A Fork in the Road
Here’s a story, one that you’re probably familiar with, that I see all the time in my work with Gen X families like yours.
You’ve got it good. You’re happily married with a couple kids living in a comfortable home in a good neighborhood. You’re earning more than you have before and pay off your credit card each month. You’re saving for both retirement and college and have built up a nice little cash cushion as well. And for one of the first times in your life, you have extra cash flow at your disposal.
This, my friends, is where we encounter a major fork in the road.
And how you choose to proceed from here can determine your financial well being — or lack thereof! — for the rest of your life.
The first road appears to be the most attractive on the surface. It’s lined with bigger houses, fancier cars, and more exotic vacations. We’re talking about lifestyle upgrades across the board. But if you look closely, you’ll also find it’s filled with more stress, worry, and concern.
Pursuing more requires more income which usually means more hours at the office. This also means having even less time available to enjoy all of your “more” that you’ve now acquired.
More comes with a high price tag – financially and emotionally – and as I can tell you from my experience having watched folks go down this road, you aren’t likely to find the feeling of contentment and sense of fulfillment that you seek at the end.
The second road looks pretty similar to the one you’re on now. And that’s because this road is where you decide you don’t NEED more.
You’re open to more but you recognize that you already have more than enough. When you opt out of chasing the bigger house in the even nicer neighborhood that comes with the temptation of even nicer cars and more exotic vacations, you gain more flexibility in both your finances and your time. And ironically enough, opting out of more things GIVES you more of what you really want: more choice, more freedom, and more flexibility. Isn’t that what we’re all pursuing in the first place anyway?
To be clear: I am NOT saying stay right where you are and never upgrade your life. Instead, I’m suggesting you choose your upgrades with intention because they are uniquely important to YOU. Not because they are socially expected.
So when you find yourself at this fork in the road on your journey, make sure you stop and think about how you really want to proceed before deciding which road you’ll take. And don’t worry – it’s only your future well-being at stake! :)
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