Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
I was working on a post to encourage people to pay off debt and quickly filtered through my favorite stock photos to get a picture that might inspire or at bare minimum convey the essence of what I was trying to say. Searching “debt” brought up several images. Most were pictures of unbalanced budget forms or overdue bills. Some featured currency. But the pictures that caught my eye in this particular query were the ones of the people – models hired for the purposes of a photo shoot displaying their best “debt” face.
Many cradled their head in their hands, their faces blurred by the angle of the camera. Some sported a look that I would liken to a constipation face. Several were depicted with who you were to assume was their partner. Hands flung in the air, they both looked at each other with gazes of desperation.
Now, I can attest to the fact that being in debt will cause you to make funny faces. I made approximately one hundred and twenty-seven thousand “Oh crap, we’re in how much debt?” faces over the years. I’m not diminishing the stress that finances can place upon a marriage. I’m not minimizing the struggle and the fear and the overwhelming sense of defeatism that rolls through your soul because life feels ridiculously out of control. For years, my face in private reflected all of the above times 127K.
However, I think we easily buy the cultural lie that paying off debt means you must be miserable.
That you’ll never do anything fun.
That life will be boring.
That your children will suffer.
That no one will like us.
That you won’t be able to keep up with what’s going on in the world.
That each of your days is destined for sackcloth and ashes, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Can we spend a few minutes busting those myths? We spend so many days thinking that money is deeply rooted to who we are; that it determines our happiness. Certainly, having enough money to cover our basic expenses brings a sense of relief. But can I share a secret of the universe with you? No matter how much or how little you have, money has no power to make you happy.
On the flip side, the lack of money shouldn’t be allowed the luxury to make you miserable either.
Paying off debt requires sacrifice. By its very definition sacrifice can be painful. But there’s a difference between pain and misery. Pain is most times temporary – a stubbed toe, a broken bone, a searing cut. All can be healed over time. Misery is forever – a deep ache and longing for something more. I’m of the opinion that the something more you long for isn’t of this world and it certainly can’t be attained through money.
Fight through the pain, debt slaying warrior. You do not have to be miserable. Your sacrifice has greater purpose and this season of your life? It is temporary. Find joy and even happiness in the simplest of things as you wage your war. Show that debt dragon that he cannot hold your being prisoner and even your finances won’t be under his control much longer.
Take a deep breath and smile. You’ll be glad you did.
Gain inspiration to pay off debt! Now Available! Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. Or check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
