Inadequate

How many of us are guilty of feeling inadequate? [Raises hand.]

This seems to be more of an issue with women [sorry guys!] – we are constantly comparing ourselves to others and coming up short. And these feelings of inadequacy seem to have grown exponentially with the advent of social media. At any given moment, you are only a few clicks away from that perfect mom, the amazing teacher, the financially independent individual.

But social media doesn’t show the whole picture, such as: the flotilla of nannies and maids helping create the perfect “Mommy & Me” baking photo; the generous parents, friends, and school district that support a teacher; the history of smart financial choices at the right time [or significant assistance from a trust fund or inheritance].

I need to remember that my journey is strictly my own. No one else has quite the same history or story. And how I choose to go about my life and goals is really nobody’s business but my own. Yes, I am reaching out to others in the debt-free community, but I need to remember that my journey will be different. I can’t make the same progress as someone who makes $100,000 a year. I can’t take a savings account and throw it at my debt because I don’t have one – although I’m working on building up a small emergency fund aka Dave Ramsey’s Baby Step 1. I don’t even have a bunch of stuff lying around that I can sell for quick cash.

But that’s ok. I can make the choice to spend less and stop charging. I can take control of my finances and start working towards being debt-free. I can explore different options for making more money on the side. And for now, that helps me feel adequate.

The Intelligent Zebra