5 Principles That Help Me Stay In my Abundance Era
As I approach my ten-year anniversary in the Bay Area and prepare for a move to another state, I reflect on my journey with mixed emotions. Marin County, with its breathtaking beauty and proximity to one of the world's best cities, has been truly magical. Yet, despite my efforts, I haven't been able to achieve the financial milestone of owning a home here without help from elders or lucky financial windfall.
Homes here start at $1.2 million, often with significant drawbacks like small sizes or major structural issues. The financial burden of hefty mortgages and substantial down payments simply isn't feasible for us.
Walking through Marin County, I sometimes feel like an outsider, unable to plant roots where I've grown to love. Rejections of our offers on homes, deepen this sense of defeat, prompting questions about my accomplishments over the past decade. Could I have done more? My highest self has a home in Marin County, doesn’t she? Am I not good enough to live here?
But amidst these reflections, I realize that feelings of defeat are not aligned with my highest self, defining my worth by physical achievements like owning property misses the mark. True fulfillment isn't about possessions; it's about a deeper sense of being. My highest self isn't defined by a specific address; it's a state of feeling aligned, grateful, and fulfilled. I don’t have the choice of my upbringing or my luck with financial gains, but I do have the choice on how to feel. I choose to feel how my highest self would feel: grateful for the last decade, happy that I ever got the chance to live here (albeit in an apartment), the sights and experiences, and appreciation for how far I have come.
So, while a home in Marin County may not be in my immediate future, I choose to embrace gratitude for the experience. Coming from Tucson, Arizona with absolutely nothing but a college education from a tier two school, I really should not have made it here at all. So, instead of feeling defeated by the lack of financial resources to buy a home in Marin County, I feel impressed with myself to be here at all. Shifting my perspective from what I can’t have, to what I can have.
As we prepare to move to Austin, TX, I am learning to move past the feelings of defeat and focus on how grateful I am for the experience to be here at all. I'm reminded of how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to buy a home even if it’s not in Marin County. It grounds me in gratitude for the journey and excitement for what lies ahead.
This reflection made me think of a few principles I find really helpful.
Redefine Success: Success isn't tied to possessions or specific milestones; it's about how you feel in your life. Focus on alignment, gratitude, and growth over material achievements.
Gratitude as a Compass: Shift your perspective from what you lack to what you have. Gratitude transforms feelings of defeat into appreciation, allowing you to celebrate your journey rather than dwell on unmet goals.
Growth Over Comparison: Resist the urge to compare your path to others'. Each journey is unique, and your worth is not tied to societal measures of success, like owning a home in a certain location.
Embrace Change with Openness: Life's transitions, whether planned or unexpected, are opportunities for growth. Lean into the unknown with curiosity and faith that new chapters bring new opportunities for joy and fulfillment.
Find Home Within Yourself: Your highest self isn't confined to a place. Home is a feeling of alignment, peace, and gratitude that you can carry with you wherever you go.