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Have you heard about Tammy Strobel and Logan Smith? No? Well, then you’re in for a real treat. This 30-something husband and wife team recently pared down all their belongings to just 100 items!
Before you write them off as crazy, you should know that before this colossal purge, they were just like the rest of us: “a two-bedroom apartment, two cars, and enough wedding china to serve two dozen people.” But despite all the nice things they had, they simply weren’t happy. They were on the “work-spend” treadmill and to make matters worse, they were $30,000 in debt.
Inspired by increasingly popular “Simple Living” philosophies, Tammy and Logan decided to make a change. They gave away piles of clothing, kitchen accessories, personal items, their television set and, yes, even their two cars. They even downsized to a one-bedroom apartment.
They were determined not to be owned by their stuff any longer.
The result? Tammy is now pursuing her dream of working from home as a Web designer and freelance writer while Logan is back in school furthering his education. And even though Tammy is making about half of what she made before, her income now covers all their bills while allowing them to travel, volunteer and enjoy the outdoors. And that $30,000 of debt? Gone.
Of the experience, Tammy says, “The idea that you need to go bigger to be happy is false. I really believe that the acquisition of material goods doesn’t bring about happiness.”
The article, “But Will It Make You Happy?”, goes on to suggest that “spending money for an experience — concert tickets, French lessons, sushi-rolling classes, a hotel room in Monaco — produces longer-lasting satisfaction than spending money on plain old stuff.”
I’d buy that. When I look back on my life, I definitely treasure my travels and adventures way more than the nice cars or fine labels. I find that with the latter, “the shine” usually wears off before the item is paid off and I’m left wanting the next thing.
While Tammy and Logan’s story inspires me tremendously, it secretly makes doubt that I could never do that. Luckily, I don’t think you have to whittle your life down to 100 possessions to enjoy the same benefits. The message here is that taking a more calculated approach to your spending can buy you the best thing of all: the freedom to live the life you truly want.
To read the full article, click here: “But Will It Make You Happy?”
Many of us are raised with the belief that a good education, a cushy salary and an impressive title will bring us happiness. But what happens when they don’t? Today, I’m pleased to bring you an interview with dream chaser and fellow fiction writer, Rebecca Hargreaves. I met Rebecca right here on Beyond the Gray and was incredibly inspired by her views on happiness and the pursuit of her dreams. Read on to hear how Rebecca’s corporate career path led her to the thing she loves most…
Q: Tell us about yourself. What’s your dream and how are you working towards it?
RH: My name is Rebecca and I am a writer and consultant living in Brooklyn, New York. At the most basic level, my dream is to be happy. And for a long time I thought that if I had enough fancy degrees, enough money, and enough titles that happiness would inevitably follow. Can you guess where I am going with this? I was so, SO wrong.
I am still working on figuring out a succinct dream, something easy to share in 10 words or less. I know I want to enjoy work. I want a flexible schedule. I want autonomy. I want to create. I want to serve. And…well the list could go on and on. What this means for me right now is that I am a freelance consultant and writer.
My background is in management consulting and I have worked in firms big and small. There were many aspects of those positions that I LOATHED. But there were also many parts I enjoyed. My goal in working freelance is to retain as many of the elements that I enjoy. To that end, I am working primarily on projects having to do with leadership development and managing change and helping health care organizations and non-profits better serve their communities.
But I also want to write! And that has taken me a long time to admit and own. When I first quit my full time job in late 2008, the plan was to freelance and work on non-fiction projects. Well, guess what? Every time I sat down to write, my brain starting spinning stories instead! Now it is clear that I am a fiction writer and I am doing everything I can to develop that side of myself as well. I am writing a novel, taking writing classes, and getting involved with the writing community. Best of all, I am blogging all about this journey at Diary of a Virgin Novelist.
Q: Describe a gray time in your life. How did it stand between you and your dreams? How did you overcome it?
RH: In the fall of 2009 I really began to question just what the hell am I doing? I faced some personal challenges that took me away from writing. I was feeling very unmotivated and disconnected from my creative side. I didn’t have any consulting projects on the horizon and I was stressed about money. I began to believe that I couldn’t do it. I wanted instant results and here I was, almost a year later, without much to show for it.
