Category Archives: Change

Lifestyle Inflation – What It Is and Can It Be Avoided?

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It is hard to understand how someone with a high income could be living paycheck to paycheck but it is more common in today’s society than ever before. While there is no denying that high levels of inflation can be a culprit, there is also a phenomenon known as lifestyle inflation which is making it even harder for people to save money. An example of lifestyle inflation could be when a person gets a work bonus or a new job with an increased salary, then this person feels more justified to buy luxury goods or spend more money than ever before. While it is good to treat yourself and spend your hard earned money, it is still really important to prioritize investing and saving as much money as you can because you not only need it for your future but you also might need it for an unexpected emergency.

In your youth, it is very easy to fall into this lifestyle inflation trap because maybe you want to own a fancy car or dress in designer clothing. If you can afford it right now, you might be thinking: Why not? Again, there is nothing wrong with treating yourself but this cannot be an ongoing habit or this is going to lead to a lack of savings and potential debt. The right mindset to have is asking yourself, how do I build my net worth? If you place your focus on building wealth over time, then it will become easier for you to resist overspending on things that you truly do not need. As you get older, it will probably become a more conscious decision to save for retirement or to find investment opportunities rather than overspending. 

The best way to avoid lifestyle inflation is to first shift your mindset as I mentioned previously. For me personally, my mind is more focused on seeing more money in my savings and investment accounts than in my closet because I am a practical person with an understanding that excessive material goods really is not a necessity nor is it really making my life that much better in the long run. Whereas in my youth, I cared very much about having new and stylish clothing including designer labels. Once you have made a mindset change, then the next step is to develop the right habits to support your beliefs. In this case, that would mean to allocate your money towards necessities only and to commit to your financial goals. It can take time to develop the right habits but as long as you start implementing them, then your habits eventually become much more automatic. 

If You Do Not Feel Like Someone’s Priority–You Probably Are NOT! – Here’s the Solution

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Have you ever been in a relationship where you just don’t feel like the other person’s priority? Sadly, not only are your feelings valid but chances are that the other person is not making you as much of a priority as you are making them. While this can leave you feeling frustrated, hopeless, neglected, and many other negative feelings–there are few ways to shift the relationship into a more balanced one or this could also be a time of deep reflection where you examine the quality of the relationship you are in.

For starters, if you ever feel someone is pulling back, not reaching out as often, spending less quality time with you, and essentially not prioritizing your relationship–then you should be mirroring their behaviors and doing the same thing. This might seem counterintuitive but this is a good test to see how often this person is choosing to be in touch and finding ways to spend time with you. If you notice that you only hear from them when you initiate more of the contact then this is definitely a problem. It is up to you to communicate your needs in a relationship and to express how you feel. The person might not know how you feel unless you explain your point of view. If you talk things out and find the person is defensive or does not care to fix the problem, then you know that this is NOT the relationship for you. Within a healthy relationship, two people should be able to openly express themselves and should want to make the effort to please each other. If this isn’t happening, then this is a good chance to walk away from the relationship without feeling bad or without any regrets. You need to be with someone who values you and wants to put in the work that is necessary to progress the relationship.

Another consideration is that sometimes the other person could require more space meaning that it is not anything personal against you. If this is the case, give the person space and some room to miss you. The person will come back to you in time. If this space dynamic is something that you find bothersome, then you need to really evaluate what your needs are in a relationship. Whenever you find yourself in a relationship where your expectations are not being met along with your partner also being aware of them without making any changes then you should put yourself first by walking away from the relationship. Many people may be scared to be alone but it is way better to be alone where you can focus on bettering yourself as opposed to settling on a relationship that does not bring you enough happiness.

What to Do If Your Partner Tries to Change You

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I know I have written past blogs about what to do if you want to change your partner and how I do not believe that is the best approach in most dating scenarios. What if you are in the situation where someone is trying to change you? Is there a solution? Whether you want to hear it or not, if you find that you are with someone who is constantly trying to change you–whether it be your habits, personality, appearance, etc. then you should reconsider the longevity of your relationship and if it is worth keeping this person in your future. If someone wants to change you, this is not only a form of control but there is also an underlying issue at hand: This person does not love and accept you for you. This is a problem and one that should not be overlooked or ignored. I know you might be thinking, “Well if this person chooses to be with me, then this person must love me and want to be with me.” While on the surface this might be true, it is only a matter of time before the relationship unravels or there are more issues that arise over time. It is possible the person likes you for certain qualities but that the bad qualities outweigh the good which is why your partner feels justified putting in the effort to try to change you. That does not make it okay and you should not feel the need to have to do this in order to please your partner. Of course if it is a simple and easy request, then it is reasonable to make the change. Please keep in mind that I am only talking about if someone is trying to change you in drastic ways that go against your will and the core of who you are.

