For better or worse, language has a significant influences on who we are and what we do in life.

What, for example, is the definition of the word retirement? How has this shaped your life? More importantly, is this definition yours? Or is it shaped by conventional wisdom? If you haven't formed your own concrete definition of retirement, which may be the largest single financial (and non-financial) pursuit of a lifetime, you're unknowingly allowing the conventional meaning of retirement to shape your actions—to define your life.

 

Many words and terms that define your life are abstract; they may be useful for quick and general communication, but these terms can be so general that they almost have no real meaning.

Words can also be dynamic; their meanings shift in meaning over time, especially on a personal level. For example, does rich mean the same to you today as it did when you were twelve years old?

Clinging to abstract, static, conventional meanings of words that potentially define your actions and your life can be perilous, if not extremely expensive, both in financial and non-financial terms. For this reason, it's important to consciously define words for yourself and to periodically reshape the definitions, much the same as you would implement, monitor and evaluate your financial plans, as your life evolves.

Here are five words that shape your money and your life, followed by some questions to guide — but not force — your own thoughts and definitions.

 

Happiness

Are you seeking happiness? Is it something you find or does it find you? Can money buy happiness? What really makes you happy? Is it relationships with other people? Is it having or is it giving? For some added perspective, the root of happiness is hap which aligns with the meanings of other words like “chance” or “fortune.”

 

If happiness is more of an occurrence or even a wonderful surprise, can it be self-created? If not, why do we pursue something that “happens?” How much money have you spent trying to catch happiness? What is the price of pursuing happiness? What might you gain if you stop pursuing it?

Rich

Does money make you rich? If so, how much does it take and how do you know you won't keep increasing this amount once it is obtained? Is money a tool for your life or is your life a tool for money? Without a concrete definition of rich, might you just be chasing the proverbial carrot that is never reached? Do you feel trapped in the so-called rat race? If money does not make you rich, what does?

 

Which is the wiser pursuit, to get rich quickly or to get rich slowly? It depends upon your definition of rich! Is rich a state of financial well-being or is it a state of contentment and overall well-being?

Freedom

This word receives some of its greatest abuse and deception in the term financial freedom. Does money buy freedom? Are there any financially poor people who are free? Are there any financially wealthy people who are not free?

Defining this word may be as difficult and futile an effort as defining truth; however you may be served well to at least frame freedom in a similar way as did 20th century philosopher, Erich Fromm. He divided freedom into freedom from and freedom to:

• Freedom from, according to Fromm, is negative freedom and it is based in fear because it is sought as relief from uncertainty or from restrictions placed on an individual by society (e.g. other people, government, financial creditors). Seeking freedom from can paradoxically reduce or remove one's actual freedom.
• Freedom to is the healthy form of freedom because it is the form where the individual obtains the capacity to be creative, to act as the authentic self. When one obtains the means to be creative and authentic, they are enabled to reach the highest form of productivity because their actions are purposeful and meaningful; therefore, the individual is content by acting as the authentic self.

Success

What does success look like? Is it a state of being? Is it simply reaching a goal? If you don't reach the goal, is it failure? Why or why not? Do you associate success with the acquisition of money, material wealth or social status?

 

If, like happiness, success is not a creation but a natural occurrence, should you be pursuing it?

 

Retirement

What is retirement? Is it a destination or a journey? What thought or vision does the word evoke? Is it financial status? Does one have to be in their sixties, debt-free, and have a nest egg large enough to generate 80% of pre-retirement income at a 4% annual withdrawal rate to be retired? Why or why not?

 

Can you see how such a large potential cost of time, money, career decisions and other life sacrifices is associated with retirement? If money is only one of the many tools to help accomplish your definition of retirement, how much money do you really need to be retired? Could you already be retired now?

Words to the Wise

All of these words are useful because of their abstract nature — they have a general, universal meaning so they are easily understood for purposes of mass communication. Be careful, though, not to allow words and terms to lead you down the paved road of social conventions. To lead a life of meaning and purpose, you must create your own path; define words and terms for yourself. There is no wrong way to attach your own meanings to words, except to ignore doing it all.

 

What do you think? What words do you believe must be defined by and for yourself? What conventional, abstract words do you believe have the potential to mislead? Are some of the words featured today better left without concrete definitions?