Fulfillment. Contentment. Happiness.
Few people use those words to describe their mindset about money. We are always striving for more, thinking that the next level of wealth or income will finally bring us happiness.
But it never does.
So how can we fix this and drive more contentment with our money?
By giving generously to others who need it more than ourselves.
This may sound counterintuitive. If my goal is more, how would giving some away (thereby having less) actually help me be more content?
In his book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller highlights a group of the most financially content people he'd ever met. Their secret? They were living a lifestyle far below what they could afford so that they could give generously to others.
When we give our money to those in need, it forces our mindset to shift. We have a realization of how much we really have, and how blessed we are compared to others.
You might think there's an easier way to contentment. Couldn't we just "trick" our minds into contentment by watching a documentary or reading an article about people in need? But while that helps, I don't believe it has the same impact. Something about truly giving and taking action is what creates the mind shift for me.
All of a sudden the $120 new sneakers do not seem like a "must have." In moments of clarity, I even find myself wondering if that second $15 cocktail at the restaurant is the best use of my money.