Money is a topic that can lead quickly back to shame; shame about excess and self-scolding about how we ought to have better self-control. Please remember that we exist in proximity to a capitalist society, a "democratic" oligarchy. What I think that means is that mainstream American society is largely oriented around the desires and whims and fragile-yet-overblown egos of the ultra wealthy, and that it is in the interest of their overblown egos to over emphasize meritocracy and underemphasize the historical and continuing corruption and violence that makes ultra wealth possible/enforces its existence and creates artificial scarcity. Capitalism is an oppressive threat that says, "you're on your own and no one will care for you now get off my land" Yatta yatta. 

All that said, a sense of stability and ability to make healthy body/mind and healthy community promoting choices is one of the best reasons to seek financial stability. Mental health wise, reseach (CITE) seems to say that there is a general enoughness number we can reach for when it comes to mental health over which our mental health and hapiness is no enhanced but under which our mental health and happiness and stress levels are impacted. I am really going on and on here. okay. here's some videos. as for a book, check out "the index card" or read the nyt article version here: "How Should You Manage Your Money? And Keep It Short"

If you want to look into ethical investing beyond "socially responsible" index funds be my guest, however, I think you may find that for a just and sustainable society we must make it legal for CEOs to address climate emergency and place human and ecosystem wellbeing before profits for shareholders...and as we invite such a possibility we will also need to find alternate ways beyond the stock market to collectively care for our needs for freedom and care across ability and age. I suggest another kind of compounding interest, that of investment into positive relationships in community based on mutual aid, reparations, and transformative justice. These ideas are integral to and consistent with my professional understanding of promoting mental health in the 21st century. 

Applicable to many of these resources, life is a learning *process* we don't arrive at perfect, on our best day we can recognize how we may be getting better. Catch yourself, as gently as you can. Just because we may like or agree with an idea doesn't mean that we have the bandwidth or gumption (or money) to put it into action right now –and that is okay. Check in with yourself and notice where you are drawn to taking action and leave the rest for another time. Transformation is not built in a day, life is a marathon not a sprint and all that. Pace yourself and think gentle and incremental change.  Many of us lack access to basic financial education. 

Also, please be careful, there are a ton of scammers, cults, pyramid schemes, crypto and government money ponzie schemes and people selling get rich quick and "create your own reality" power of positive thinking "secrets". My opinion is that that *realisitic* positive thinking can be enormously helpful in so far as it helps us gear our automatic and unconscious biases to notice opportunities for positive action and gratitude in a virtuous cycle, but that overblown "you create your own reality" doctrines are destructive, shame and vigilance inducing teachings frequently promoted by scam-artists who pray upon our regressed believe that we are somehow magically in control of things that are outside of our control (see forthcoming resource section on cults and con artists). managing money is simple, but not always easy.