Yesterday, my partner turned to me and said:
“I feel like we’re struggling in California. Should we start thinking about moving?”
She was reacting to California’s proposed shift to a mileage tax—charging per mile driven rather than at the pump.
And I totally got it.
We still eat out, but lately we’re often shocked by how high the bill is.
So we cook at home more (thankfully I’m a pretty good cook 😉).
But when she said those words—“we’re struggling”—something inside me said, That’s not true.
It didn’t feel aligned with how I see our situation.
So I said, “I disagree.”
Because here’s what I also know:
✅ We’ve been intentional about saving and investing.
✅ We’re still growing our earning power.
✅ We buy food we enjoy, travel for joy and connection, and live in a home that we love.
✅ We wake up every day to work on things that deeply matter to us.
We’re not struggling—we’re thriving.
This isn’t about being tone-deaf or dismissing the very real challenges people face.
It’s about choosing a lens that helps us keep moving forward.
Because I believe: our words shape our lives.
If I keep saying I’m struggling, I’ll find evidence to prove it.
When I say I’m thriving, I’ll start noticing the opportunities and the possibility.
If I say I can’t, I won’t.
And when I say, “I’m gonna hit $250K this year,” I’ll be resourceful and creative to make that true.
So how about you?
🌀 What are the words you’re using lately?
🗣️ What kind of world are they creating?
Loving you,
Wen