“If a person gets his attitude towards money straight, then it will help strengthen out almost every other area in his life.” ~Billy Graham
To pursue financial security or your dream …
You’re in conflict, right?
I know because I’ve been there myself.
People often tell us that money isn’t everything, so we assume we can sacrifice money to pursue our dreams. Somehow it will work out. At least that’s what I thought.
What do you think about money? Is it everything or not?
I quit my job when I got married. My husband was a pastor in a small rural community in Vermont, and my dream was to help those in need and work with him in the mission field.
I helped serve in the community soup kitchen that ministered to those afflicted by addiction. Sometimes I worked in the food bank, and instead of getting paid in cash, they donated canned meat to the organization we were affiliated with.
It was work that fulfilled my soul but not my wallet.
Though I’ve been broke before and came out on top, I was suspicious we wouldn’t survive on one salary as a family.
My husband reassured me money wasn’t everything and we’d be okay.
Our budget was tight. We lived a simple life. We ate donated food, most of which was boxed and canned.
I longed for homemade food with fresh produce, but we couldn’t afford it. Instead, we tweaked the boxed and canned food as best as we could to make it taste better. I learned that if I added a different spice to the same meal each time I cooked, it tasted better.
We also learned to make our own 1% milk. We bought 2% milk, divided it into halves and filled each half with water. We didn’t care about the nutritional value as much as how far the milk would stretch.
We were surviving, but when you’re as broke as we were, one small thing can turn your world upside down.
We didn’t have health insurance, but I wasn’t bothered by it because I was healthy. Or so I thought.
I had a cavity that had never been a problem for years until it woke me up in the middle of the night and made me scream in pain. Talk of the world turning upside down. We couldn’t afford a dentist. And the pennies in the jar weren’t enough to afford the smallest container of Tylenol.
That is when I knew something had to change.
Living in rural areas has its downside regarding jobs. At least I didn’t get one.
A friend of mine knew how good I was with children and asked if I could watch her kids after school until she got home. I took her up on the offer.
This offer was a win because I still helped with the mission work in the morning, and I got paid for nanny work in the evenings. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
But, here is what I learned from the painful reality of becoming broke in the pursuit of dreams, and how to survive:
1. Follow your instinct.
I should have kept my job. Deep down I knew we wouldn’t survive on one salary, but I went ahead and quit. At least we should have first identified how much money we truly needed as a family before I quit.
Do you have a constant battle in your mind, one side telling you to quit and the other telling you to suck it up? Follow your instinct, but remember that if you chose to quit without a savings account, the bills will still roll in.
If your gut is telling you that quitting feels risky, be creative and find a way to pursue your dream while still maintaining your financial stability.
2. Honor friendship.
Sometimes we assume our BFFs knows what we’re going through, so we expect them to help. But in reality, they have no clue about how much we’re hurting.
Confide in your trusted friends about what you’re going through — you’ll be surprised by the help you’ll receive.
We sure wouldn’t have survived without friends. I called a friend when the toothache invaded and explained to her our money situation. She bought the largest container of Tylenol and paid the dentist fee.
There is no shame in asking friends for help when we really need it. But don’t be a mooch. One day you can return the favor or pay it forward.
3. Use your strength.
We all have something unique within. We learned through experience, formal and informal education, or job experience. Yet we don’t utilize that talent.
What are you really good at? What comes naturally to you? How can you use that skill to help you survive when you’re in a financial bind?
When my friend suggested I watch her children after school, I took up the offer and loved it. The kids loved sewing and knitting. I used my teaching experience to implement the activities.
4. Refuse to settle.
Are you in a tough spot and feel like you have no way out? We’ve all been there.
But don’t settle. Know that you deserve more. Settling can block your mind from seeing when new opportunities arise.
I told everyone I came across how poor we were and that I was okay with it because we were doing good work. But deep down inside, I wasn’t okay.
