The Rachel Cruze Show - Why “I’ll Be Happy When. . .” Is a Lie

Starting point is 00:00:05 So there's an easy mindset to fall into of if I just made this amount of money, I would be happy. Or if I had this amount of money, I would be happy. But even research shows that that's not really how happiness works. So today, hopefully you're going to learn three easy ways to break the I'll Be Happy Win cycle so that you can find joy in the presence. But before we jump in, make sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode with a friend. So there's a well-known study from Princeton University that measured the connection between money and happiness. And the findings suggest that emotional well-being, aka happiness, doesn't increase much beyond an income of $75,000 a year.

Starting point is 00:00:47 Now, when the study was done, and if you take inflation in today's dollars, that would be $100,000 income. So to me, it really proves this point that, like, convenience and comfort with money can only get you a level of happiness up to a certain point. So if that's true, then why do we still play this game of I'll be happy when? Well, two things really come to mind. Number one is that the world makes feeling content hard for us because we live in a world where discontentment is so real. Like we are seeing everyone's life all the time, things that we don't have. There's tons of conveniences now that we have that we didn't have even 10, 15 years ago,

Starting point is 00:01:29 everything from like getting your groceries delivered or like fill in the blank. And so there can be this feeling of I am behind because it feels like everyone else is winning. Everyone else feels like they are moving up in their jobs. They're making so much money. They're going on all these great vacations. They're living in these great homes. They're wearing cute clothes. Like they're doing all these great things.

Starting point is 00:01:49 And for some reason, I don't feel like I'm catching up. And so what is so key to remember is like the world of marketing and online and social media and all the things together is going to make you feel discontent. If you don't put the blinders on and not have a level of security and gratitude for where you are currently because that feeling of, oh, I'm so behind. And if I just had X, I would be okay. But the truth is, money and stuff, it just magnifies who we are. And so, if you can find that contentment early on in life, it is so, so important. And number two is it's hard work to become truly content. So we throw that word out a lot. But I think it is, one of the words that is one of the most important financial principles when it comes to our money

Starting point is 00:02:38 because contentment allows you to not only enjoy the life that you have with like actual true joy, but it also allows you to do things with money that are so important. I think content people can save more, they give more, they're okay cutting some lifestyle. Like this is not a means where what they have or how much they make is a part of them. There's a level of contentment in them that just says where I am presently, I'm good with. And not that you don't have like goals and you're, you know, striving for more and all that all that's great. But there's a lie that bigger and better is somehow going to satisfy you is a lie.

Starting point is 00:03:13 And in fact, that is what we continue to chase over and over in our American society. And also, like, you go with you and remembering that, that if I just had this, everything would be better. I would be happy if, you know, X, Y, and Z were to happen. And the truth is, that's not always the case. And I felt this when we were building our house, I'll never forget. I was pregnant with our third kid. I had one in a high chair, one sitting up, and it was dinner time and stuff was just like,

Starting point is 00:03:37 food was everywhere. Yeah, one kid's like, I don't like this. You know, and I'm just huge and pregnant. And I'm just like, oh, my God. And we were building a new house in our old kitchen, like you couldn't open up the oven and open up a drawer. Like, it was a very tight kitchen. And I were being like, I just can't wait to get to my new kitchen.

Starting point is 00:03:53 Once we get to the new kitchen, everything's going to be better. And I remember once it, like, turned around. He was like, yeah, babe, but there's a little. still going to be like food on the floor in a dirty high chair and kids that don't like your cooking. Like that's so going to be the life. Like you pick up, you go with you regardless of the environment of where you are. And so that's what I love about contentment. It's more about the character of who you are, not all these external factors of our life. And the truth is with the, well, I'll be happy when mindset is you're always waiting for the future. You're not living in the present where you are.

Starting point is 00:04:24 And once you get there, you get to that income or that amount of money. or that car or whatever it is, then the goalpost just moves. And it's like, then the next finish line is out a little bit. And then you got to get to that. And you got to get to that and that and that. And you just keep living this life. We're just trying to get bigger and better. And again, it's exhausting.

Starting point is 00:04:44 It is exhausting. And so that idea of contentment is so, so powerful with being joyful with where you are now. Now, before we dig into three mindsets that will give you lasting happiness, I want to tell you about one small. thing that makes me pretty happy. And that is Delete Me. Yes. Delete Me is an incredible service that goes in and removes your information from online

Starting point is 00:05:08 data broker websites because you don't realize it, but so much of the information you put out online then can be sold to other companies. And then you get spammers and scammers and it's just so annoying. So delete me goes in and deletes your information from the internet. So you can get an annual Delete Me plan for 20% off, which comes out to just $9 a month. So go to joindeleteme.com slash rachel or click the link in the description. All right. So let's reverse this like, I'll be happy when and practice these three things.

Starting point is 00:05:38 Number one is gratitude. Recognizing the blessings in your life is so key. So you may not have everything you want right now, but there are things in your life you can be grateful for. So focusing on that and studies have been done. People that like wake up and write a gratitude list of like three things they're grateful for. Truly like the brain chemicals in their body. Like it's amazing what happens from a chemical standpoint, physiologically, that people have more joy and more peace when they are grateful. And so gratitude is huge.

Starting point is 00:06:07 Number two then is humility. And I love the quote that humility is not thinking less of yourself, but it's thinking of yourself less where other people in the world have value when you actually put some of your time, money, and energy into other people and not just yourself. It's going to be very easy to live a life where it's all about you, it's all about me, all the time, 24-7, And all I'm thinking about is my life. And then you kind of set that down and you're like, no, maybe life's not all about me. Maybe it is about giving and serving. There's a level of joy that comes with that and that humility. And then out of that comes contentment.

Starting point is 00:06:37 And contentment, again, it's not laziness. It's not apathy. You can still, like, dream about things and want things. Like, that's not a bad thing. But the idea that you have peace within your current situation, that you have peace with where you're at and you're good. And if other things happen that are bigger and better, it's great. But you don't need those things to satisfy. you. But contentment is so huge in our, I would be happy when culture. And I wrote the contentment

Starting point is 00:07:03 journal about this because contentment is something that I for sure struggle with when it comes to stuff and money and all the things. And so it's a 90 day journey that really focuses on gratitude, humility and contentment because the emotional side of money, you guys, it is so, so important. Now remember, this is all a gradual process. So you're not going to feel it overnight, but learning to change some of these mindsets is really going to help you. And some small habits that you can put in your life can be life-changing. So keep watching on my next video, six habits that improve your life and your money.

Starting point is 00:07:35 Or if you're listening on podcast, I'll put a link below. All right, you guys, remember to take control of your money and create a life you love.

The Rachel Cruze Show - Why “I’ll Be Happy When. . .” Is a Lie

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