Never Enough Income
Do you ever think to yourself that xyz issues would be solved with more money? If only I made $1,000 more per month! If only I made $2,000 more per month! There are so many financial priorities, and it never seems like there's enough money to go around. First, yes, if our basic needs are not yet financially met, more money will absolutely help close some critical gaps. What I'm about to talk about is the scenario in which basic needs are met, but other financial desires are at play.
I recently had this conversation with a client. This couple makes more money than ever before, yet at the same time, there doesn't seem to be enough. How can that be?!?! How is it possible to make twice as much as we once did, yet still not have enough?
Here's why. There's never enough income. Our human instinct is to conceptualize how making x more dollars per month would magically fix it all. From my experience, however, that line of thinking is futile. People who make $75,000 think more is the answer. People who make $150,000 think more is the answer. People who make $300,000 think more is the answer. People who make $700,000 think more is the answer. Believe it or not, but I've worked with people who make $3M per year who think more is the answer.
There's never enough income. I know it's a depressing thought, but I have good news. While we can't fight our way to success by driving our income upwards, there is one thing we can control. I once heard it said this way: "Wealth is the difference between what we have and what we want." In other words, if our wants keep going up and up, there's never enough money to satisfy the craving for more. On the flip side, if our wants are kept in check (i.e., contentment), what we have is enough.....more than enough.
This is the very reason why families who make $60,000 can feel wealthy while families who make $400,000 can feel financially stressed. It's not about what they make; it's about what they want.
In my 20 years as an adult living in the real world, I've learned that my financial well-being is far more influenced by my contentment (or lack thereof) than by how much money I make. It’s a humbling reality!
What about you? Are there areas of your life that you could/should want less? Is your hunger for more eroding your contentment? What steps would you need to take to widen the gap between what you have and what you want? It's a worthwhile endeavor, and fortunately for all of us, one we can absolutely control.
____
Did someone forward you this post? We're glad you're here! If you'd like to subscribe to The Daily Meaning to receive these posts directly in your inbox (for free!), just CLICK THIS LINK. It only takes 10 seconds.