I longed for things I couldn’t afford, like a nice, warm winter coat. But the most unbearable parts were the things I couldn’t provide for my son.
For example, he didn’t even bother to tell us about the cookie exchange at school because he knew we couldn’t afford to contribute. He told his teacher his parents were always broke, so the teacher had other kids donate cookies to him.
It’s okay to experience being broke, but believe that you will find a way to change your situation. The more you believe, the more open you’ll be to potential opportunities.
5. Take consistent action.
Does your dream seem difficult to achieve? Is money holding you back? What can you do to bring you closer to it?
Be patient and consistence with yourself. Slowly and steadily work toward it.
You don’t have to achieve it overnight. Look at how long runners take to practice before they can win.
I slowly and steadily continued to pursue my dream while taking care of my financial responsibilities.
Trust me; you can pursue your dream slowly and still take care of yourself financially.
6. Create an emergency fund.
An emergency fund will save you on a rainy day.
Start saving whatever you’re able to, no matter how little. Lets say you tuck away $10 weekly that adds up to $520 a year.
That right there will make you giddy on a rainy day.
If we had money saved my toothache wouldn’t have turned our world upside down. If you don’t have a financial cushion, wait to pursue your dreams until you do.
Take action and follow your dreams while protecting yourself financially.
Because you don’t want to look back and regret that you followed your dream and had no money to spend.
But don’t let opportunities beneficial to your dreams pass by.
Believe in yourself, and call your own shots regarding your dream and money.
Slowly and steadily start working toward your dream.
What steps are you taking today to survive your financial struggles and pursue your dream?
Man and dollar symbol image via Shutterstock
About Ann Davis
Ann Davis is on a mission to help you identify your life's purpose so that you can live the life you've always wanted. Download the FREE GUIDE NOW. Discover your true talent and make it profitable.
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
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Ann, amazing blog post! Not the easiest topic, but you make it sound very simple (and looking back on my own situation I totally agree with you on the approach).
Wow Ann, an amazing story of experiences, awareness and insight. Anyone experiencing financial lack should really take heed. We all should know where our money comes from and where it’s going if we’re to be really good stewards and be open to receiving more. 🙂
Ann, I just love that you mention consistency. That, for me, has made such a big difference in my life. It’s one thing to commit, but it’s another to re-commit every day to something. I think that’s why so many of us don’t realize our dreams….we give up before we give things a chance to work. Your story is powerful and an inspiration to all!
I’ve wrestled with this particular dilemma for a while and I think ‘trust your instinct’ is good advice. While I’d never advocate reckless spending, I think if you have the slightest opportunity to do something and it’s important to you, make the leap. Most of the time, nothing really changes for the worse and even if it does, you’ll at least know you took the shot when most other people wouldn’t have had the minerals to do so. Even in Ann’s story, the world didn’t cave in when she couldn’t afford a dentist. She endured a difficult time and found a way to improve her situation. Personally, I’d always rather be moving along a path that’s taking me where I want to be and overcoming the obstacles it presents than settling for a situation that doesn’t bring me happiness. Finance aside, I always think having goals and moving towards them (however gradually) is the key to a fulfilling life.
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Thanks, Ashley. It’s painful re-committing, but it’s worth it.
What a wonderful post, Ann! As a novelist, I faced this–long and hard. It’s the enduring balance for an artist. And what I learned long ago is there is almost always a middle road–an amalgam of sorts.
And this is how I counsel the writers I work with every day now as well 🙂
Thank you for this!
Thomas, good points…I agree most people settle in when faced with calamities. While if they gave it a shot, and a little push they would overcome the difficulties.
Maria, Thanks for your comment. The worst passes away…how we handle it determines how we emerge after it’s gone.
Elle, you got it, good stewards to what you have opens for more.
Thanks for sharing what sound like really tough experiences and life lessons Ann. I’ve always been amazed at how saving a little over time really adds up. Great advice.
Thanks, Ann. What a story of perseverance in pursuing your God-given dream!
