My Six-Figure Salary, and the Whisper of 'Not Enough'

There’s a strange, quiet conversation I’ve had with myself, often late at night when the house is finally still. It starts with looking at a pay stub, then glancing at the bank balance, and a little knot forms in my stomach. On paper, everything looks… good. More than good, actually. The number is well into six figures, a milestone I worked hard for, prayed over, and truly felt was a blessing. And it is. But then, the whisper: “How are we still doing this?” Still watching the checking account like a hawk. Still feeling that familiar tug of 'almost there' but never quite 'there.'

The Unspoken Truth

It’s not a complaint, really. Not exactly. It's more like a perplexing riddle. My husband and I, we've built a good life. Our adult daughter is thriving, finding her own path in this wild world. We have a comfortable home, food on the table, and certainly no shortage of blessings. Yet, I know I’m not alone in this peculiar financial dance. It’s a reality many of us in a certain income bracket experience but rarely speak about outright – this dance of high earnings and equally high, often invisible, outgoings.

It’s the mortgage on the house that felt like a dream. It’s the cost of living that seems to climb faster than any raise. It’s the subtle, almost subconscious pressure to maintain a certain standard, for our family, for our future, sometimes even just for appearances. There’s a constant juggle: saving for retirement, helping our daughter navigate student loans, the unexpected car repair, the rising cost of groceries, home maintenance, health insurance deductibles. It all adds up, quietly chipping away at that impressive number until it feels… well, manageable, but certainly not overflowing.

Slowing Down, Counting Blessings

As the days shorten and the November air turns crisp, bringing that unmistakable scent of woodsmoke and damp leaves, my thoughts naturally turn to gratitude. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, a time for gathering around the table, for remembering all that we’ve been given. And in that quiet space, I try to root myself back in what truly matters. The warmth of my husband’s hand, a shared laugh with our daughter on the phone, the comfort of this home we’ve made. These are the riches that truly sustain.

I find comfort in Abraham’s story, how God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars, long before he saw even one child. It speaks to a kind of trust, a looking beyond the immediate account balance to a deeper well of provision. Sometimes, I just need to say a quiet prayer, reminding myself that true security isn’t found in a number in a bank, but in a peace that passes understanding. It helps ground me, even when the numbers feel tight.

Just Being Here

This isn't a problem to be solved with a quick budget overhaul or a new investment strategy. Not entirely. It's more about acknowledging a tension that exists. A recognition that having "enough" on paper doesn’t always translate to feeling "enough" in the everyday rhythm of life. And maybe, just maybe, that’s okay. Maybe it's part of the human experience, a reminder to keep perspective, to keep working hard, and to keep appreciating the small graces.

So, if you’re also living this quiet contradiction, earning well but often wondering where it all went, I see you. You’re not alone in that space where gratitude meets a little bit of financial anxiety. Does any of this resonate with your own journey?

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