Last night the hubs and I were talking about our goals (yes, again…) and the different paths we could take to get there. It all seems so easy to plan and make happen now, but not too long ago that wasn’t the case.
We were mostly talking about the strategies we can use to pay off our debt faster. He had made a comment about it all being “one big math problem and it’s relatively simple”. I 100% agree that debt repayment is just a big math problem and that the math IS actually pretty simple. But yet, so many people are in debt or just assume that debt is always something that they will have. When we talk debt repayment, retiring early, becoming financially independent with others they often look at us in disbelief and just shake their head. I know it’s not the simple math problem that is holding people back. They truly don’t believe it’s possible. As the hubs and I talked more about what sets those who succeed apart, we recognized two things.
The first thing we realized was mindset. You need to experience a mindset shift before you are going to make any progress towards what you want in life. With a negative mindset, your subconscious will sabotage any effort you try and make towards your goals. You won’t fully believe in yourself or your goals so therefore you won’t make any progress. Our mindset shift started in our first house when we were fed up with our monthly expenses and decided we wanted something different out of life. We were at a pretty low point, headed towards a downward spiral. Ultimately, we decided to climb our way out of hole. That was less than 2 years ago!
The second thing we realized was dedication. You need to be dedicated enough to see your goals and visions through. Without dedication and perseverance you may give in to temptations or impulsive decisions. It takes dedication to stay the course despite what you might be feeling or wanting “in the moment.” The hubs and I stay dedicated by consistently checking in with each other and our progress. If we get off track, we re-prioritize. With each goal we hit, it further fuels our dedication.
You have to have both proper mindset and dedication in order to succeed in anything you do. If you don’t consistently work on having a great mindset for what you’re trying to achieve, you won’t be able to get out of your own way. If you aren’t dedicated, then you’ll give in or give up too early before you witness the fruits of your labor. It takes more than a “simple math problem” to truly succeed, but if you focus on mindset and dedication you will surely succeed in anything you do!