Thanks, Jamie.
Ellen, I learnt the art saving the hard way.
Susan, you’re right about the middle road…few find it though
Sometimes it’s worth taking the risk… In my case it was do that or spiral into hopeless misery in a job I loathed. Luckily my bet paid off and I have no regrets whatsoever.
I would also add you have a lot more personal power than you may believe, and if you are persistent and look out for opportunities – things will work out. 🙂
What a journey. Thanks for sharing your experience and the lessons you learned along the path. I especially like what you said about not settling. If your dream is something that you truly want, shifting the question from “can I make this happen” to “what needs to happen next” can be powerful. We can feel overwhelmed and like we need to make things happen “yesterday”, but in reality, there is always one next thing. And one thing feels more do-able than everything all at once. If you feel a passion for something, stay with it. But allow yourself the white space to take your journey at the pace that keeps you well, including financially well. Again, thanks for sharing your experiences.
Andrea, I agree that sometimes you have to jump and be all in. I think the key is getting really good at listening to your inner knowing. If we can do that, we will sense the difference between prudent planning and holding ourselves back.
《大佛頂首楞嚴神咒》
(此咒凡四百二十七句，二千六百二十字。)
南無楞嚴會上佛菩薩 (三稱)
妙湛總持不動尊 首楞嚴王世稀有
銷我億劫顛倒想 不歷僧祇獲法身
願今得果成寶王 還度如是恒沙眾
將此深心奉塵刹 是則名為報佛恩
伏請世尊為證明 五濁惡世誓先入
如一眾生未成佛 終不於此取泥洹
大雄大力大慈悲 希更審除微細惑
令我早登無上覺 於十方界坐道場
舜若多性可銷亡 爍迦羅心無動轉
南無常住十方佛 南無常住十方法
南無常住十方僧 南無釋迦牟尼佛
南無佛頂首楞嚴 南無觀世音菩薩
南無金剛藏菩薩
