She Strengthens

The Real Reason You’re Not Achieving Financial Success

Have you ever noticed that people who struggle with money often have a peculiar habit of buying lottery tickets? It’s as if they’re searching for a quick fix to their financial woes. But what’s driving this behavior? Is it simply a matter of bad luck or poor decision-making?

The Problem with Trying Too Hard

The truth is, we often try too hard with our money. We overcompensate for our insecurities by making a series of small financial mistakes that snowball over time. This negative comparison bias leads us to take out mortgages we can’t afford, play the stock market without understanding the risks, and rack up credit card debt. Instead of accepting our limitations, we try to convince ourselves that we’re better than okay by making reckless financial decisions.

The False Promise of Minimalism

Minimalism has become a trendy solution to our financial problems. But is it really the answer? Or is it just another form of trying too hard? Minimalism can feel like a way of fitting in, rather than a genuine approach to financial freedom. When we pursue minimalism as a means to an end, rather than a values-driven lifestyle, we’re still chasing pleasure and ease rather than true fulfillment.

What You Really Want from Money

So, what do you really want from your money? Is it pleasure and ease, or something deeper? The problem is, we often value pleasure above all else, which is a low-quality human value. Pursuing pleasure rarely leads to lasting happiness. What we need is to identify what we value more highly than seeking pleasure and ease when it comes to our money.

The Key to True Wealth

The only way to become rich and happy is to figure out what you value more highly than seeking pleasure and ease. What might that be? Successful people value the process and the work itself over the outcome, the party, the accolades, and the money. They value the pain of building something meaningful over the pain of avoiding discomfort and uncertainty.

Value What You’re Willing to Do for the Money

Let’s repeat that: if you’re not sure of what you like about money other than pleasure and avoidance of pain, look at what you’re willing to do for the money — as in, the work itself. That is what you really value. Whether it’s studying for multiple degrees, creating a product or service, or practicing your craft every day, you are what you’re willing to do for your money.

A 10-Minute Exercise to Change Your Life

Take 10 minutes tonight to sit down with a pen and paper and think about what you might be willing to take some major pain for. It doesn’t have to be what you do for a living, or even anything you believe you do well yet. Ask yourself what you do already or have done in the past that you’re pretty sure no amount of suffering could keep you from doing if you gave yourself permission. Keep the money “what-ifs” out of your mental equation. Baby steps.