Anyone can live rich
How much does it cost to live rich?
That depends on what living rich means to you.
Anybody can afford to live rich, but you have to know what your target is first. We are told that living rich is having a huge house and driving a new BMW, but the key to living richly is to stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. Stop listening to what ‘they’ tell you need to be happy and listen to yourself.
What would your life look like if you were living richly?
I would have a few good friends and a wonderful husband who loves me. I would live in a house in the country surrounded by blue skies and lots of fresh air. I would end each day with a cup of hot tea and a snuggle with that wonderful husband. I would invite guests over to my house. My house would feel as peaceful as a bed and breakfast–a reatreat from the world. I would go camping and hiking more. I would have fresh flowers on my table.
My rich life is a lot different than a huge house and a BMW in the driveway. When I look at the things I value, the size of my house or the make of my car, don’t even register on the scale.
Once you have defined what you really value, you should start spending your money and your life on the things you value. It sounds so simple, but putting your energy towards what you value is the key to living rich.
We all have things we have to do, whether we want to or not. Most people have to go to work to earn a pay check, but do you have to work all those overtime hours? You have to buy clothes, but most people in America have way more clothes than they need. You probably have to do some cleaning around the house, but you could also involve your family so that it is bonding time rather than cleaning drudgery.
The philosophy of living richly is to think outside the box. Stop pursuing someone else’s dream, stop living someone else’s life, and reach out to grab your own happiness.
You may have to make sacrifices, to get to your rich life. I don’t have my house in the country. Right now, I am living right in the middle of town, but I am renting the smallest, cheapest apartment I can find so that I can buy that house in the country soon. That one sacrifice doesn’t keep me from pursuing a rich life. I have dear friends and a wonderful husband. I can go camping and backpacking in my free time. I can reach out and grab my rich life, and I can sacrifice for it.
What is keeping you from a rich life? Are you willing to sacrifice to live the life you dream of?
photo: Marc van der Chijs under CC-BY-ND
Tags: Personal Development
