My 4 Whys for FI

Our whys are what keep us on track when we our low on our motivation meter.

They are big, powerful, meaningful motives that drive our daily decisions.

We may think of them as what we hold on to as we delay gratification. However, I believe we actually get to live these whys along the way.

If I boil down my “whys for FI” these are the four that stand out the most:

Peace

I love the feeling of calm and peace; the lack of worry.

It allows me to manage the difficulties without riding the emotional roller coasters.

When we were starting out, an unforeseen tax bill had us in panic and choosing between paying the IRS or buying groceries. Having to ask someone for a loan to take care of a minor mistake just didn’t feel right.

Being able to have the cushion to cover inconveniences helps me sleep better at night.

Taking care of my finances is one the things that gives me a feeling of peace.

Whatever emergency that can be taken care of with money will be taken care of without the unwelcomed panic of worrying about where the money will come from.

Options

I like options.

In something like a restaurant menu they completely overwhelm me but in life I like to choose on my terms rather than being backed into a corner.

I like to have options in what I do, how I live, how I spend my time, where I go.

There have been instances where my choices were very limited; sometimes for reason out of my control. However, plenty of times I knew that I could have put myself in a much better situation. I just had to stop going through life by default and add intention to the way I lived and handled my finances.

I have been witnessing that the more I align my finances with my values the more and better options appear; or may be I am just more prepared to walk towards the open doors.

Impact

I believe we all have a responsibility to make a good impact in our lifetime.

We are all born with unique gifts and have skills that can make the world a better place.

Our impact may not feel like it is changing the world but it is certainly influencing those around us from our home to our communities.

We make an impact in others even when we aren’t realizing it which is why it is important to have clarity on the type of personal stamp we want to leave behind.

Resources such as money can significantly amplify the impact we want to make. This can happen directly by funding our causes or by allowing us to have more time to dedicate to them.

By making the unconventional choices involved in the path to FI we also impact others to make them as well. Personally, the FI community has had an immense impact on our family and I hope I can also make these choices more accessible for someone who considered them impossible.

Freedom

A solid financial foundation gives us freedom to explore interests, places, and hobbies.

Having the freedom to edit our journey and change our mind often cannot be underestimated; many won’t ever get to experience that privilege in their lifetime.  

Freedom also requires we check with ourselves frequently so we can continuously migrate towards fulfillment. We are working towards FI to buy back time and it is important to fill that time with what light us up and adds meaning to our lives.

Peace, options, impact and freedom – These can certainly be felt and achieved without money and I encourage myself to do so independently from my financial situation.

But amazingly enough, these “whys” materialize along the path to financial independence.  They don’t just arrive when “we reach our number.”

As these intentions become part of our lives we gradually get to use them purposely towards what gives us the most joy. 

At the end it is never about money to begin with but about living a life well-lived – whatever that means to each one of us.

I think working towards financial independence is just a way to quantify a much deeper progress.  At least that’s how I perceive it.

The path to FI is a transformation that involves our values, habits and beliefs…we just use net worth as an excuse 😉

Now your turn, what are your whys for FI?

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