Your wants and needs are enough to create the life you desire to lead.

There's a commonality that my clients and I share. We've believed for too long that who we are and what we want is not enough. We've achieved so much academically and professionally, but never enough to avoid criticism or maybe even reprimand. This belief trickles into everything - even the way we spend our money.

The other day, I was reading an article about money and it reminded me of what my life looked like with this old way of thinking. The article gave some typical advice about how to categorize your money and at the very end it detailed how you should prioritize budgeting your money.

The list read as follows:

• Priority No. 1 is a starter emergency fund.
• Priority No. 2 is getting the employer match on your 401(k).
• Priority No. 3 is toxic debt.
• Priority No. 4 is, again, saving for retirement.
• Priority No. 5 is, again, your emergency fund.
• Priority No. 6 is debt repayment.
• Priority No. 7 is you.

When I read that I had to do a double-take.
I am the last priority? I think not.

Articles like this are why I created my coaching program. So many of us are trying to leverage generalized advice to curate a life that is unique. When it doesn't work, we blame ourselves. The problem isn't you. The problem is lack of advocacy for creating success on our own terms.

When I look at this list, I see the advice the old me would have taken.

•  I had an emergency fund that was steadily growing meanwhile I was only paying the bare minimum on my debt.
• I was maxing our my 401K contributions, meanwhile I was only paying the bare minimum on my debt.
• I was focused on retirement, savings and paying debt, meanwhile the life I wanted to create was on hold.

That's what happens when you're priority #7.

When I began to define my own success metrics, I shifted my focus. In 3 years, I funneled $95,421 into implementing the vision for my life. That money funded my debt payoff, startup costs for my business, 2 conferences, travel around the world, cash payment for our van build out and my jump from corporate America to entrepreneurship.

You are at the center of everything.

Today, I encourage you to throw out the conventional ideas and add one line item to your budget that's just for you.

What is the vision for your life?

How can your spending be a reflection of that?