Noelle Wright

Working towards paying off my student loans was one of the most scary, liberating decisions that I decided to embark on. When I first took out my graduate school loan and moved to France in 2013, I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know what interest was and how that would affect the life of the loan. I just went with whatever the Department of Education was offering.

Fast forward to life right after graduate school, the reality of Hawaii public sector wages hit me hard. The thought of paying through almost $60,000 in student loan debt seemed impossible, and I believed I wouldn't be done until I was 40. As a 23-year-old, that was fine, though, because I had no plans to own a home, start a family, etc. However, the reality of this loan was a constant worry.

It was a trip home to visit my sister and brother-in-law that really got me thinking about how I'd been approaching my loans, as they had been aggressively paying down loans. I had heard many podcasters preach about "financial freedom" and paying off $100,000 in two years. I would get bitter inside and thought that doing what they were doing was impossible for myself. However, with the inspiration of my family, I saw that it WAS possible. I realized I was mentally stuck in a limiting mindset, and my bitterness at those paying off their debt was a projection of the insecurity I felt in my own situation.

As I started to reach my later twenties, I moved to a much better paying career and started a long-term serious relationship. I decided it was no longer time to be held down by my debt in order to manifest the life I intended to create for myself and with my partner. For me, there was no better time than now to work on my debt - while I had low expenses and a stable job. I happily traversed into an ABUNDANCE MINDSET. I shifted my thinking from not believing I had enough to believing that I did have the means to get out of this debt, and that everything I had now was all I needed. Money can be so stressful, but when our minds are controlled by it, it blocks us from serving our higher purpose. Financial freedom is also a mindset and a practice in discipline. The more you practice, the more you evolve. My goals were to 1) taking responsibility through hard work and discipline, 2) liberate my mind from the worry of money and feeling of lacking, and 3) turn this journey into part of my sadhana, or spiritual practice - spiritually work on discipline and seeing myself and everything around me as abundant.

Here are a few things that helped me along the way.

Know how much you owe and your interest rate. It can be scary to face how much we owe. I didn't keep track when I was borrowing, only to find out I had initially borrowed $59,410.93. I was so scared to face how much I owed, that I didn't really start paying attention until 2018. Be clear with how much you owe so you can start setting goals that work for you.

Know your monthly spending vs. how much you make. Be completely honest with yourself so you can see your net outflow and what extra you can realistically put towards your loan. This also allows you to cut off expenses that you may not need.

Refinance. It took me five years before I proved I was credit-worthy for refinancing, but it got me a lower interest rate, so keep trying. Do your research when looking at companies (I myself refinanced with CommonBond).

As much as you can, pay your minimum then build to paying over your minimum. When I had a low salary, I applied for income-driven repayment (IDR) to pay lower than my minimum. Even when my salary got higher, I got mentally stuck in an IDR-mentality, but I was actually doing myself a disservice. If you start to make more money, start paying that pre-IDR minimum right away. Even better, start paying MORE than your minimum. Set up automatic payments so you don't know what it feels like to have that extra money to spend. Personally, I paid a portion towards my loan every week.

Make more money. This sounds blunt and I understand everyone has different circumstances. For me, though, moving to a job that paid me $30,000 more per year and gave me much better benefits like, fully paid healthcare, paid transportation, and life insurance really helped. Also, taking on a side hustle changed everything. I work really hard right now and put in the time, but I know that in a few months I can live more comfortably and have more free time. Don't let making more money, though, inflate your lifestyle.

Listen to podcasts and go online for inspiration. Sometimes it can feel like you are alone in everything, but when you enter the online world, you'll see that there are a ton of people in the same boat and with their eyes on the same prize. My favorite podcast has been Afford Anything with Paula Pant and watching Aja Dang's YouTube videos on her own personal journey.

Get a financial planner to help you.  They help you stay accountable, and can provide you with tools to use to help you figure out how much you should be paying to meet your goals.

