What do you think of when you see the words “financial freedom”?
Do you think about having more money than you know what to do with? A positive cash flow? No longer living from paycheck to paycheck? How about taking a vacation whenever you want without breaking the bank?
But financial freedom isn’t really about money. It’s about what having that money represents.
When you dig deep down, you’ll find the underlying motivators for achieving financial freedom is really more than just having lots of money. Sure, you may want to take a vacation without breaking the bank. But what you really want is more time for yourself where your bills are still being paid. Perhaps you just want to take a year off to travel the world? Then, it’s about eliciting a sense of adventure.
It’s Really About Doing What Matters Most to You
Financial freedom is about having the freedom to do what matters most to you. For some, it’s about finally writing a book, something they been putting off, year after year. For others, it may simply be taking time out to enjoy the special moments in life. Or it may be more important, like taking off a year to care for a newborn or a family member. In other words, these are ways to feel rich without needing to have a lot of money.
Dream Jobs Don’t Exist!
You may have heard of the saying, “If you enjoy what you’re doing then you’d have never felt like you worked a day in your life.” This particularly applies to so-called “dream jobs”.
I’m here to burst your bubble and tell you there’s no such thing as a dream job. In the end, you are still working to make your employer’s dreams come true, not yours. There will always be things in that job you do not enjoy. Having financial freedom enables you to chase after your own dreams.
Financial Freedom Is Really About Options
Being financially free is more than just the peace of mind in knowing you have the year’s worth of expenses covered. It’s about being able to walk away from abusive relationships which no longer serve you. They may be intimate, work, familial, or friends.
Instead of running away as most people are apt to do in these situations, you have the ability to walk towards an abundance of options. That is what real power is about. It’s not the power you have over other people. Power is an abundance of choice in your life.
Your self-confidence, self-image, and self-esteem grow. You start standing up for yourself and taking accountability in your life.
Tying it All Together
Having financial freedom isn’t really about the money. It’s about doing what matters most to you. It’s not about finding a dream job, but living your own dreams. It’s about having an abundance of options.