Health and financial success are directly tied to our mental ability to keep emotions out of any decision we make. Just like in poker, managing finances correctly requires strong emotional control, knowing the rules of the game, understanding our cards, knowing the table we’re sitting at and its players, trusting our intuition, knowing when to bluff, when to take risks, and when to walk away.

Like any other life‑changing decision, finances should not be handled emotionally. The worst decisions we make in life are the ones driven by emotion. Modern consumerism understands that human emotion is its greatest weakness. The advertising we see on television or social media is designed to strike the emotional and sensitive fibers of people, pushing them to run out and buy something they don’t need, spending money they don’t have. Over-indebtedness is the engine that moves economy. Making us slaves running in the hamster weel, while a few get rich.

Managing personal finances is simple. The rules are straightforward, and we all know them instinctively. Applying these rules correctly requires discipline and patience. Just like any other healthy habit—exercising or cultivating our mind with skills and knowledge—financial literacy is a trait that few know how to maintain.