The more I travel along this journey towards financial freedom, the more I realise that I’ve grown a lot over the past few years. Partly it is due to growing older as I am approaching 41 years of age this year 2012. My coming to four years old daughter has also taught me more about the joy of life, to live and let live as well as allowing me to understand how the journey towards financial freedom is sustainable only if there is a purpose to it all.

When that purpose goes beyond yourself, then the motivation can be strong as it’s not only about myself but about providing for my loved ones.

I am at the stage now where I’m less uptight about money. It’s still important but there are too many variables in life that we cannot control. Life is more about living your passion and doing what you’re good at and have an interest in. I count myself fortunate that my current career allows me to do what I’m good at and yet be interested in the things I’m doing.

It’s coming to March where bonuses would be paid and while I’m looking forward to it, I’m not reliant on it as I strive to live within my means. Nowadays, I feel less “gian” or have less of the urge to go blow it on something extravagant or frivolous simply because I know that it will be provide lasting satisfaction or happiness.

My approach of spending 10-20% of windfall gains allows me to indulge a little but yet maintain that balance. I am happy with the small luxuries of an iPad2, a andriod smartphone and being healthy and happy. Happiness is about having what you want and wanting what you have. The older I get, the more I realise I want less to be happy and I am appreciative for what I have.

Really, health is my priority now and the fact that my office has a gym affords me fewer excuses to go work out. Health truly is wealth and I need to invest effort and energy into it.

Have you had any recent reflections in your journey towards financial freedom?

Share with Panzer in the comments section.

Be well and prosper.

The recent break-downs in the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit system or MRT (especially the serious ones last Thursday and Saturday along the North-South line) offers us some lessons in our journey towards financial freedom.

Numerous bloggers have discussed the socio-political issues arising from the breakdowns and SMRT’s top management’s abysmal lack of timely response and updates to the commuters. This post will not go over the same issues.

What is more instructive is to learn about how we can avoid the pitfalls encountered by SMRT during this recent crisis.

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