Photo: Csaba Veres / Unsplash
It’s pretty universal that everyone wants a good life, but what this means to each individual will vary wildly. When trying to live your best life, it’s important to stay grounded, so be sure to consider the below reality checks.
More Income Means More Problems
There’s a common saying that goes, more money, more problems, and when it comes to taxes, it couldn’t be more true. Many people consider having a high income a key part of living their best life, but they don’t consider the implications of this.
For example, if you have multiple streams of income but don’t consult a tax accountant, you can very quickly end up in hot water with the government. By the same token, jobs and side hustles that pay more often also come with more responsibility and stress, making it a delicate balancing act.
Necessities Should Always Come First
Another common mistake people make when trying to live their best life is trying to keep up with the Joneses. In reality, no matter how much you may want the nice bag, new car or frequent getaways, they should never come at the expense of covering necessities. If fulfilling these desires hinders your ability to cover the things you actually need, you’re not living your best life, you’re digging yourself a hole.
Social Media Isn’t Real
Comparing your life to what you see on social media will cause nothing but pain. When looking at someone’s socials, it’s important to remember that what they share with the world is most likely the highlight reel, not their day-to-day life.
And sometimes, it’s simply straight up fake. While some people give a deeper insight into their real life, this isn’t common, so comparing yourself to what you see online will leave you feeling lacking nine times out of ten.
And Sometimes Even Real Life Isn’t Accurate
On the note of everything not being as it appears, sometimes even the things right in front of you don’t paint an accurate picture.
Your neighbor’s luxury car could be buried under a ton of finance, the person you’re meeting with who has a fancy city address may simply be making smart use of their resources and operating out of a private office in a coworking space, and the person down the street who looks like they have it all may cry behind closed doors. The point is, unless you know someone well, and sometimes even then, you never know the full story.
You Only Have So Many Hours In A Day
Unfortunately, for most of us, there are never enough hours in a day to do everything that we want and need to do. Because of this, you’ll probably have to sacrifice some of the activities you want to complete in order to keep on top of the things you need to complete. While this obviously isn’t enjoyable, once you make your peace with it, life will run a lot more smoothly.
Your Actions Impact Others
Finally, when striving to live your best life, it’s important to be aware of the fact that your actions impact those around you. This is particularly important for those with children to remember, as you’re no longer living for your own wants and needs, but is a valuable thing for all to keep in mind. Because of this, it’s important to think about how your decisions will affect those around you before locking in any large choices.
Living your best life is great, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of necessities or those around you. Keep these reality checks in mind when making decisions and accept that you won’t be able to have or achieve everything you want, and you’ll find life a lot more fulfilling.