Can you be free of financial stress while in debt?

Not if you are sober….at least that’s the message in the media today.

Let’s face it…just about everything you read from books and blogs (including this one) might convince you that you can’t in fact be happy until you get rid of financial stress.

Everywhere you turn, you get the same message pounded into your head; you can’t do or be anything if you have debt.

Does Financial Stress Mean I Can’t Be Happy?

Let me go on the record; I think like goes better with no debt. I also think it’s important to take whatever steps you can to get your spending under control and out of debt as soon as you can. It has to be a priority. But at the same time, I think you shouldn’t wait to be happy until you reach your financial or business goals.

I spent way too many years thinking that financial serenity would be mine as soon I paid off my mortgage or reached a certain business goal.

photo by alancleaver, Flikr

If we tie our happiness to some external achievement, we may work really hard and achieve a lot….but we’ll be stressed and not have any fun. We also won’t be that much fun to be around.

On the other extreme, if we abandon the goals we strive for and adopt a “who cares” attitude, we’ll be worse off. By so doing we shut off a part of ourselves that is truly wonderful. That part of us that wants to learn, explore and advance.

Clearly, we need a balanced approach.

While I can’t say this works for me all the time, the following idea has really helped me.

What is it?

Simply be present.

Being present is a very difficult thing to do but well worth the effort. Let me give you an example.

I met a woman the other day who had an amazing story. Even though she was a young woman, she had suffered a heart attack, lost her job and while recuperating, discovered she was being evicted from her apartment. Talk about something to worry about….right?

I asked her how she coped with that stress.

She told me that she couldn’t afford to waste any energy worrying about the future because it saps her strength and makes it hard to make rational decisions. Instead, she focuses on her daily activities….one day at a time.

She gets up every day and asks herself what the most effective thing she could do that day to improve her situation. All she “worries” about is making sure she completes those tasks. If she does, she feels successful. If not, she vows to try harder the next day.

She’s satisfied with doing her best. Why? Because if she does her best, she can do no more. Whatever the result is, if she tries her best, she feels successful.

I think focusing on daily activities rather than outcomes is a fantastic approach to finances…and life.

It doesn’t allow anyone to escape responsibility. It keeps you focused on doing what you can and letting go of the things beyond your control.

It’s appealing….isn’t it?

Do you approach your challenges this way or do you get caught up worrying about the future so much that you miss what’s going on today? Before you answer that, I’ve got to ask a favor of you…it’s that desperate request I mentioned earlier.

Wealth Pilgrim has been nominated for 3 prestigious Plutus Awards. If you’ve never heard of these awards, they are like the Oscars for bloggers but without the red carpet, cameras, fancy cars, celebrities and after parties. Seriously, these awards are the cat’s pajamas in blogger-world and I’d like to ask for your support.

Everyone has the the right to vote and I’m asking you to take a moment to vote Pilgrim down the line. To do so, simply follow this link and scroll down (or do a “FIND” for “Pilgrim” and you’ll see the three categories I’m running in. Of course, you can vote on all items on the ballot but I don’t think you are required to in order to have a valid ballot.

You don’t have to be a blogger to vote…you just need an e-mail address.

I hope you’ll take a moment and support the blog. The only cost to you is about 2 minutes of your time and I’d really appreciate it. If I win, I’ll have a special surprise for all of you.

Remember, vote Pilgrim and vote often! (Just kidding…you can only vote once.)

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