It’s not about where you live—it’s about how you live. Your mindset, priorities, and daily decisions shape your future more than any border ever could.
By: Rebecca Witherspoon, June 20, 2025
It’s easy to romanticize life in another country, especially when you’re feeling burned out, underpaid, or disillusioned with your current reality. Social media amplifies this illusion—scenic cafés in Paris, siestas in Spain, six-week vacations in Norway. I know, I see these social media posts all the time and have even had some of those same thoughts from time to time over the years. In fact, I have friends who travel full time—but unlike many folks, they were very intentional in their choices of what to prioritize in their life. And yes, there are structural and cultural differences between nations that shape quality of life. But what often gets left out of the conversation is the personal element: our individual choices, priorities, and mindset play just as critical a role—if not more—in shaping our lifestyles than our country’s policies or economic models.
A Reddit thread recently captured this sentiment. The original post took a tone of condescension: “You’re welcome for American dollars covering your second-rate country.” One of the responses offered a thoughtful counter: “I technically make more money than my friends in France, but one lives in a house and goes on vacation twice a year while I don’t. I have more apples, but I prefer oranges. I’d rather have less salary in France than a higher salary in the U.S. because the money I have in the U.S. doesn’t really get me what I want.”
It’s a relatable analogy—but also an incomplete one.
The responder implies that despite a higher salary in the U.S., their quality of life falls short compared to their French friends. But what the comment leaves out is revealing. If you read through previous comments by this same Reddit user, they reveal they live with their relatives. They reference spending money on things like tattoos and video games. It appears they make a very good salary, even by American standards, and yet it appears they may not be saving for that home they want, investing for their future retirement, or even prioritizing the travel they seem to long to do. In essence, they’re trading potential long-term satisfaction for short-term gratification—and then pointing to the country as the reason they’re not “getting what they want.”
This isn’t a dig at tattoos or games. Everyone deserves their personal joys. But those choices add up, and they reflect something bigger: your life doesn’t just happen to you; it’s shaped by you.
We often frame discussions about international living standards through a lens of external factors—healthcare, vacation days, wages, taxes. Those things do matter. But so do internal factors: your mindset, your financial discipline, your values, and what you’re willing (or unwilling) to give up to get where you want to go.
Goals are powerful—but only if we act on them. Without clear steps and consistent effort, goals remain little more than dreams. And unfulfilled dreams, over time, often turn into frustration, bitterness, and regret. It’s not enough to say you want to own a home, travel the world, or retire early. You have to identify the actions that will get you there—and actually take them. Otherwise, you’re living like a leaf in the wind, carried by whatever gust blows your way, wondering why nothing ever changes. Success isn’t luck. It’s discipline, direction, and follow-through. When we don’t take the necessary steps to reach our goals, it’s not the world holding us back—it’s our own inaction.
Two people can live in the same country, make the same salary, and end up with drastically different lifestyles—simply based on their habits and choices. One saves for a house and retires comfortably. The other spends on experiences and/or material things and wonders why they can’t seem to get ahead. It’s not just about what you make, but what you choose to do with what you make.
There’s also a powerful psychological layer at play—your mindset. A scarcity mindset focuses on what’s missing: not enough money, time, or support. It often resents those who appear to live more comfortably, without pausing to consider the disciplined choices and sacrifices that created that lifestyle. Excuses take the place of accountability, and the blame is usually directed outward—toward circumstances, systems, or other people—rarely inward toward personal decisions. In contrast, an abundance mindset sees possibility. It recognizes the value of saving now to build later, of making short-term sacrifices for long-term gains, and of investing in personal growth even when it’s hard. Those with an abundance mindset don’t envy success—they study it. They ask, How did they do it? What can I learn? And if they haven’t achieved their goals yet, they own that—it’s not because someone else stood in their way, but because they haven’t taken the right steps yet. The reality is, the U.S. doesn’t prevent people from taking vacations, building wealth, or living well. It just demands more intentionality and personal responsibility. That may be harder—but it’s far from impossible, as countless everyday success stories prove.
Likewise, moving abroad won’t magically fix everything. If you overspend in the U.S., you might overspend in France. If you prioritize short-term pleasure over long-term growth in America, you’ll likely do the same overseas. A location can enhance your quality of life—but it can’t define it for you. You bring you wherever you go.
So, before longing for another country’s lifestyle, it’s worth asking: have you really maximized your potential where you are? Are you making choices that align with what you truly want, or just reacting to what feels good in the moment? Are you blaming external factors for internal decisions?
The grass might look greener elsewhere, but often, it’s greener where you water it.
In the end, financial freedom and life satisfaction are not solely about geography—they’re about alignment. Aligning your money with your values. Aligning your goals with your daily choices. Aligning your mindset with your future vision. Whether you’re in Houston or Helsinki, New York or Nice, the equation is the same: your life is the result of what you prioritize, not just where you live.
So, before you book that one-way flight, first look in the mirror. You might just find that the life you want is closer than you think—IF you’re willing to do what’s necessary to build it. Don’t just dream—decide. Don’t just compare—commit. Wherever you are in the world, the real secret to a better life starts with your next choice. Set the goal. Make the plan. Take the step. Whether you’re aiming for financial freedom, deeper fulfillment, or a life that finally feels like your own—stop waiting for the perfect country, the perfect economy, or the perfect time. Start building it, right where you stand. Because the life you want isn’t somewhere else—it’s in the decisions you make from this moment forward.
Musings By Rebecca 