The Surprising Power of Parables: What The Money Catalyst Taught Me About Healing My Relationship with Money

Leisa Peterson and I have known each other for years. We’ve shared encouragement, ideas, and a mutual passion for helping people transform their relationship with money. So when she invited me to be an early reviewer of her newest book, The Money Catalyst, it was a welcome invitation.

And I’ll be honest—I wasn’t sure how much I was going to love it.

As someone who reads extensively on money, relationships, and psychology, I’ve seen many books that offer wisdom, but few that truly move me. I wasn’t expecting to be drawn in so quickly—or so deeply.

From the very first page, I was hooked.

The Money Catalyst isn’t just another book about money—it’s a parable. Through the deeply relatable story of Maribel and Ethan, I found myself reflecting and reimagining my life, my marriage, and my relationship with money. The characters didn’t just feel like fictional constructs—they felt like mirrors.

As a husband, this book helped me understand my wife’s perspective on money and relationships with greater clarity. And as an individual, it revealed areas in my own heart still seeking abundance and harmony.

That’s the beauty of storytelling. Parables bypass our logical mind and speak directly to our emotional truth. They allow us to feel our way into learning and healing. Instead of prescribing, they invite. Instead of instructing, they evoke.

There’s solid psychology behind this. Humans are wired for story—we process narrative in a way that activates empathy, curiosity, and insight. When we read a parable, we simulate experience, which often leads to deeper, more lasting transformation than facts alone can provide.

And that’s not to say facts don’t matter. As a Certified Financial Planner™ and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I’ve built a career around practical strategies and sound decision-making. But I’ve also come to understand that real financial growth comes not just from what we know, but how we feel and what we believe.

That’s why The Money Catalyst is such a powerful tool.

It shows us that healing our relationship with money isn’t about mastering spreadsheets or chasing the next hot financial tip—it’s about stepping into stories, including our own. It’s about embracing the deeper emotional currents that shape how we earn, spend, give, and save.

Leisa writes with the kind of depth and wisdom that only comes from years of inner work and walking alongside others on their financial journeys. Her ability to blend storytelling with transformative insight is a rare gift—and one I’m deeply grateful she’s shared through this book.

If you’ve ever struggled to feel confident, connected, or calm when it comes to money, I encourage you to give The Money Catalyst a read. Let the story wash over you. Let it surprise you. Let it guide you back to yourself.

Because sometimes, the best way to change how we see money… is through a story.

On Sale Now at www.moneycatalystbook.com