爾時世尊從肉髻中涌百寶光。光中涌出千葉寶蓮。有化如來坐寶花中。頂放十道百寶光明。一一光明皆遍示現十恆河沙。金剛密跡擎山持杵遍虛空界。大眾仰觀畏愛兼抱求佛哀祐。一心聽佛。無見頂相放光如來宣說神咒。
(第一會)
南無薩怛他蘇伽多耶阿囉訶帝三藐三菩陀寫
薩怛他佛陀俱胝瑟尼釤
南無薩婆勃陀勃地薩跢鞞弊
南無薩多南三藐三菩陀俱知喃
娑舍囉婆迦僧伽喃
南無盧雞阿羅漢跢喃
南無蘇盧多波那喃
南無娑羯唎陀伽彌喃
南無盧雞三藐伽跢喃
三藐伽波囉底波多那喃
南無提婆離瑟赧
南無悉陀耶毗地耶陀囉離瑟赧
舍波奴揭囉訶娑訶娑囉摩他喃
南無跋囉訶摩尼
南無因陀囉耶
南無婆伽婆帝
嚧陀囉耶
烏摩般帝
娑醯夜耶
南無婆伽婆帝
那囉野拏耶
槃遮摩訶三慕陀囉
南無悉羯唎多耶
南無婆伽婆帝
摩訶迦囉耶
地唎般剌那伽囉
毗陀囉波拏迦囉耶
阿地目帝
尸摩舍那泥婆悉泥
摩怛唎伽拏
南無悉羯唎多耶
南無婆伽婆帝
多他伽跢俱囉耶
南無般頭摩俱囉耶
南無跋闍囉俱囉耶
南無摩尼俱囉耶
南無伽闍俱囉耶
南無婆伽婆帝
帝唎茶輸囉西那
波囉訶囉拏囉闍耶
跢他伽多耶
南無婆伽婆帝
南無阿彌多婆耶
跢他伽多耶
阿囉訶帝
三藐三菩陀耶
南無婆伽婆帝
阿芻鞞耶
跢他伽多耶
阿囉訶帝
三藐三菩陀耶
南無婆伽婆帝
鞞沙闍耶俱盧吠柱唎耶
般囉婆囉闍耶
跢他伽多耶
南無婆伽婆帝
三補師毖多
薩憐捺囉剌闍耶
跢他伽多耶
阿囉訶帝
三藐三菩陀耶
南無婆伽婆帝
舍雞野母那曳
跢他伽多耶
阿囉訶帝
三藐三菩陀耶
南無婆伽婆帝
剌怛那雞都囉闍耶
跢他伽多耶
阿囉訶帝
三藐三菩陀耶
帝瓢南無薩羯唎多
翳曇婆伽婆多
薩怛他伽都瑟尼釤
薩怛多般怛藍
南無阿婆囉視耽
般囉帝揚岐囉
薩囉婆部多揭囉訶
尼揭囉訶羯迦囉訶尼
跋囉毖地耶叱陀你
阿迦囉蜜唎柱
般唎怛囉耶儜揭唎
薩囉婆槃陀那目叉尼
薩囉婆突瑟吒
突悉乏般那你伐囉尼
赭都囉失帝南
羯囉訶娑訶薩囉若闍
毗多崩娑那羯唎
阿瑟吒冰舍帝南
那叉刹怛囉若闍
波囉薩陀那羯唎
阿瑟吒南
摩訶揭囉訶若闍
毗多崩薩那羯唎
薩婆舍都嚧你婆囉若闍
呼藍突悉乏難遮那舍尼
毖沙舍悉怛囉
阿吉尼烏陀迦囉若闍
阿般囉視多具囉
摩訶般囉戰持
摩訶疊多
摩訶帝闍
摩訶稅多闍婆囉
摩訶跋囉槃陀囉婆悉你
阿唎耶多囉
毗唎俱知
誓婆毗闍耶
跋闍囉摩禮底
毗舍嚧多
勃騰罔迦
跋闍囉制喝那阿遮
摩囉制婆般囉質多
跋闍囉擅持
毗舍囉遮
扇多舍鞞提婆補視多
蘇摩嚧波
摩訶稅多
阿唎耶多囉
摩訶婆囉阿般囉
跋闍囉商揭囉制婆
跋闍囉俱摩唎
俱藍陀唎
跋闍囉喝薩多遮
毗地耶乾遮那摩唎迦
啒蘇母婆羯囉多那
鞞嚧遮那俱唎耶
夜囉菟瑟尼釤
毗折藍婆摩尼遮
跋闍囉迦那迦波囉婆
嚧闍那
跋闍囉頓稚遮
稅多遮迦摩囉
刹奢尸波囉婆
翳帝夷帝
母陀囉羯拏
娑鞞囉懺
掘梵都
印兔那麼麼寫
(第二會)
烏
唎瑟揭拏
般刺舍悉多
薩怛他伽都瑟尼釤
虎
都盧雍
瞻婆那
虎
都盧雍
悉耽婆那
虎
都盧雍
波羅瑟地耶三般叉拏羯囉
虎
都盧雍
薩婆藥叉喝囉刹娑
揭囉訶若闍
毗騰崩薩那羯囉
虎
都盧雍
者都囉尸底南
揭囉訶娑訶薩囉南
毗騰崩薩那囉
虎
都盧雍
囉叉
婆伽梵
薩怛他伽都瑟尼釤
波囉點闍吉唎
摩訶娑訶薩囉
勃樹娑訶薩囉室唎沙
俱知娑訶薩泥帝隸
阿弊提視婆唎多
吒吒甖迦
摩訶跋闍嚧陀囉
帝唎菩婆那
曼茶囉
烏
莎悉帝薄婆都
麼麼
印兔那麼麼寫
(第三會)
囉闍婆夜
主囉跋夜
阿祇尼婆夜
烏陀迦婆夜
毗沙婆夜
舍薩多囉婆夜
婆囉斫羯囉婆夜
突瑟叉婆夜
阿舍你婆夜
阿迦囉蜜唎柱婆夜
陀囉尼部彌劍波伽波陀婆夜
烏囉迦婆多婆夜
剌闍壇茶婆夜
那伽婆夜
毗條怛婆夜
蘇波囉拏婆夜
藥叉揭囉訶
囉叉私揭囉訶
畢唎多揭囉訶
毗舍遮揭囉訶
部多揭囉訶
鳩槃茶揭囉訶
補單那揭囉訶
迦吒補單那揭囉訶
悉乾度揭囉訶
阿播悉摩囉揭囉訶
烏檀摩陀揭囉訶
車夜揭囉訶
醯唎婆帝揭囉訶
社多訶唎南
揭婆訶唎南
嚧地囉訶唎南
忙娑訶唎南
謎陀訶唎南
摩闍訶唎南
闍多訶唎女
視比多訶唎南
毗多訶唎南
婆多訶唎南
阿輸遮訶唎女
質多訶唎女
帝釤薩鞞釤
薩婆揭囉訶南
