It doesn’t happen often, but while I was writing my book Let Go of Whatever Makes You Stop, I was awakened in the middle of the night with this thought, “Don’t live within your means.”
Even though it was 4:30 a.m., I was so excited about this idea that I awoke my wife and began to “preach” to her for several minutes. (She said the idea was great, but she really needed her sleep).
What do I mean when I say, “Don’t live within your means.” I believe we should act bigger, believe larger, and associate higher. Your outlook determines your outcome. So make your plans BIG.
I’m not encouraging you to go wild, to have no boundaries or be reckless. Certainly we should spend within our means, but not live there. Talk with people smarter than you. Listen to those more insightful than you. Ask questions of those more successful than you. Lend a hand to those less fortunate than you. Don’t stay where you are.
I sincerely believe that many people who think they are frugal aren’t really frugal. Rather, they are full of fear. The label of frugality, balance, or conservativeness is often a mask to cover up a deep-rooted fear in their lives.
Don’t make such thorough plans for rainy days that you don’t enjoy today’s sunshine. Abandon altogether the search for security. “Only the insecure strive for security” (Wayne Dyer).
No matter what the level of your ability, you have been equipped with more potential than you can possibly use in your lifetime. Don’t let the future be that time when you wish you’d done what you aren’t doing now. You need to have a dream to make a dream come true.
If the shoe fits, don’t wear it. If you do, you’re not allowing room for growth. Webster knew all about the ineffectiveness of “living within your means.” When you look up the word means in the dictionary, it tells you to see the word “average.” When you decide to live within your means, you are deciding to live an average life.
*Compliments of Rick Ferris*