There was a time in my life, not too long ago, where the thing I worried about most was money. I was in a lot of debt (to me) and I seemed to never have enough of it. I stayed in an industry that made me absolutely miserable just because I had hopes of getting a better-paying job in the very near future.

Money fueled my actions. It swayed my decisions. I’d usually decide against experiences and purchases just so I wouldn’t spend money. I was boring. I was depressed.

It was an excuse not to pursue relationships. It was an excuse not to live life. I tried and tried to get ahead and I never seemed to be able to.

I was fixated on money. Like Lil Wayne used to say, “the money is the motive.”

Fast forward a couple of years and my relationship with money has changed.

It no longer controls me. I no longer work at a job I despise because of it. I go on vacation. I go out to eat every now and then. I treat myself and my wife and don’t feel guilty about it anymore. I eat healthy foods and finally put my health before money.

I’m more comfortable with money. It comes in…And it goes out.

I don’t care how much money is in my bank account anymore.

Do you know why?

It’s because I finally haveВ enough.

I’m no longer worried about money.

I’m not gonna lie; it’s a huge relief. It’s a huge amount of weight off of my shoulders. I don’t put a monetary value into my decisions. My decision-making process is totally different now. How do I try to decide things now?

I base it on some simple criteria: Will it make us (my wife and I) happier? If so, will it give us value now and a better future later? If so, go for it. If not, don’t.

You can complicate it as much as you’d like, but I prefer to keep things simple.

Now that I no longer worry about money, there’s a huge void in my life.

Being in the Personal Finance space, you would think that there’s not much more to life, right?! (I’m totally kidding.)

Since I don’t worry about money anymore, what is there to possibly worry about?

I’m about to blow your mind.

Are you ready?

3…

2…

1…

I just worry about other things now.*

Crazy, right?

Ladies and gentlemen, money isn’t the end-all, be-all.

More money isn’t the answer to all of life’s questions.

It won’t make you a better person.

It won’t make you healthier.

It won’t make you wiser.

It won’t make you a better spouse and it won’t make you a better parent.

Death doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t give a shit about how much is in your bank account.

Money is just a vehicle to exchange for other things.

That’s it.

Once you figure out a way to live with less and need less things, your relationship with money will improve.

You will no longer be money’s bitch. You’ll no longer be at money’s mercy. It won’t paralyze you when important decisions come up. It will no longer be a deciding factor.

You’ll be free of money’s grasp.

You’ll start seeing the bigger picture.

You’ll be in the driver’s seat. You’ll be more at peace.

You’ll have more time, attention, and energy for the more important things in life.

What exactly are the more important things in life?

That’s for you to figure out.

I hope you spend more time now doing that instead of trying to figure out how to make more money.

*В I bet you’re probably wondering what I’m worrying about right now, huh? With full disclosure, I’m worrying about what I’m going to have for dinner, how many people will actually read this, and how crazy my day at work is going to be tomorrow. I’m in at 6:30 am and probably won’t be done until around 3:30 pm and then I have to go back to do some late-night pick-ups at 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm. Just a day in the life of an Event Rental Professional.