You should never be a person’s second best or feel as though you are not good enough within a relationship. If you find that you feel this way, rather than waiting for the other person to end it, it is better if you find the strength to end it yourself. Another suggestion is to have an open and honest conversation about how you feel and see how your partner responds. Someone who genuinely loves you is not going to react negatively and will empathize with your feelings. I recognize that it can be hard to have these conversations along with the consideration of ending the relationship but you have to trust in your heart that there is a better match for you. Remember that choosing a life partner is one of the biggest life decisions that you will ever make. You should absolutely be with someone who adores you and loves you unconditionally. You are too valuable to settle on being with someone who does not see the very best version of yourself. This is why you need to put yourself first and demonstrate self love by not tolerating a partner who tries to control or change you. You are ALWAYS better than that! 😉

Reevaluating the “American Dream” – What Are YOUR Dreams?

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Many people have the desire to fulfill the “American dream” which might include buying a house with a white picket fence and finding a career path that guarantees a lot of money. It could also include being married with a family. We live in a world where we feel the need to conform to societal norms and with social media platforms of people living their best lives at all times. The reality is, life is not designed to be perfect and the societal expectations of how life should be might not be everyone’s destiny–and there is nothing wrong with that! It is important to recognize that we should not feel the need to be doing what everyone else appears to be doing and evaluate our own dreams. Your dreams might not entail going to college or getting married or owning a house. If your dreams are to have these things, also remember that it could take many years for your dreams to manifest into realities. This requires a good amount of patience on your part along with a deep mental focus and a high level of trust that you have a bright future ahead of you. Everything truly does start with your mental state so keep it a positive one!

What are your dreams? – It is essential to really think about what you want from your life and to establish what your desires are. The more defined and concrete that your dreams are, the more likely it is that you will find the path to achieve them. I recommend not only to think about them but to write them on paper or on an index card. While some might think this is a waste of time, this extra step can make a big difference by keeping you accountable, focused, and serious about what you want to accomplish. Even if your dreams seem out of reach at the present moment, you should write them down anyway! As I mentioned previously, your dreams might not even be in alignment with the “American dream” but at the end of the day, you need to live your life authentically and be as true to yourself as possible if you want to be happy and feel fulfilled. You have one life to live and it is up to you to determine what makes it meaningful and manifest your own dreams.

3 Ways to Avoid Living Paycheck to Paycheck

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It is hard escaping news headlines that a higher percentage of people are living paycheck to paycheck, even people who have a high annual salary. There are many contributing factors that are causing this including the rate in which inflation has increased over the past year. Aside from that, when people make more money, they also tend to spend more because they feel they deserve it or that they are comfortable enough to spend more while saving at the same time. No matter how much money you are making, it is essential to make money management a top priority. This will allow for yourself to be in a better financial position in the long run and ensure that you won’t be living paycheck to paycheck. Like most things in life, it is never too late to start and develop the right habits to get you on the right financial track.

Set Up Automatic Payments Into Your Savings Account – Whatever amount you can comfortably afford, determine a set amount that will automatically get deducted once a week and then you do not touch the money. This is a quick way to build savings without really thinking about it. If you are more disciplined, you can manually put the money into your savings every week and change up the amounts as needed depending on how much extra that you have left over. Every dollar counts so any little bit that you can put towards your savings is better than nothing!

Reduce Consumption and Eliminate Non-essentials – I recently wrote about how reducing consumption is a great way to save money. This could really range from anything from using less energy/gas to eating less at a restaurant so you have a second meal to take home at a later time. There are so many ways in which you could reduce what you consume each day. It is also smart to examine your monthly subscriptions and other services/products that you currently have and then eliminate the ones that you do not really need. Do you pay for cable or a gym membership that you never use? Then this might be the time to cancel these services altogether so that you can allocate the money into your savings and/or investments.

