If your expectations grow faster than your income you’ll never be happy with your money no matter how much you accumulate.
-Morgan Housel
This post is 343 words, about a 2 min read. Enjoy!
American Express recently did a survey on Gen Z and Millennials travel trends:
75% of Travel Destinations are inspired by Social Media
64% of Travel Destinations are TV or movie inspired
The most important finding of the survey was this:
48% of respondents said they choose a destination based on how much they can show off on social media
There's a quote from Fight Club that I think speaks volumes about the way we choose to spend money and live our lives:
"We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like"
I want to change this quote slightly:
"We buy things we don't want or need with money we barely have to impress people we don't know, will probably never meet, and don't even like"
Be alert to the things you say you want. Be wise in choosing the things you aspire towards. Ask yourself the question, “Do these things actually bring me joy? Or is it just another veneer to hide behind?”
Remember happiness is not found in the places or things we buy. It is found with the people we get to DO LIFE WITH! Trust me it does not take a fancy dinner or a fancy vacation to have true happiness.
I am not saying you cannot do those things. However, ask yourselves the reason behind the decision you are making. I love this quote from Robert Shiller:
“You have to realize, your thoughts are not really your own thoughts. They percolate in from other places and from other people.”
The question is when do we begin to choose our life rather than play by the defaults given to us? When do we decide our influences rather than being passively influenced?
I hope everyone finds true happiness and true freedom.
God Bless
Remember Generosity > greed
✌🏾
Recommended Reads
Morgan Housel, Psychological Paths of Least Resistance. If you want every belief you have ever held to be challenged, READ THIS.
Jack Raines, How to Create Your Own Luck. Life is a game of chances but there are some things that we can do to give ourselves the best chance of success.
Ben Carlson, Careful What You Wish For. Outward success does not always result in inward happiness
Nick Maggiulli, How to Build Generational Wealth. But an even better question, Should you build generational wealth?