At what point can you sit down and say, “The amount of money I’m making right now is enough”?
It’s a question I’ve been reflecting on lately, especially as we round out 2024, and what I’ve come to realize is this:
Instead of focusing on how much money you want to make, focus on what you want to do with the money you already have. Let’s unpack that together.
The Myth of “More Is Always Better”
I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t want to make more money. People might say they don’t need more, but I’ve never heard someone outright refuse the idea of earning more. At the same time, I hear these sentiments all the time:
• Why do I always feel like I need more?
• How do I know when I have enough?
• What number will make me feel financially secure?
These are valid questions, but I think they often miss the mark. Instead of obsessing over how much you’re making, maybe it’s worth considering:
• How much am I spending?
• Is my spending aligned with what truly matters to me?
• Am I chasing more money at the cost of my peace, relationships, or health?
There’s often a direct correlation between how much we make and how much we spend. The more we earn, the more we tend to spend—often without even realizing it. This lifestyle inflation creates a perpetual sense of not enough, no matter how much we bring in.
So, before you jump to conclusions about needing to make more, ask yourself: do I really need more money, or do I need more control over my spending?
The Cost of Chasing More
Don’t get me wrong, wanting more money isn’t inherently bad! In fact, making more can open doors to new opportunities, security, and impact. But what’s the cost of chasing it?
I never want to make more money if it means:
• Sacrificing time with my family.
• Compromising my health or peace of mind.
• Saying yes to things that pull me away from my purpose.
I’m not demonizing wealth or ambition, but I am advocating for us to examine the tradeoffs we make in pursuit of wealth. For example, I’m all for hard work and growth, but not if it costs me my joy, my faith, or my relationships.
Sometimes, the better question isn’t, “How can I make more?” but, “Am I content with what I already have?”
The Power of Contentment
My husband has a saying that I love: peace is the new profit.
More money doesn’t always solve our problems. In fact, it often creates new ones. Biggie Smalls said it best: “Mo’ money, mo’ problems.” When we make more, we naturally spend more, and that cycle can lead to a constant state of discontentment.
But what if peace, not profit, became the marker of success?
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive for financial growth. It means being intentional about how you use your resources and asking yourself whether the pursuit of “more” aligns with what you truly want.
Are You in Control, or Is Money Controlling You?
At the end of the day, money is a tool. It’s not the enemy, but it also shouldn’t be the master of your life. Are you in control of your money, or is money controlling you?
For many of us, financial decisions dictate a massive portion of our lives (60% of our waking hours are spent working). So ask yourself:
• Do I love my work?
• Do I love my team, my clients, and my mission?
• Is the time I’m trading for money worth it?
If you’re spending the majority of your life doing something you don’t love, no amount of money will make up for that.
What Do You Really Want?
When you think about what you truly want in life, it’s probably not “more money.” What you’re really after are the things money represents:
• More time.
• More peace.
• Less stress.
• Better relationships.
• Better health.
Instead of asking, “How can I make more?” start asking, “What am I doing to get what I really want?” Sometimes the path to more isn’t earning more—it’s spending less. It’s about aligning your finances with your values, living intentionally, and finding fulfillment in what you already have.
Living With Purpose and Peace
I believe in the concept of dying with zero. When I leave this world, I want to know that I used everything I had—my time, my energy, my resources—to create a life of meaning. I don’t want to hoard money for the sake of having it. I want to see it put to work in ways that bring joy, peace, and impact.
And that requires a mindset shift: money is a tool, not a goal. It’s there to support the life you want to live, not to dictate it.
So as you step into the new year, take a moment to reflect:
• What is enough for me?
• Am I chasing more for the right reasons?
• Is my spending aligned with my values?
When you answer those questions honestly, you might find that what you have is already enough—or that the path to more isn’t about making more, but living with greater intention.
If this resonated with you, I encourage you to take a step back and reassess your own financial journey. For those of you looking for clarity or seeking to align your personal brand with your values, I’d love to invite you to schedule a Free Brand Call with Brand Builders Group. Together we can explore how to create a life that reflects what matters most to you.
Because at the end of the day, enough isn’t about the money. It’s about the peace, purpose, and fulfillment it brings. Wouldn’t you agree?
