Trading Time or Buying Freedom

Your why in life and investing determines what you do with your time and money. So why do we do the things we do? Good question. I wish I had the answers. Actually, you can answer that for yourself. I will answer myself: why do I do the habits I do?

The why is a harder question than the what.

Perhaps you procrastinate a lot, or maybe you are like me. I want things done right, and perfection is the goal. What we do comes from our why.

If investing is scary for you, or maybe public speaking is. Studies suggest that most people are more afraid of public speaking than of flying in an aeroplane. If that’s you, my friend, you are suffering from glossophobia. Let’s phone your doctor right away. No need; you just need to face this fear. Brave it and speak your thoughts anyway. But the plane might kill you. In fact, I have seen no one die by sharing their thoughts in front of the masses. I have read about people who die in plane crashes.

The hidden psychology of your spending habits.

Your why in life and your pursuit of financial independence or not determine what you do with your money after you’re paid. You see, you don’t just go spending or shopping; there is a root cause.

My thinking is that I often avoid the why because it’s a hard question. Here is the deal: it’s difficult to fix “what” if your “why” isn’t fully defined.

Why do some people motivate themselves to get to the gym, and others need a push or external encouragement? Maybe you haven’t fully entertained the hard question: why do I feel more excited by takeaway pizza than a bench press? I get it, pizza tastes better than dumbbells today, but in the long run, the dumbbells are good for you.

When good habits go too far

Talk about bench presses; as I write this, my upper left chest and shoulder are sore. You know what? I hurt myself at the gym.

Over-training, by the looks of things. Yes, pushing too much, that’s my weakness. I often overdo even good behaviours, and the results end up not being good.

Often, I go for a jog, only 6km, I say to myself. Suddenly, I crank it. No longer a jog by the way, more like a sprint for a gold medal. And from 6km, my mind convinces me 10km is a better round number. When I get to 10.56 km, I might as well reach 11km.

At least I am aware of my issues, I think 🤔
Am I?

Why external motivation doesn’t last

The why is the best motivation behind most of what we do as people, for me at least.

Figure out your why in life, health, family, and finance, and have your own personal internal coach. External motivation is okay, but it often fades quicker than two-minute noodles. If this is your definition of food, my friend, you are in trouble.

These strings feel like plastic; actually, it is not good for you. Do you think I am exaggerating? Ask those centenarians on the Blue Zones documentary on Netflix. Their pasta is nowhere near your two-minute quickie.

Your “why” is personal; don’t copy someone else’s

Your why for investing, finances, health, and life is personal, too. Don’t copy your neighbour; they are on a separate journey.

Even successful people are not your example either. Chances of you being the next Steve Jobs are almost zero. Strive to be the best version of yourself. iPhones are still working just fine; we don’t need another one.

Maybe we do. Elon might be up to something. Who knows?

Design your life intentionally

Forget about everyone else. Design your life for yourself. Define your why, and the how will follow the what.

So much information these days, that’s what AI is for, better than just watching TikTok reels. Ancient wisdom tells us that where there is no vision, people perish. It starts with your why to get to your vision. What do you see, dream, or envision for your life? Don’t ask me; ask your inner self.

If financial independence is not on your radar, your why might not be strong enough with regard to personal finance. These are my opinions; maybe I am writing to myself. Please continue reading this post; it might help you along the way.

Why is FI without purpose a dead end?

Financial independence without the why is like a life without a purpose.

Purpose is your why. Why you get up every morning becomes the reason why you would be keen to save and invest money religiously to live your best life possible.

The power to that life is in your hands, but it doesn’t start with a retirement fund or an ETF. The why is what your saved and invested money can ultimately afford you.

Not a lot of money, by the way, but freedom to live life on your terms and for your terms.

Choosing the “why” over the here and now

This control over your time, what you do, and how you do it, becomes the best why. It’s a dream, of course, hard to achieve, but only those willing to sleep and visualise can have that dream.

Investing and saving money only become a means to get to that dream.

Dare to dream, otherwise what is will always be. Same old, same old.

Money can therefore be your liberator if you will see it that way and use it rather than be used by it.

Every R100 saved and invested therefore becomes a step of defiance towards your own designed life.

When your why becomes the decision-maker

If you are faced with a choice between buying goods for today only or investing in the why, you would boldly choose the future.

Your why, therefore, becomes a propeller that drives your engine. Live without a why, and you set yourself up for failure. If you lack a why, you are technically aiming for nothing, so don’t be surprised when you shoot at nothing.

Financial freedom, independence, FI, or whatever you call it, becomes a vehicle to enable you to reach your why, not the other way around.

My why (not yours)

I love travelling, writing, family, and seeing new things. I would love to write, travel, and see more places, and not be bound by location. This is part of my why.

If you therefore ask me to put money on this dream, I will do it any day. This is my why; what’s yours?

Don’t plod along without a dream. Life is too short to live it by chance. In fact, you only have one chance to take a shot at life.

Don’t copy mine, by the way, my backpack feels heavy. Choose yours and let’s go on this hiking adventure together.

Take some time today to write your why and follow through before we go on this hike. Don’t call your friend for ideas; it’s your life, your why. You have all the answers.