Track Every Dollar That You Spend – If you follow my blog, you probably have read me talk about this consistently but it is important to track your expenses everyday. This helps you stay accountable with your financial decisions and can also serve as a tool for analyzing your money habits. Did you notice that you spent more money on non-essentials last month? Then you can strive to reduce your spending the following month. The only way you can truly track this is by actually taking the time to record all your expenses in order to stay focused both on spending less while maximizing your daily savings. If you can do both of these things at the same time then you will find that you will not be living paycheck to paycheck anymore.

Complaining Is Often Unnecessary – Here Are 3 Alternatives

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I would say that one of my biggest pet peeves are people who complain too much. The irony of me writing about this topic is that I am being a hypocrite by complaining about complainers (lol) but I am just stating the fact that there is nothing really positive about complaining. It is okay to vent from time to time and this is natural; however, when complaining becomes an excessive everyday habit, I would suggest being aware of the issue and making a conscious effort to find ways to reduce it or break the habit altogether. The good news is, there are many highly effective alternatives that you can apply and here is a good list to start with.

Focus on The Good – There is Always a Silver Lining – No matter how bad things appear to be, I honestly believe that it can’t be as bad as you think as things could always be so much worse. If you adopt this perspective, you will never feel the need to complain. At the present moment, you might be thinking, “ugh this is awful” but in reality, it’s not that bad after all. At the end of the day, you are going to be just fine. 😉

Learn to Adapt – It is important to develop coping skills and being able to roll with the punches when things don’t seem to go your way. There really is no need to complain if things are out of your control which is why it is much more beneficial to find ways to adapt. Learn to keep your mind positive despite the adversity or hardship you are experiencing. It is better to keep a peaceful and happy state of mind no matter what is happening. Usually whatever it is that is bothering you will pass over time.

If You are That Unhappy Then It Is Time to Make Some Life Changes – People tend to complain about things that are easily within their control and can be changed for the better. For example, are you unhappy about your job? If so, then it’s time to think of getting a new one or finding a new profession altogether. There are so many things that people complain about that could be prevented simply by making the changes that are needed to make life a much happier one! Sometimes change is scary and it can make you feel uneasy when you are out of your comfort zone but without taking the risks, you won’t reap the rewards. That is why I recommend striving to make changes in your life for the better because then you will not feel the need to complain about life as much.

Self Confidence Is Based On YOUR Personal Beliefs Above Anything Else

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Self confidence can come from various sources and change throughout the course of your life; however, there is no denying that self confidence will naturally manifest from within if you do things that align with your belief system. For example, if you believe that education equates to success, then you should take the courses needed to help you progress in your career which would ultimately make you a successful person over time. Everyone’s personal values and beliefs are individually selected so it is important to establish what you find most important and then take the action that is needed to possess those qualities. Another example might be prioritizing a fit and healthy physique as something that makes you feel confident. If this is important to you, then you will naturally be inclined to work out and implement a healthy diet in order to get the results needed.

While many have a belief that what others think of you matters, it is important to develop the mindset that you are a high value individual and can generate your own self confidence no matter what other people do or say. When you genuinely possess high self esteem, your belief about yourself will never be impacted or changed. Why? Your confidence levels and self worth are not determined by the people around you and come from within which is ultimately a positive thing. You want to get to a place in your life where you do not care what other people think of you because how you feel about yourself is what matters most. That is why it is important to pursue things that bring you both joy and confidence which are in alignment with your beliefs. If you are unhappy with yourself and your life, it is time to dig deep and make some serious changes. You need to first focus on what you want and from there, actually implement the changes needed while working on developing the characteristics that can allow you to become the person you want to be. Keep in mind that it is important to want to make the changes for yourself and not because someone is pressuring you to be a certain way or to please others. Always let your intuition paired with your belief system be the guiding forces of your life and you will be on a spiritual path to growth and acceptance of self.

Always Make Moves In Life – You Can Change the Direction Later

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As you navigate through life, it is best to always be making moves and taking action as opposed to doing nothing or staying stagnant. If you stay comfortable and complacent all the time, you will find that your life is not only unfulfilling (perhaps boring) and that you aren’t going anywhere. Who wants to stay in the same place all the time? I understand that many people feel a higher level of security staying within their comfort zone but there isn’t much spiritual growth and it is during the times that you challenge yourself and try something new that you are actually elevating yourself in the long run.

