“I don’t want to compare to people who are doing worse than me.” That was a younger version of me. I’d look at how (I assumed) my friends and colleagues were doing, dismiss the ones who were less successful than me, and then feel bad that I wasn’t doing as well as the rest.
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According to a billboard on the NJ Turnpike, we spend more time staring into the fridge than planning for retirement. It’s not surprising--choosing a snack is serious business. Plus, we start staring into the fridge long before we’re old enough to work, so we have ahead start.
This Wednesday marks thirty years since I became an Enrolled Actuary. (Happy anniversary to me!) That was certainly a big milestone in my career, and I was proud of my accomplishment. “You should be proud,” others said to me at the time. “You worked hard for that.”
It’s true, I did work hard. But over the years, I’ve come to replace pride with gratitude. I’m grateful for my abilities. I’m grateful that I grew up in a home where I was expected to go to college. I’m grateful for my good opportunities and my better clients. It’s fine to be proud. Proud of our accomplishments, proud of our kids, proud of the lives we lead. I just think it’s important to remember that our circumstances, the help of others, and a bit of luck often play a part. So be proud...but also be grateful. #MondayThoughts #MondayBlogs #MondayMotivation |