Welcome to Wisdom Wednesdays: your weekly dose of clarity.
Each week, enjoy a quick guided reflection, fresh insights, and a simple exercise to help you unlock what’s next—all in one powerful email.
Let's dive in!
Intentional Pause - Your guided reflection
7 minutes to more clarity
I sit on the second stair, focusing on the wall of pictures in front of me.
The air feels heavy with the weight of a pending decision, but this is where I come for clarity—for a reminder of what truly matters.
The pictures, arranged in a neat 3x4 grid, are snapshots of my life: family adventures, joyful smiles, and the quiet intimacy of snuggles captured over the years.
These aren’t just pictures. They are a mirror to my soul, a representation of everything I hold dear. They whisper truths that I might otherwise overlook in a stressful situation. These are the moments I’ll see on my deathbed. These are the memories I’ll always wish for more of.
I hold the pending situation in my mind, letting the loving energy of the photos cascade over my thoughts and through my body. A clarity begins to form, not from logic, but from feeling. The pictures remind me of our family’s North Star—our values, our vision, and our mission. And they make the path forward unmistakably clear.
The Conflict: Society’s Values vs. Ours
Many times on this intentional journey, we’ve faced decisions that test our ability to honor what matters most. And inevitably, those decisions involve money. It feels as though financial sustainability and our values are often at odds.
The world, as I’ve been exposed to it, is designed around money and the pursuit of more. It’s not inherently bad, but it doesn’t align with our definition of success.
For us, financial growth is important, but it’s not everything. It’s not the top value. Living this way certainly has its trade-offs.
What We Gain and What We Sacrifice
By prioritizing family and experiences over financial gain, we’ve created a life of immense richness—but it’s not without challenges.
The pros:
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We each work part-time from home.
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We spend countless hours with our kids and family.
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We have ultimate flexibility and freedom over our time.
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We get to prioritize the things that matter most to us.
The cons:
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Income as entrepreneurs isn’t always predictable.
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We sometimes overextend our lifestyle in money and energy.
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Financial challenges creep up on us when we’re not vigilant.
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Any disruption to our income feels precarious.
The fear of financial instability is real. But the truth is, we’ve always been okay. Maybe not by society’s standards of wealth and maybe not perfectly as our fear brains would prefer, but still okay. Beyond that, we continue to learn and get smarter, stronger and better with our systems.
And all of that is enough.
The Clarity Found in Feeling
Sitting on that staircase, staring at those photos, I’m reminded of what wealth really means.
It’s not in the bank account. It’s in the moments spent with family, the freedom to live on our terms, and the memories we’re creating every day.
True wealth is in how we feel about the life we’ve lived looking back on it.
And when I think back to all the financial challenges we’ve faced, I feel proud. Each one felt insurmountable at the time, but each one taught us to lean harder into our values. To learn, grow, and build something more intentional. To resist the pull of society’s narrative and instead craft our own.
What Do You Want to Remember?
When you’re faced with a tough decision, ask yourself this: What do you want to remember at the end of your life? Is it the hours spent chasing societal success, or the moments that made your heart feel full?
For me, the answer is clear. Those pictures on the wall say it all. They’re not just memories; they’re a guidepost. They remind me that every financial challenge is an opportunity to realign with what matters most. That where it counts, we’re already thriving.
Your Turn to Reflect
Below is a quick reflection opportunity. Take a moment to settle in and consider the questions below using the audio above to guide you.
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What are the “pictures” on your wall that represent your North Star?
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What’s a situation in your life right now that feels uncertain?
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How can you use your own version of the “pictures” to reconnect you with your values and provide clarity in the moment?
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What would it look like to prioritize what truly matters—even if it defies societal expectations?
The Invitation to Choose
As I sit on that stair, I make the decision. It may not be the most financially prudent path, but it’s the one that will light my soul on fire. And in the end, that’s what I want to remember: a life lived boldly, with love and purpose at its core.
What about you? What decision will you make today that aligns with your heart?
When and if you want to dive deeper, join us and a growing community of other intentional folks over at Owl & Key. We’re all making choices that support a more intentional path and would love to see you there.
With gratitude for your presence here, friend.
Krista
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