On the way to financial freedom, many of us will have to learn how to adapt our mindset, spending, and goals, and adjust to new lifestyle choices.
Throughout human history, to survive, we all had to learn to adapt. Unfortunately, the more comfortable people become, the less they want to venture towards new territories if new skills are required on that quest. Of course, any change is scary, but nothing in life is constant, and transitions can be exciting, especially when they bring a positive shift all around.
When it comes to financial independence, flexibility goes hand in hand with the ability to adapt to new circumstances, unpredictable market losses, and opportunities that push people out of their comfort zones.
Flexibility and adaptability are great skills to have in your repertoire; they bring peace of mind, which can translate into less stress and anxiety. Knowing that, whatever happens in life, you can scale back expenses without feeling deprived is a great example of adaptability.
I used to feel deprived if I couldn’t afford to buy a cup of coffee or a cake when I was out and about. But these were issues I needed to address. Now, I see that particular situation in a different light. I swap deprivation (such a negative, heavy word) with choice. I choose not to buy something; I choose not to do something; these are choices that don’t reflect who I am, what I have achieved, or what I stand for.
I wasn’t always so comfortable with my choices, but what empowered me was knowing that the money I earned could be put to good use in my investment portfolio (thank you, J.L. Collins), which would benefit my family and me. Accumulated wealth over a long period gives much more than a split second of happiness, the first sip of coffee could ever offer. To accumulate all that wealth, people need to start somewhere. And cutting down on non-essential spending is a good start.
I used to buy lots of clothes during summer and winter sales. To accommodate that hobby of mine, I needed to clean my closet (give it away to a charity) and perfectly good, fashionable, hardly-worn clothes. I did all that only because I felt pressured to look good, and I also believed that I worked hard enough, so I earned it—nothing more misleading than that. Of course, I deserved to do whatever I wanted with my money, but supporting fashion brands that care very little about sustainability was simply silly.
If I wanted to be financially independent, I had to learn to make better choices and adapt my thinking so I would never be tricked again by brands, marketers, or the social pressure to think I was less just because I didn’t do what everyone else was doing.
I feel that the journey towards financial independence isn’t only about saving up and investing. It’s also, or maybe first of all, about an inward journey helping people realise what is the most important for them in life, while dropping along the way all the other fluff they don’t need.
In the long run, adaptability and flexibility help ease stress and anxiety. Taking the fear, stress, and anxiety out of the equation is a massive positive lifestyle shift.
For me, learning how to adapt to every situation while discovering who I truly am is definitely worth the effort and hard work.
PS. I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect big thinking & small typos.
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