"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self."
– Ernest Hemingway
Too often, we measure our lives against someone else's highlight reel. We scroll. We compare. We wonder if we’re behind. But the truth? Financial Independence (FI) isn’t about winning someone else’s race—it’s about making work optional so you can run your own.
Designing a life of freedom requires clarity and courage. It’s tempting to chase what's trendy, or to second-guess your path because it doesn’t “look like” success. But the life that lights you up might not be flashy—and that’s a good sign. If it doesn’t look like someone’s curated Instagram feed with a million followers, chances are, you’re doing something right.
Ask:
What actually makes me happy?
Who energizes me?
When do I feel most alive?
Then build your version of freedom around those answers.
And here’s the secret sauce: Stop obsessing over how far you have to go. Start celebrating how far you’ve come. That’s the difference between living in the GAP (what’s missing) and the GAIN (what you’ve accomplished)—a powerful concept from the book The Gap and The Gain.
Living in the Gain means recognizing progress, no matter how small. It keeps your momentum up, your mindset sharp, and your spirit strong. And in that state? You are truly uncontrollable.
So take a breath. Zoom out. Reflect.
And then? Take one bold step forward.
