I love many of the internet blogs that focus on financial topics. If you are looking for guidance on how to become more financially responsible, or just like reading about how others manage their income, I think you’ll be inspired by the content and thoughtful responses generated by many of the articles. It’s much easier to stay committed and/or enthusiastic about money management when you surround yourself with like-minded individuals.
What’s especially thought-provoking, though, is when you read an article that gives you a different perspective on a topic that might have previously been filed under the “been there/knew that” category. That happened to me recently when I read a blog that used the following analogy: instead of asking someone “what do you want in life?” (e.g. to be happy, make lots of money, retire early), ask him or her “what pain do you want in your life?”
The significant reason for this question is that it gets to the heart of our dreams and desires—how much are we willing to struggle for what we want in life? As humans, we all basically have the same needs. However, there are many routes to choose from that will help us acquire them.
For example, if you want a perfectly toned body, you have to devote much of your time and energy to exercising, sweating, eating healthfully, and feeling hungry. With finances, you have to delay the emotional rush of buying something now for a more secure financial future down the road.
Most of us, if honest, will admit that we want the reward but not the struggle. We want the perfect body without having to work for it. We want to play the piano like a concert pianist, but don’t want to practice every day. We want to shoot hoops like Steph Curry, but don’t want to devote hundreds of hours of gym time to acquire that skill level.
I have incredible willpower over some aspects of my life, and in others, not so much. But what the author was trying to convey is that this is not an issue about how much willpower we have; it’s ultimately about how much we are willing to struggle to accomplish our goals and dreams. What level of pain are you willing to endure to achieve your goals?
I highly recommend you read the article in its entirety. I have a feeling you will look at all your goals (not just financial) from a very different perspective in the future. “How much am I willing to struggle?” will be a tiny voice inside your head helping you decipher whether what you “want” is a fantasy, a daydream, or a potential reality.
