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Change is not always easy, even if the result of the change improves us or the quality of our lives. This is because we’re creatures of habit and we know what to expect with the habit. We don’t know exactly what to expect with the change and it makes us uncomfortable, uncomfortable enough to stick with something that we know isn’t working, uncomfortable enough to wait and hope that something will just come along and change all of this for us.
We often need a compelling reason to make any change or shift in our lives.
Let me share my story with you. I struggled most of my life financially. I worked hard, but I had no financial goals and as a result I made poor financial decisions, with the result being that I never had any money. As the motivator, Brian Tracy, would say, I was driving down the financial highway of my life at 70 m.p.h. with my hands off the steering wheel. Not a pretty picture, huh! To further demonstrate how I felt, listen to this.
My sister, Charlotte,was married and she would always research items to get the very best value for her money. As a result, she purchased many generic items. I would laugh at her constantly, calling her names like "cheap".
Well, when my sister and her husband retired – financially independent, I might add – they would come to visit and on their trips I noticed a difference in them. A certain relaxed attitude enamanated from them and it manifested as less stress in their faces. When I observed them, I said to myself, “Look at them. They’re so relaxed. If you don’t get into gear, kid, you’re not going to experience this.”
At the same time, I also had that nagging, dull pain in my stomach concerning money and I had an internal question of why I didn’t have more of it when I needed it. It was not until one day when I was driving and thinking that I had the conversation that would add to the fuel I needed to begin making some changes.
I was asking myself this, “Why don’t you have more money? Why is it that you never have money for an emergency and why are you always stressed about money? Is it because you don’t work hard enough? No, that’s not the reason. I work hard. Well then, if it’s not that then it has to be that you’re doing the wrong things with your money.”
And that conversation, added to the picture of peace on the faces of my sister and brother-in-law when they came to visit, were the compelling reasons for me to begin to make changes in my financial lifestyle.
Now the spotlight’s on you. What will it take for you to be willing to change your financial lifestyle?
- Are you tired of never having enough money?
- How many times have you promised yourself that after you get out of this financial crisis, you're going to change?
- Are you tired of working constantly and yet when vacation time comes, your only change of scenery is from your workplace to your home?
- Would you like a larger apartment in your building or a home in a different part of town?
What is it for you? You and only you know what having more money would mean in your life. Maybe it means that for the first time in many years you’ll get another hour of sleep at night (because that’s the time it takes you to figure out how to make this month work financially) and that extra hour of sleep can translate into less stress, a better performance at work, and better health.
But make no mistake about it, having more money will make a difference, if you know what’s important to you and you align your choices with your values.
The best part of all of this is that it’s possible – and it doesn’t take GIANT steps to accomplish it, just consistent, focused small steps. As a friend relayed this story to me when we were talking. She said a mature gentleman she worked with kept reminding her when she was younger that if she watched the pennies, the dollars would take care of themselves.
For a free copy of "Five Critical, Overlooked Steps For Your Life Without Credit Card Debt" and info on other steps you can take to reclaim your life while you eliminate credit card debt, please visit www.enrichedfuture.com.
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