So, I began looking for full time work. Long story short – the night came where I had to either accept a lucrative job or turn it down. Oh, how I angsted. Finally, a friend suggested that I imagine the two outcomes: I have accepted the job and I have turned it down. I did this mental exercise and I immediately knew the right thing to do. Imagining taking this new job filled me with anxiety and resentment. Turning the job down however – and recommitting to my dreams of writing and freelance consulting – filled me with excitement.
Q: What fears have you faced as you chase your dreams?
RH: Sorry to punt on this one, but see my answer above. Self-doubt, lack of money, clunky sentences – those are all my dear friends.
Q: What inspires you to keep pushing forward when the going gets tough?
RH: Oh, I am going to be so cheesy here! My family. I am lucky – or cursed, depends on how you look at it – to be surrounded by people who are living their dreams. People who have struggled, tripped, gotten back up, and made it happen anyway. My husband loves his work. Loves it! Same goes for so many others in my life. We have musicians and working artists and architects and teachers and firefighters in our family and seeing how much joy they take in LIVING their dreams, pushes me to keep fighting for my own.
In case you are wondering, yes, I am also blind with jealousy.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to someone else who is struggling to move beyond the gray and follow a dream, what would it be?
RH: That dreams and passions are not always sharply defined and they do not have to be massive to be meaningful. I used to think that if I were to pursue writing then I would have to win a Pulitzer Prize within a year. I needed to be sure about the HUGE payoffs before I was willing to take any risks. And that is just not reality. Neither is knowing exactly what you want to do and how you are going to do it. The journey I am on – with all its haze and confusion and bends in the roads – is not the one I thought I would be on, but I love it. So just dive in!
To read more about Rebecca’s journey, visit her blog, Diary of a Virgin Novelist.
Are you actively pursuing a dream? If so, I’d love to hear from you! Please e-mail me at: Erika (dot) Liodice (at sign) hotmail (dot) com.
Not surprisingly, the fear of losing your financial security is one of the most common fears that dream chasers face and it’s powerful enough to stop most people dead in their tracks. Let’s face it, nobody wants to fall behind on their bills or be forced to go without the things they and want and need. And the current economy has only exacerbated this because the fear of money, or lack thereof, pushes us out of our comfort zone by threatening our fundamental way of life.
What many people forget is that with common sense and realistic planning following your dreams doesn’t have to mean financial insecurity in the least. Here are a few simple steps you can follow to make your financial situation work for you and your dreams:
1. Know the numbers: Understand your personal financial situation. How much do you have saved? How much do you owe? What do you need to survive each month? How much money can you realistically expect to make when you’re following your dream? Answering these questions will quickly help you determine if you can pursue your dream full-time or if you need to secure some form of employment in order to support yourself.
2. Trim the fat: Identify the things you don’t absolutely need (think bar tabs – coffee and otherwise) and cut them out in order to reduce your monthly expenses. This may seem heart-wrenching at first, but once you analyze where all your money goes you will quickly be able to plug any unnecessary drains. And just remember, it’s for a good cause.
3. Set financial goals for your dream: The general rule of thumb is that it takes about three years for a new business to become profitable. Of course, this will vary depending on your specific dream. But whether you dream of going into business for yourself, following a creative calling or changing careers all together, set a firm goal for what you want to earn within the first year and then develop a strategy for how you’re going to make it happen. Then plan for how you can grow what you’ve already built each year beyond that.
By understanding where you stand financially, cutting out any unnecessary expenses, and setting realistic and achievable financial goals for your dream, you will have more control of your financial fate. That will make following your dream less stressful and allow you to focus your energy on doing what you love…not worrying about money.
On money:
“True happiness brings more richness than all the money in the world.”
-Anonymous
The Fear Series is a ten-week series of posts that explores 10 common fears that dream chasers face.
Are you a dream chaser facing a particular fear? If so, I’d love to hear from you! Please e-mail me at: Erika (dot) Liodice (at sign) hotmail (dot) com.
Beyond the Gray 