How much money does it take to chase big family dreams?
All this dreaming is nice, but what about the money?
It’s the question I get most often (even though a lot of people are too afraid to ask it). And it’s the question that still keeps me up at night even after all these years of chasing my big family dreams.
Why?
Because for some of us, money represents more than just a number in our bank accounts or a few paper bills in our wallets.
Depending on our past, it can represent security or fear or abandonment or love or a whole host of other things.
It can be the source of extreme happiness and pit-of-the-stomach defeat.
And it can be the best excuse to stay right where we are and not chase our biggest purpose in life. Especially when we hear ourselves saying, “If we only had the money…” or “Good for them - they must be loaded. We could never…” (Funnily enough, since I decided to write about money a few weeks ago, I’ve noticed all kinds of friends and family members bringing up the topic - You get what you look for, right?)
The truth is that being a parent is E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E. And being an adventure-loving parent can be even more so.
Right now, even with Christmas gifts a very recent memory, my family has a long list of adventure gear on our wish list:
snowboards
skis
ice skates
snowshoes
XC ski gear
e-bikes
kayaks
paddleboards
the list goes on and on and just never seems to end, does it?
But as wonderful as it would be to outfit our whole family in all of those things (and I truly hope one day we will be able to), the reality is that most of us will have to make choices - and sacrifices - when it comes to chasing big dreams with our families.
Like choosing when to splurge and when to save, and sacrifices like living in a smaller house or downsizing to just one family car to take a once-in-a-lifetime road trip.
(Both of which I’ve written about already - complete with loads of resources - so I’ll just link to them here.)
Sometimes, though, the money question goes a little deeper than that.
Sometimes we have to do some heart-work around money so that E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E turns into E-X-P-A-N-S-I-V-E instead.
Yep, you guessed it - I’m talking about mindsets.
Which is why, if you’ve ever asked just how in the world some people find the money to chase their big dreams but it never seems to work out just right for you, I want you to know about a few things that make all the difference:
Gratitude (It matters so so much)
Abundance mindset (It’s worth the work it takes to get it)
Daily inner work (Coaching, praying, journaling, etc.)
Great books on the topic (the ones that pull us out of our limiting beliefs)
And it’s also why I want you to know this:
The family togetherness of your dreams can absolutely be yours, even if you feel like you’re always down to your last $2.
Because guess what?
You already have what it takes to make your family life dreamy - YOU - with your big heart, your hugs, your kisses, and your smile.
And if you want the big memory-making moments - the dreamy road trips, summer vacations, mountain adventures, ski slope excursions, or whatever you’re thinking of right now - you can do the work and have those too.
You can read the books.
You can get the new mindsets.
You can build a daily gratitude practice.
You can get help when you need it.
Whatever big dream is in your heart today, you can go for it - You truly never know until you try.
Which is why I’ll leave you with these words from a book that’s totally kicking me out of my own limiting beliefs right now:
Do you have questions or stories to share about finding money for your big dreams?
Come join the discussion in the email group - I’d love to see you there!
Or come over to the courses and programs and get some help going after your big dreams.