46 | Pushing on a Rope

This post is Part 2 of 3 of the "Zooming Out Instead of Fixating on the Details" series.

The weeds have an ability to disorient us and then lure us into focusing on things that don't actually move the needle.

We take action, but inevitably that action doesn't do anything to address the uncertain feeling in our gut around money.

At first it might, because doing something feels good.

The trouble is that that "good feeling" doesn't always imply "good progress".

Eventually, we circle back to the same old feelings of...

"We've been here before."

"Well, that didn't really change anything."

"Why does the hole still feel so deep?"

"Why does it feel like we are still 'behind'?"

If being disoriented leaves you overwhelmed and confused. Putting energy towards the wrong things leaves you tired and frustrated.

Changing companies for modest income boosts without addressing our risk of burnout or increasing the horizon on our ability to generate income. Eventually, we'll discover that we're pushing on a rope.

Trying to control spending by saying "no" to hundreds of $5 decisions instead of saying "no" to a few $500 decisions. Pushing on a rope.

Trying to save what is leftover at the end of a month or year instead of setting aside the money on the front end to "pay yourself first". Pushing on a rope.

Chasing hot investments and accidentally establishing the dreaded habit of "buying high and selling low". Pushing on a rope.

Inevitably, pushing on a rope leads to no real progress, consumes all of our energy, and leaves us exhausted and bitter.

Instead of trying to get every single little detail right and hoping it will change our relationship with money, we're better suited to zoom out and focus on the things that actually matter...

Additional Reading

Staring at decisions by Seth Godin

The perils of investing based on past performance by Carl Richards