Why Wealth Is an Eco-System Worth Fighting For
What a Difference a Week Can Make
I think back to my time in Portugal…
The true beauty of my wealthy, juicy life affording me the opportunity to pack up and move to Europe for 5 months, our first week in a small town just north of Porto was a soggy and wet state of affairs.
I really had to pull myself towards myself, give my mind a strong talking to, put my big girl panties on and resolve to having fun.
Sometimes we have to pull out all the internal mindset stops to
make the most of this glorious life we have.
Sometimes we get into funks - that isn’t the problem - the problem is
not having a strategy to get out of them.
Getting systems and strategies and processes to make money for me while I get on and play at this thing called life is a fabulous way to get out of a funk!
And this is EXACTLY why your wealthy life is an eco-system.
Yes, I was dealing with a soggy, cold and gloomy time in Portugal… BUT I quickly shifted my mindset to feeling profoundly grateful to be living this wealthy life full of experiences, memories and freedom - especially because I know what it feels like not to be here.
But just a week ago, it was a completely different picture. It was dark, gloomy, and my mind felt foggy, buried under a heavy drug-induced cloud of overwhelm.
I want to share this journey with you because…
The Pain of Disconnection
Another journey I want to share with you…
A time when I broke my right arm, as frustrating as the physical limitations of breaking my dominant arm… they pale in comparison to the pain of feeling disconnected.
Disconnected mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
High doses of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, combined with the effects of general anesthesia, made me feel like I’d been cut off from my power source.
Sure, I wasn’t feeling physical pain, but everything felt dull, less vibrant.
But it wasn’t just the drugs.
For over four weeks, I wasn’t able to do what fuels my soul—connecting with nature and moving my body.
My beloved morning walks with Cara, letting the sun wash over me, feeling excitement about the day ahead... All gone.
The Mental Fog Creeps In
The fog set in...
I couldn’t think clearly…
When my team needed decisions, I felt confused and unsure. This led to overwhelm, which spiraled into feelings of incapability.
Thoughts like, “How could I be loved if I’m so useless?” started to take root.
My energy evaporated, and I felt like I couldn’t do the things I needed to do for my well-being or business.
And what did that lead to?
More frustration, self-flagellation, and some wild thoughts!
At one point, just five days post-op with my arm still in a cast, I even considered calling a personal trainer because I feared I was putting on weight.
Crazy, right?
A Deep Empathy Emerges
In that dark place, I felt a deep empathy.
Empathy for the 90% of the population living their lives in a fog, some without even remembering what it feels like to be fully switched on. For some, this fog is drug-induced—antidepressants, painkillers.
For others, it’s processed food, sugar, and the heavy layers of excess weight. And for many, it’s brutal self-judgment, shaped by a world that defines worth by possessions, status, or looks.
Empathy for every person struggling to get on top of their money game—whether it’s sorting out debt, starting to invest, planning for future financial well-being, or dealing with the fallout of a divorce or death. They know they need to do it, but the fog weighs them down, leaving them stuck and overwhelmed, unable to act.
This fog becomes just another stick to beat themselves with.
Gratitude in the Midst of Darkness
And then, gratitude came. Gratitude for two huge things:
1. Financial Freedom Brings Peace
Unlike millions of people in similar medical predicaments, I didn’t have the added stress of worrying about the financial impact. I didn’t lose a wink of sleep over how I’d pay for the surgery or the knock-on effect on my business due to delayed projects.
While I was in that dark place, my assets were out there doing what they do best—working hard for me.
2. The Power of a Wealthy Life
The second wave of gratitude hit when I realized I had experienced, for a fleeting moment, what it means to live without true wealth—and not just financially.
A wealthy life isn’t just about not worrying about money. It’s not just about great relationships, or support from an incredible team, family, and friends. It’s not only about having a healthy, drug-free body or feeling connected to nature and a higher power that lifts you up.
It’s not just about having a mission or a vision of a better world that I can contribute to.
It’s about all of these things. None of them is more important than the other.
Wealth Is an Eco-System!
A truly wealthy life is like a delicate, beautiful eco-system. Each element works together in perfect harmony to create the most extraordinary symphony—our lives.
And that eco-system? It’s worth fighting for.
With Huge Love,
Ann
