Financial freedom is a common goal that most of us share, and yet, attaining that goal looks different for all of us. So, what does financial freedom mean to you? Do you believe you can achieve it? You do not have to answer these questions right now; you can reflect on your answer and write it down after reading this post.
Defining financial freedom
To some individuals, financial freedom is becoming debt-free. To others, financial freedom is having the privilege of time and the option to quit their job. The best part of starting your financial freedom journey is that you are in charge of creating the roadmap. Personalizing your journey will help prevent you from falling under society’s pressure of what it should look like. Remember that your journey should be uniquely designed for your life. It is okay to incorporate ideas and techniques that have worked for others if your goal is to achieve something similar.
Deciding to start
Deciding to start your journey to financial freedom is one of the most important decisions of your life. It requires sacrifice and can sometimes be uncomfortable. When I began my journey, it wasn’t easy to turn away from my old spending habits. It was even more difficult to believe I could achieve my financial freedom goals. It can be challenging to believe in something you have never seen anyone in your environment accomplish.
Don’t give up
Two years after starting my journey, I can proudly say I paid off $15k of credit card debt. During those two years, I faced many financial roadblocks. I considered giving up when I felt like I was not making enough progress. I had to remind myself that this journey does not have to be a sprint; it is a marathon.
As brutal as this journey may be, I want to encourage you not to give up. When it feels like you took five steps forward and ten steps back, always remember that the reward is greater than the sacrifice. For anyone who is still hesitant to start their financial freedom journey, I would like to leave you with this quote.
[blockquote align=”none” author=”Thomas Jefferson”]If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.[/blockquote]