毗陀耶闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
波唎跋囉者迦訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
茶演尼訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
摩訶般輸般怛夜
嚧陀囉訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
那囉夜拏訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
怛埵伽嚧茶西訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
摩訶迦囉摩怛唎伽拏訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
迦波唎迦訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
闍耶羯囉摩度羯囉
薩婆囉他娑達那訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
赭咄囉婆耆你訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
毗唎羊訖唎知
難陀雞沙囉伽拏般帝
索醯夜訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
那揭那舍囉婆拏訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
阿羅漢訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
毗多囉伽訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
跋闍囉波你
具醯夜具醯夜
迦地般帝訖唎擔
毗陀夜闍嗔陀夜彌
雞囉夜彌
囉叉罔
婆伽梵
印兔那麼麼寫
(第四會)
婆伽梵
薩怛多般怛囉
南無粹都帝
阿悉多那囉剌迦
波囉婆悉普吒
毗迦薩怛多鉢帝唎
什佛囉什佛囉
陀囉陀囉
頻陀囉頻陀囉嗔陀嗔陀
虎
虎
泮吒
泮吒泮吒泮吒泮吒
娑訶
醯醯泮
阿牟迦耶泮
阿波囉提訶多泮
婆囉波囉陀泮
阿素囉毗陀囉波迦泮
薩婆提鞞弊泮
薩婆那伽弊泮
薩婆藥叉弊泮
薩婆乾闥婆弊泮
薩婆補丹那弊泮
迦吒補丹那弊泮
薩婆突狼枳帝弊泮
薩婆突澁比犁訖瑟帝弊泮
薩婆什婆利弊泮
薩婆阿播悉摩犁弊泮
薩婆舍囉婆拏弊泮
薩婆地帝雞弊泮
薩婆怛摩陀繼弊泮
薩婆毗陀耶囉誓遮犁弊泮
闍夜羯囉摩度羯囉
薩婆囉他娑陀雞弊泮
毗地夜遮唎弊泮
者都囉縛耆你弊泮
跋闍囉俱摩唎
毗陀夜囉誓弊泮
摩訶波囉丁羊乂耆唎弊泮
跋闍囉商羯囉夜
波囉丈耆囉闍耶泮
摩訶迦囉夜
摩訶末怛唎迦拏
南無娑羯唎多夜泮
毖瑟拏婢曳泮
勃囉訶牟尼曳泮
阿耆尼曳泮
摩訶羯唎曳泮
羯囉檀遲曳泮
蔑怛唎曳泮
嘮怛唎曳泮
遮文茶曳泮
羯邏囉怛唎曳泮
迦般唎曳泮
阿地目質多迦尸摩舍那
婆私你曳泮
演吉質
薩埵婆寫
麼麼印兔那麼麼寫
(第五會)
突瑟吒質多
阿末怛唎質多
烏闍訶囉
伽婆訶囉
嚧地囉訶囉
婆娑訶囉
摩闍訶囉
闍多訶囉
視毖多訶囉
跋略夜訶囉
乾陀訶囉
布史波訶囉
頗囉訶囉
婆寫訶囉
般波質多
突瑟吒質多
嘮陀囉質多
藥叉揭囉訶
囉刹娑揭囉訶
閉隸多揭囉訶
毗舍遮揭囉訶
部多揭囉訶
鳩槃茶揭囉訶
悉乾陀揭囉訶
烏怛摩陀揭囉訶
車夜揭囉訶
阿播薩摩囉揭囉訶
宅袪革茶耆尼揭囉訶
唎佛帝揭囉訶
闍彌迦揭囉訶
舍俱尼揭囉訶
姥陀囉難地迦揭囉訶
阿藍婆揭囉訶
乾度波尼揭囉訶
什伐囉堙迦醯迦
墜帝藥迦
怛隸帝藥迦
者突託迦
尼提什伐囉毖釤摩什伐囉
薄底迦
鼻底迦
室隸瑟密迦
娑你般帝迦
薩婆什伐囉
室嚧吉帝
末陀鞞達嚧制劍
阿綺嚧鉗
目佉嚧鉗
