Do you ever get this in your email box: Find Financial Freedom! Make $150,000 from home in the next 90 days! How about 10 times a day?
Every time I get one of these, I think to myself, "Hmmm, Financial Freedom. I already have financial freedom, even though it doesn't look like what these emails promise me."
Financial freedom is a buzzword for our generation. It is the pursuit of literally millions of people. So what is it? Is it that elusive? Can anyone get it?
Let me start by saying that this article will not be about how to earn money, or even more money. Rather, it will be about how to find financial freedom, which may or may not involve making more money.
Financial freedom - here we go!
The first step in finding financial freedom is to realize that financial freedom has absolutely nothing to do with how much money you have or make. What? Exactly. Financial freedom is something that goes on inside of you. This is why someone who makes very little can be happy and someone who makes a ton can be extremely stressed out over his or her financial situation. So the first step is to realize that financial freedom is more about our attitudes toward money than about the amount of money.
"Okay Chris, I'm with you. So what are the attitudes that provide financial freedom?" Here are a few that keep me in financial freedom.
I do not have to worry about money. I used to catch myself saying, "If I had more money, then I wouldn't have to worry about ..." But do you know what? I don't have to worry anyway. I can control my income. I can control my outgo. I can make choices that can alleviate any of my worries. I also realized that things always work out. So why worry? I choose not to worry.
I can be happy regardless of my financial state. I know people who are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and I know people who don't have two nickels to rub together. Some are happy and some aren't. And none of the people who have a lot of money say to me, "Chris, I've become so happy since I got money." They were happy before they had money and they are happy now that they have money. Their happiness has nothing to do with the money. I think it was the Billionaire David Geffen who said, "Anyone who says that money will buy them happiness has never had any money."
Money will be a means to an end, not the end itself. Another way to look at it is that money will be a tool to build the house, not the house itself. I would set some financial goals if I were you, but go beyond that to know what greater purpose there will be when you reach them. What will the house be that you will build with that tool?
I am free. I am free to earn - some people think it is bad to earn more money. It isn't. I am free to save - some people believe it is bad to save. It isn't. I am free to give money away - some people feel they will be better off hoarding it. They won't. I am free to spend - some people believe that they can't spend anything on themselves. They can. We are free to make choices. That is financial freedom. One of my favorite quotes is from Charles Wesley, "Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can." That will keep you in financial freedom.
Some other principles for financial freedom...
Debt is the primary freedom killer. Want financial freedom? The first thing you should do is to get out of debt. That is priority number one. One of the reasons I have financial freedom is that I have no debt other than my house payment. And I work hard to manage myself and our home to keep us that way. For years I drove an old junker car, and while I looked bad, I had financial freedom that others who were in debt didn't have! There is an old proverb - The borrower is the servant of the lender. Who has freedom? The lender. Who doesn't? The borrower. Develop a plan to get out of debt!
Embrace delayed gratification. Here is the principle: Buy it now and struggle later. Another principle: Delay it now, invest the money, and have all you want later on! And you won't even have to touch the principal! We tend to think that having it now will bring enjoyment, but unless you can do it and not cause yourself financial stress, you will actually get more from waiting to buy it later!
Have more by managing better. The fact is that most of us earn enough. What would be beneficial would be to set our priorities and live by a budget. As we get control, our budget will loosen up a bit and we will find ourselves enjoying it more. Money that is already there can be your answer if you put it to work for you.
Spend some time thinking through your attitudes about money. You may be surprised at how you can change a few, look at things a little bit differently and begin to enjoy true financial freedom!
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://chris-widener.inspiresyou.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..A surprising number of readers want to know "Can a... Read More
Key 1 Pay your self firstkey 2 Saving is not... Read More
Here are some thoughts about the morphing of thought and... Read More
Turn to the year 1999, a couple of friends sitting... Read More
The idle are a peculiar kind of dead that cannot... Read More
They are the object of thinly disguised envy. They are... Read More
Here's the truth: I have read hundreds and hundreds of... Read More
Giving and ReceivingIt seems that people generally find it easy... Read More
At any time in history, no matter what the current... Read More
Living on credit is fashionable. Indulging oneself is fashionable. Saving... Read More
How Much Money Will I Need to Earn to Retire?This... Read More
When young men ask me how to succeed, I tell... Read More
One of the things most of us have old ideas... Read More
Author: James Walsh ISBN: 1563431696: Publisher: Silver Lake PublishingIn... Read More
Part of learning to become financially free is to begin... Read More
At any time in history, no matter what the current... Read More
Wealth Secret 1 - Decide Your Outcome Right Now.Unless you... Read More
We will start the Financial Fitness System with the assumption... Read More
Many people don't realize how much money they spend on... Read More
A mole travels one road, according to the way nature... Read More
U.S. Supreme Justice Louis D. Brandeis"I live in Alexandria Virginia.... Read More
Imagine being able to steal untold millions of dollars in... Read More
Let's begin easing you out of the pits. I mean,... Read More
Like I said, If you are poor and on social... Read More
Points to ponder as you consider what can be done... Read More
reliable maid service Winnetka ..Here are some thoughts about the morphing of thought and... Read More
This retirement account is so new and unique that you... Read More
This is a true story from my own experience that... Read More
There are only 2 ways to grow your wealth -... Read More
I recently came across startling figures about the average American's... Read More
Everyone wants to be wealthy, but most of us do... Read More
In his best selling book, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert... Read More
Ever think about how eating all those fast food meals... Read More
Steve Martin once delivered an opening monologue for Saturday Night... Read More
Offshore strategies may or may not be right for you.... Read More
Money is probably the most challenging thing for many people... Read More
Results from a new tool developed by UK based firm,... Read More
Building wealth is as simple as saving a little bit... Read More
No one has complete control over their thoughts. But with... Read More
Have you ever had that feeling where you could not... Read More
Before I had a lot of money, I was really... Read More
The rewarding of high compensation packages to top executives who... Read More
You can learn the secrets of world monetary flow if... Read More
No matter what income level you are currently at, generating... Read More
There are many forms of investing online. While I can... Read More
"Money Doesn't Grow On Trees."Some of us even believe it.... Read More
It all begins with a simple calculation.You are home on... Read More
Hello,If you dont understand this yet, or have not heard... Read More
Have you any idea how many people search Google every... Read More
Why not run a lucrative paper business? Paper businesses do... Read More
Wealth Building |