Life of Compounding Interest

There is a gap in the messaging we are fed around happiness. On one side, we are told that money is the key. Hustle, be an entrepreneur, and get rich quick, as if everyone could if they only tried. On the other side, we are told that we are at an impossible disadvantage compared to those who have anything, so why try? Reasonable housing, employment, and necessities are all slightly out of reach. Both of these narratives are harmful to the average person. There is a lot of ground in the middle, between the overly optimistic and hopelessly pessimistic. In that middle ground, there is hope, appreciation, and the strategies that have served humans through changes and crises. These strategies are still applicable today.

Statistically speaking, the majority of us fall into the average. Most everyone will have the chance for average outcomes around experiences, intelligence, income, debt, love, success, and misfortune. What can tilt the scales is our focus and decisions along the way. The best decisions are made with intentionality, knowledge, and planning. This is why thinking economically as an average person is so important. This leverages the power of the masses to help you better predict outcomes and skew the odds in your favor. The challenging part is honestly assessing yourself and your situation, focusing more on your future success than your current experience.

Material success alone rarely produces happiness. The tradeoffs and foregone experience tend to produce a level of regret. Regrets in life are not a requirement; they are choices. Happiness isn't a goal; it is contentment. As our world changes and we are faced with opportunities and challenges, the best thing we can equip ourselves with is the ability to make sound decisions for ourselves. Informed decisions that we won't regret, even if things go wrong, and that we can be content with if things end up with an average outcome.

The average represents the masses, and it must work on some level or the whole system falls apart. The average can work, maybe not always how we wish it would, but it is achievable and manageable. It requires a respect for the complexity of the system, gratitude for our unique advantages, and a bit of temperance. With that and realistic expectations, we can shed hopelessness, stop wasting our time on greed, and live a truly good life.