye when my inner child starts wildin’ out in the skincare aisle.

Unknown Speaker

(Laughing) That’s perfect, Tyrone—because if your trauma shows up in a Gucci hoodie, that’s when you gotta ask: ‘Who’s holding the pen right now—me or the panic?’ We don’t owe loyalty to the scripts that broke us.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

And when you start visualizing different outcomes—feeling peace before purchase, gratitude after restraint—your nervous system begins to trust the new story. That’s how you stop letting fear ghostwrite your future.

Unknown Speaker

So when the story shifts, the habits follow. That’s when you stop asking, “Can I afford this?” and start asking, “Does this honor my life-hours?” “Does this align with who I’m becoming?”

Alexis

That’s the shift. Budgeting stops feeling like punishment—and starts becoming a practice. I do something called The Grat Three every Friday. Just three small things money helped me do that week. Could be: “Paid the light bill. Bought a sandwich. Tipped my barista.” That’s still abundance.

Tyrone Jenkins

Gratitude the new Gucci, fam. Every time I bless a sandwich, I feel like a monk with seasoning.

Alexis

(Laughing) Ty, only you would call yourself a monk with seasoning. But I get it—gratitude reframes the whole table.

Tyrone Jenkins

But for real — even your phone. Even your phone—somebody spent eight hours coding it so we could scroll memes. When you notice the hidden hours behind everything? That’s abundance too.

Unknown Speaker

You’re right, Tyrone. Not excess, but intention.

Alexis

Although… let’s not forget who impulse-booked Mexico last month because his horoscope said, “Invest in joy.”

Unknown Speaker

Oh, we remember!

Tyrone Jenkins

Joy was non-refundable, okay? But look—I’m learning. I light a candle and pack lunch now. Duality.

Unknown Speaker

That’s the work. Not perfection—progress. One aligned choice at a time.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

And when you slip—and you will—don’t spiral. Adjust. Reboot. Return. The Mind Jedi path isn’t about perfection. It’s about liberation. You honor your hours by coming back to yourself over and over again.

Unknown Speaker

Exactly. So here’s your Mind Jedi One-Week Challenge: Do The Grat Three on Friday. One small move, a whole new script.

Alexis

That’s simple. That’s doable.

Unknown Speaker

Take a breath. Ask yourself: What’s one belief, one habit, or one decision I’m ready to rethink this week?

Alexis

Respecting your life-energy is sacred. It’s a thank-you to your ancestors. A love letter to your future.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

Every dollar is a sentence in your autobiography. Make sure you like the story you’re telling.

Tyrone Jenkins

And if you catch yourself panic-buying because your inner child’s wildin’ out? Just pause and say: “I see you. I got you.”

Alexis

That’s real.

Unknown Speaker

Say it with your chest—and your checking account.

Dr. Nolan Bishop

And your budget.

Unknown Speaker

And your nervous system.

Tyrone Jenkins

And we out. Catch you next time, Mind Jedi fam.