FREEDOM
Every July, we are reminded how fortunate we are to live in a country founded on the idea of freedom. We gather with family, spend a little too much money on food, watch some fireworks (or drone shows), and reflect on the sacrifices made by people who believe freedom was worth fighting for.
It is one of those words we use so often it almost loses its meaning. Freedom becomes something assumed, rather than examined. What does it actually look like?
Most of us would answer differently depending on the season of life we are currently in. A young family may define freedom as finally being able to buy a home. Someone nearing retirement may picture mornings without an alarm clock and "to do" list. Others simply long for enough breathing room to make decisions without constantly wondering how they will pay for them.
None of those answers are wrong, but I wonder if maybe we've narrowed the definition too much.
When people talk about financial freedom, the conversation almost always revolves around accumulation. Build more wealth...increase income...grow investments...save more...etc. Those things matter...of course, they matter. They are essential aspects of every financial plan.
However, I've become increasingly convinced that one of the most overlooked paths to financial freedom has very little to do with earning more and everything to do with needing less.
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but none of us need most of the things we have. Our economy depends on convincing us that satisfaction is always one purchase away. Every advertisement, algorithm, and perfectly curated social media feed whispers the same message: your life would be a little bit better if you owned this, upgraded that, or experienced something new.
This method is remarkably effective. I get it, I know better and I'm still a marketer's dream (don't get Brad started on my Prime Day finds).
I don't think these methods are effective because we are foolish. I think they're effective because we are all susceptible to believing external improvements eventually become internal ones. We assume the next purchase will create contentment, when more often it simply resets our expectations. Think about it...what felt like a luxury yesterday quickly became today's baseline.
The cycle is subtle enough that we rarely even notice it happening.
As income grows, expenses quietly follow. Homes become larger, vehicles become newer, vacations become more elaborate, subscriptions multiply...hell, we even rent storage units because our garages and storage spaces no longer hold everything we once believed would simplify our lives.
None of those things are inherently bad, and there is nothing noble about deprivation...nor is there virtue in pretending money shouldn't be enjoyed. Financial planning has never been about accumulating wealth simply for the sake of watching numbers grow.
The question is whether the things we own are serving us, or whether we've gradually begun serving them. 🤔
Every new obligation asks something of us. Sometimes it's money. Sometimes it's time spent maintaining money. Oftentimes it's the pressure to keep earning enough to support a lifestyle that quietly expanded without much intention.
The irony is difficult to ignore. We often pursue more because we believe it will create freedom, only to discover it has reduced the very flexibility we were hoping to gain.
Over the years, I've met people with significant wealth who don't seem particularly free. In fact, they often seem the opposite. The more you have, the more you have to lose.
I've also met people of far more modest means who possess an incredible sense of peace because they've learned where "enough" lies. They aren't chasing every upgrade or measuring themselves against everyone else's definition of "success". They've simply decided contentment is not something they'll postpone until the next milestone.
That may be one of the greatest financial advantages a person can obtain.
I'm not arguing against ambition my any means. Ambition builds businesses, funds charities, creates opportunities, and improves countless lives. Instead, my goal is to want less from life. My goal is to become more intentional about what I'm asking life to provide.
Freedom has never meant the ability to buy everything we want. If anything, it may mean developing the wisdom to recognize how little we actually need to live a full and happy life.
As another Independence Day passes, and we celebrate 250 years of freedom, perhaps it's worth asking a different question...because
"Are we becoming wealthier?" and "Are we becoming freer?" are not always the same thing.
Sometimes the most meaningful step toward financial freedom is found in quietly breaking our dependence on the endless pursuit of more.
