What I’m learning on our path to financial independence is that success toward a financial goal is all about choices. By choosing a frugal and intentional lifestyle, we are choosing financial independence.
We can make big choices, like to live in a modest home. To bike commute. To buy a used car instead of new. To live below our means. To collect memories instead of stuff. To have big goals for the future.
But the devil is also in the details. We make a million smaller choices every day, too. To pack a lunch instead of eat out. To go hiking instead of the mall. To set boundaries (and say no) to our kids. To be hopeful instead of pessimistic. To use limitless thinking instead of restrictive.
All the little choices – both in our actions and in our energy and attitude – add up. And yet, when we’re tired, overwhelmed, anxious, hungry, rushed, or bored, it’s much easier to make a choice that doesn’t serve us down the road.
So, how can we set ourselves up to succeed?
Automation, lifestyle design, and clear goals/intentions.
In some scenarios, it is helpful for me to reduce the number of choices I have – especially when life gets busy or stressful. I meal plan and shop once a month (or 2-3 times a month) to take out decisions (and life energy spent) on meals and grocery purchases.
We automatically divert money to our savings each month to eliminate the choice to spend it freely.
But it’s not all about reducing choices, it’s also about being more aware we make all of these little choices and being intentional about our choice (and the consequence).
Teaching kids their choices have consequences – and that many actions/reactions are indeed a choice – is a powerful parenting tool.
For our school age boy, we can help him observe and identify his own choices can bring awareness to the control he does have in his life.
A million dollars – or whatever your savings goal is — can seem far off. And while it doesn’t necessarily take a million little choices to get there, it does take setting goals, being intentional and consistent with our choices, and reflecting if our choices are conscious or not.
What do you think? Is this framework helpful in thinking about your goals or parenting? Join the discussion below.
I completely agree with the idea of removing choices. I often do this when I do a money freeze. I will actually hand off all of my cards to a friend so that I don’t have to make the decision over and over and over again. I have to tell you it is so freeing to not have a choice sometimes. To not have to use so much energy over and over again. It feels like a burden lifted.
Yes, so freeing. Choices take energy!
They also talk about people like Steve Jobs who used to always wear the same “uniform” so that he wouldn’t waste any “choices” on clothing on any given day.
I didn’t know that Deepak Chopra was yoga-inspired; I’ll have to check him out!
Thanks, Sam, that’s a great TED talk and resource! Reading Chopra for my upcoming yoga training. Not sure if he himself was a Yogi, but the book very much aligns with a yoga mindset! I also recommend The Four Agreements.