The Iso Tank Blog

When does the line in the sand get drawn differentiating what we need from what we want? Physically, emotionally, and mentally. Should that be something we just know; something we just feel? Do some of us even need the line? If so, do we at least get a discount on the stick?

It would be nice if we could keep our needs & wants organized in boxes. Our inventory would be updated weekly, and sent to us via email so we could keep a running tab. And, for $1.99/month, it would also determine where each ‘item’ fell in the bigger picture. What a deal!

Unfortunately, there are no organized boxes for intangible items, nor can we have another person keep track of our ever growing inner-inventory. Someone should have thought of that. We came up with Oreos; why this is so hard? I’m not sure. But a lot of people have trouble figuring out what it is they truly need from another person, and more importantly, for themselves.

Do we need and want differently at different ages? At different milestones? After different life experiences? Sure. Though I don’t think it makes it any easier, as there will always be new feelings & desires to categorize.

When you were younger you needed to eat enough vegetables, and wanted freeze pops. For 20- and 30-something year olds you need a steady income, and probably still will want freeze pops, among other things. For 40- and 50-something year olds it’s about needing to have your t’s crossed and i’s dotted in your IRA’s, and, you may still want freeze pops. Or a vacation home. Maybe you want both, which is understandable.

I don’t want a luxury car, or a mansion, or a vacation home. I want to love, to create, to find passion, understanding, respect & laughter. For myself, I’ve always considered my wants to be my needs, and my needs to be my wants.

Maybe at the end of the day some of us don’t want to categorize things. Maybe some of us don’t want to struggle with determining the differences.

Maybe some of us choose wide open spaces instead of divided ones.

I’ve splurged on $200 jeans or $50 bottles of wine, but at the end of the day those are luxuries I’m grateful for, not everyday occurrences I crave.

Whether you have a three- or seven-figure bank account, being able to separate yourself from material objects will ultimately improve your quality of life. You’ll begin to enjoy the simple pleasures, and focus on what you have or need, instead of what you want or wish you did.

Before we get in to deep.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeing something in a store and wanting to buy it. The issue comes when the urge-to-splurge consumes you. Saying, “I wish I had ::insert product here::” more often than not is a common warning sign, and if you’re experiencing it, please seek medical assistance as soon as possible.

So, where do we start?

Back to the basics.
You need shelter, but not a mansion. You need clothing, but not True Religion. You need food, but not fillet mignon. There’s a big difference between “need” and “want”, and Americans have blurred those lines rather well over the years. If you are in a position where you can afford those things, be proud of that, but don’t feel as though you need them to project your success; that becomes a very tricky avenue.

Don’t make a wish-list.
Who needs to focus on a list of items they can’t yet afford? It will just leave you feeling worse about your situation. You may by default become less-stressed by eliminating these, as you’ll be focussed in the present moment instead of the future.

Live withing your means.
If obtaining something will put you in financial stress, stay away. You shouldn’t purchase a home or car and then be so strapped for cash you can’t even enjoy it. Who wants to spend every day stressing about What If’s? ‘What if something breaks and I have to replace it’ or ‘What if I can’t afford the monthly $2k mortgage’, etc.

Retail therapy is not the answer.
Spending money you don’t have is not therapeutic. Charging up your credit cards in moments of stress is a bad, bad idea; you’ll just end up being even more stressed afterwards. If you must buy something (which I’m not condoning, but hey, we’re only human) go for something inexpensive and small you can enjoy for an extended period of time – Plants for the garden or a new set of wine glasses. Think smaller during these shopaholic moments.

Detach yourself from careless spending.
This is important at every income level. You don’t really need 10 different bottles of lotion so don’t allow your mind trick you into thinking you do. At $40,000/year you might want to buy a Range Rover. At $1,000,000/year you might want to purchase a $10 million home – Neither is sensible.

Turn to nature.
Instead of going on a shopping-spree with a friend go on a nice walk or run, and plan to grab lunch or dinner together later on to reward yourselves for not blowing $500 on items you really don’t need.

The point of controlling your mindset regarding money is not to limit yourself to buying what you can afford, but instead to start thinking about other things before you think about whipping out your wallet. Try to begin focusing on what you have — Life becomes a much happier and less-stressful place when you do.

Americans have become a “dreader breed”. Somewhere along the way we stopped enjoying and started scowling. People dread working out, change, other people, traffic, lines, waiting, work, the alarm, bills, the economy, politics, technology, commercials…. Shouldn’t we be focusing on the positive and enjoying our time instead of dreading it? If you seem to only be having ‘you’ time during your lunch break and after dinner, then that is not living; that’s getting by.

Take traffic. Okay, so if it’s hot and you have no AC that’s rough, I hear you. But most things aside it’s just another one of those instances we allow ourselves to get worked up and frustrated. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could stay calm and not let it bother you? Not have the anxiety about missing your plane, train, appointment, or meeting? You can! YOU have the power to become a healthier, happier, calmer, more productive person, and all it takes is shifting your thought patterns and outlook.

Let’s start with the Morning Blues — Getting your day started on the right foot is key.

Change your mindset: Don’t dread waking up. Life is meant to be lived while we’re conscious. There is plenty of time to catch up on those zzz’s but remind yourself there is a whole world out there waiting for you to come change it.

Breakfast. Don’t skip it! Get up 30 minutes before you need to and make yourself a cup of coffee and eat something that will energize you. If it’s warm out, even better — Sit outside and enjoy the sun.

Peace & quiet. If you rise before the rest think about how calming the atmosphere would be; just you and your thoughts. It’s a great time to do something for yourself. Go for a walk, read the paper, write, or set some goals for the day.

Find your energy boost. If you go to bed at a decent hour, eat right, exercise, and hydrate, once 6 or 7am rolls around you’ll be ready to jump out of bed and see what the day has to offer. If you’re waking up tired and unable to function, you’re probably not getting enough sleep to leave you feeling refreshed the next day. This could also be related to stress, which we’ll cover in another post.

Take pleasure in the simple things. The sun rise. The sound of birds. The slight chill in the air. How quiet it is around you. Relax.

Set the tone for the rest of the day. If your morning is bad, chances are the first half of your day is going to be bad.. Especially if your local coffee shop screws up your order. Get yourself in the mindset that living a new day is exciting; it’s an unwritten chapter just waiting for your pen to take it over (how about that analogy!). Get excited about life! It will make everything seem less stressful and more rewarding.

Live a longer day. The sooner you wake up in the morning the more time you are able to spend doing the things you love, especially on the weekends. Think of how many more family & friends you could see, and things you could do.

Healthier. Being on a normal schedule will improve your overall health. You’ll feel more alert.

More to come! Here is an excerpt from my next post:

“Hard work is something we should be grateful for being able to still handle. There will come a day when we can’t cut a lawn, shovel snow, go for a long walk or run, or think on our feet as quickly as we can now. Remind yourself next time you wish you had a snow blower or a gardener that staying mentally & physically fit as long as you possibly can will make your life richer, fuller, healthier, and happier.”