“I wish I could win the lotto. It feels like the only way out of this grind.”

It looked like she had it all – the house, the career. But behind the scenes, she was exhausted. She said she wanted more lifestyle freedom, and less stress. I hear some variation of this sentiment often – if only I had “more money”, then I could live the life I really wanted.

If you really want to change your life – get clarity on why you want the money, and how it moves you towards the life you desire.Credit: Simon Letch

However, I’ve found that what people say they want and what they actually want, are two different things. Without getting clarity on the real underlying desires, you can end up chasing money without ever moving closer to the life you actually want.

A good analogy is – some people think: “I just want to lose weight.” But they don’t just want to lose weight – they also want a sustainable fitness routine, and a diet that isn’t heavy on restriction. Without clarity on these other non-quantifiable desires, they might choose a strategy that helps them lose weight – but doesn’t factor in their other goals.

Today, I’m sharing the unspoken desires I often see hidden behind the chase for “more money”, to........

© The Sydney Morning Herald