羯唎突嚧鉗
揭囉訶揭藍
羯拏輸藍
憚多輸藍
迄唎夜輸藍
末麼輸藍
跋唎室婆輸藍
毖栗瑟吒輸藍
烏陀囉輸藍
羯知輸藍
跋悉帝輸藍
鄔嚧輸藍
常伽輸藍
喝悉多輸藍
跋陀輸藍
娑房盎伽般囉丈伽輸藍
部多毖哆茶
茶耆尼什婆囉
陀突嚧迦建咄嚧吉知婆路多毗
薩般嚧訶凌伽
輸沙怛囉
娑那羯囉
毗沙喻迦
阿耆尼烏陀迦
末囉鞞囉建跢囉
阿迦囉蜜唎咄怛斂部迦
地栗剌吒
毖唎瑟質迦
薩婆那俱囉
肆引伽弊揭囉唎藥叉怛囉芻
末囉視吠帝釤娑鞞釤
悉怛多鉢怛囉
摩訶跋闍嚧瑟尼釤
摩訶般賴丈耆藍
夜波突陀舍喻闍那
辮怛隸拏
毗陀耶槃曇迦嚧彌
帝殊槃曇迦嚧彌
般囉毘陀槃曇迦嚧彌
哆姪他
唵
阿那隸
毘舍提
鞞囉跋闍囉陀唎
槃陀槃陀你
跋闍囉謗尼泮
虎都嚧甕泮
莎婆訶
Thanks, Jenny. I like your point on the white space 🙂
Thank you for talking about this. I myself contemplate some changes in my life to make things more fulfilling, but I don’t like the idea of “drastic” changes that put me in risky situations, either, when things are generally stable at this time (why fix something that isn’t broken?). Everything in moderation (even moderation), but even moderation is hard to deduce at times. Thank you so much for making it a little bit easier. *HUGS* 🙂
Thank you for sharing your authentic experience, Ann. I agree with listening to your inner wisdom and taking consistent action towards your dream over time. Perseverance is key.
Thank you for your comment, Linda.
Marc, thank you and Welcome.
Very sensitive Subject. Thanks. I admire your courage to let the world know that you need help! I had a similar experience when I found difficult to get employment in my second career because of my age (past 50 at that time). I had followed your route too. One person unexpectedly took up my difficulty for discussion in a meeting that immediately got me an offer right on the Spot!
Though you’ve not put it categorically, I suppose, your financial problems must have ended similarly. But, please bring it out now.
Shanker, better late than never, I ended up getting a job and we were out of financial struggle. Ann