Even if you made a life decision that did not go as planned, at least you can say that you tried and you can always change the direction later. In life, you sometimes have to take a few detours before getting on the right track of your life. As I have pointed out previously, sometimes a setback is a set up for something even better in your future. So don’t be afraid to take chances and try new things! I promise that you will never regret it! 😉

3 Ways to Build Wealth Through Your Mindset

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Whether you want to believe it or not, your MINDSET is your strongest asset in helping you manifest your desires and reach all your lifetime goals. For many people, building wealth is on the top of the list but many people do not know where to start. Time and time again, as I just pointed out from the very beginning–it all begins with your mindset. It is your choice in how you develop your thoughts, so why not think with intention and develop a stronger mindset? The good thing is, it is never too late to develop a positive mindset in regards to how you view money and navigate your financial future.

Believe in Your Money Making Potential – For me personally, making money has always come very easily. Mind you, I have always worked very hard to ensure that I make enough money to be financially independent while also saving for my future. My earning potential has always been abundant not solely due to my deep desire to build wealth but also because I strongly believe that I have the capacity to generate a ton of money. This belief propels me to take the action that is needed to manifest and make it happen. I don’t sit around and wait for the money to fall from the sky because I recognize that the process does not work that way. Maybe for some people, they are not in a position where they need to work or they have someone who can totally provide for them. While this might appear nice on the surface, it goes against my core belief that I am a money making machine. Hence I have never been one to rely on others for money and have always found ways to make a good living where I have enough money for daily expenses and where I can still put money aside for the future. This goes to show that anyone can do it given they have the right mindset.

Understand that Building Wealth Is a Gradual Process – Everyone is looking for a get rich quick money strategy or wants to be rich right now but realistically, most people who have accumulated a substantial amount of wealth will tell you that it was not an overnight process. It is more about how consistent you are with your money habits and setting long term goals which will ultimately lead to a good amount of money. Besides saving money, it is important to invest your money so that it continues to grow and accumulate over time. It is okay if you are starting small or with essentially nothing, as long as you stay on a good path to wealth with the mindset that you are going to continue to keep building wealth throughout your lifetime by your everyday money habits.

Be Willing to Make Sacrifices for the Greater Good of Your Financial Future – I recognize that saving and investing money might not be as exciting as spending it right now but it is ESSENTIAL to get into the habit of holding onto more money than you are taking home. This is a necessity not only for building long term wealth but this habit will allow for you to become financially stable and prevent you from taking on any unnecessary debts. There will always be temptations in your life from having the fanciest car to having designer clothes to wanting to eat at the nicest restaurants or whatever you want to spend your hard earned money on to provide you instant gratification but you need to shift your mindset to believe that you don’t need these things and prioritize your future above anything else while just focusing on your basic necessities as much as you can. That is not to say that you are not allowed to treat yourself from time to time but rather to not let instant gratification be the driving force of your spending decisions. It is better to make financial sacrifices now for the greater good of your abundant future that lies ahead.

How Important Is It to Date Someone With the Same Health Habits As You?

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When it comes to health and wellness, some people definitely prioritize their health more than others while some people do not care about their health whatsoever. While I do think it is very difficult to find someone who totally shares the same views and habits in regards to their health, it is definitely possible to find someone who has a similar lifestyle. The question is, how much does this matter in a relationship?

I would compare health and fitness to religion, where it is something that could matter significantly and when there are contrasting views, it can cause some conflicts and tension over time. If you have someone who is very health conscious, this person can grow very resentful over time if their partner is not and can feel like they are a burden by their poor health decisions. The person who is less healthy can also grow resentful of their partner if they feel that their healthier partner cannot accept them for themselves and that their significant other is trying to change them to become more healthy. I can see how both parties could get frustrated at each other for different reasons. I think the underlying issue here is a lack of ACCEPTANCE and/or unrealistic expectations. When two people love each other, they should find a way to accept each other which means accepting the good and the bad traits. If two people learn to accept each other, then this would never become a major issue in a relationship. While I also believe that setting expectations in a relationship can be a positive thing, it is not positive if you set an unrealistic expectation to change someone who most likely will not change their habits. The only way a change can be made is if the person intrinsically wants to change and not trying to change because the other person is pushing them to.

At the same time, if you detect early on within a relationship that a person does not have the same views and/or habits as you when it comes to health and this is something that is extremely important to you, I advise it is best to move on and to look for someone who can be on the same page as you. It is better to break it off and find a partner who is in alignment with your lifestyle as opposed to trying to change the person because as I mentioned previously, the person most likely will not change. You will be much happier in the long run and feel closer to your partner when you are with someone who has very similar health habits as you–given that is a high priority in your life.