Live frugally where you can. Discipline. If you can't increase your income, decrease your expenses. I forgo a car because of multiple reasons; I don't have kids, I live in a convenient and walkable part of the city well-served by public transit, I want to lessen my impact on the environment, and I quite frankly just hate driving. Since my company pays for my bus pass, I basically have no transportation costs except for occasionally buying my boyfriend's gas (the rare times he lets me). I also still live at home and get an unbelievably subsidized rent to help my mom out. Ever since I discovered Poshmark, I got rid of a lot of clothes and made over $1,500 on the app. I also now don't buy new clothes; I only buy clothes on Poshmark. I also participate in a yearly "Lent" with my friends that has really helped me break some bad habits (I credit this exercise to me no longer watching TV except for Game of Thrones, and cutting down clothing spending habits by 75%!). It also helps to unsubscribe from newsletters that tempt you to buy more stuff. Living frugally is a mindset. It doesn't have to feel like frugality; think of it as living simply. It could feel more liberating to be freed from ownership of too much stuff. There are less things to think about and less clutter to look at. If you experiment or practice changing your mindset, you may be surprised at what you can let go of materially to live well, while at the same time saving money.

...But don't deprive yourself. When I started my student loan journey, I was definitely overwhelmed by the budget aspect because I wanted to preserve my lifestyle. I didn't want to cut down on the things I valued, especially on food, fitness, and travel. I resolved not to cut corners on the things that mattered most to me. It was important to me to not get into the mindset of deprivation.  Still buying what is nourishing for your soul is crucial in preserving joy throughout the process.

Save for big expenses. Start a separate savings account for bigger expenses, like a trip, car, training, etc. Calculate its estimated total cost and how much could be saved for it per month. Then, establish a savings timeframe and automatic monthly transfer into that account. It's important to not be tempted to dip into that account. Personally, my big ticket items are travel. I don't feel scared to take a vacation because I know I already have the funds for it set aside.

Celebrate the small wins. Whether its setting up that detailed budget spreadsheet or the big-ticket savings account or putting an extra $100 towards your loan, be proud of yourself every step of the way.

Don't obsess over it. Oddly, once I started making progress on my loans, I became obsessed with paying them off. I realized the space it was occupying in my mind was large. It's important to not let the whole process consume your life, and be patient with the journey.

My post below originally appeared on Yoganonymous.com on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Enjoy!

Months ago, I left my home practice and started practicing at a local studio.

Attending class helped me make my practice a habit, taught me proper alignment, opened up my practice to exploration, and gave me a new community of yogis to love. Each of my teachers has blessed me with their knowledge, and I quickly became addicted to the studio practice. I never practiced at home anymore because I figured all my learning could be done there.

[Related: 10 Ways to Strengthen Your Home Practice]

There came a time when my practice started feeling stagnant. It wasn't that we were practicing the same things all the time or that I had perfected all the poses- far from it. I couldn't quite put my finger on it until one of my teachers inspired me to practice at home.

The feeling I got after my first practice after months was so empowering. "I got through it," I thought. I was able to flow and use my breath and everything my teachers had taught me to come up with sequences that were inspired by them, but also very much uniquely me. I spent time focusing on poses I wanted to practice, and the breakthroughs came. I was reminded of what made me love yoga in the first place - the feeling of freedom.

Yoga practice often parallels life, and this breakthrough in my practice had come at a time of transition and exploration of my independence. Whether it is through attachment to people we hold dear or to circumstances that may be changing, even the most independent may fear going at it alone sometimes. Through letting go of that fear of not being able to lead myself through a practice, I discovered within myself limitless possibilities and enormous courage. I found that this inner power did not just apply to my life on the mat, but beyond. I may not always be in control of the situations around me, but I am in control of my reaction towards them, the people I put in my life, the things that I let affect me, and my overall happiness. I am a being of resiliency and the leader of my life. Knowing this empowers me to live life freely and authentically, to face challenges head on, and to not fear "failure," because to try and be persistent with sincere intention is in itself a complete success.

4 Lessons From a Home Yoga Practice to Ignite Inner Strength

1. Let go of your ego.

Over time, practicing in a group made me less self-conscious, and I let go of the need to compare myself to others, but I remained my own biggest critic. I oftentimes have struggled with feeling 'good enough' for myself. Practicing alone has forced me to confront that.

With just me and the mat, I have to get vulnerable and let go of the fear of failing and feelings of inadequacy and judgment. When I did, breakthroughs – both in asana and in mind –happened, and I realized that I am, indeed, enough.

2. You can be both independent and loved.

Though I depend on my teachers to lead me through entire classes, I realized that their guidance actually gave me the freedom to explore deeper, not bind me to their specific style.

And isn't that real love? Sharing your soul and guidance, but giving one the space to be them self? I was reminded that this is how I should go through life loving others.

3. ...And you need to love yourself!

Taking the time to spend with myself on my mat helped me look inward and appreciate my mental capabilities. Physically, I grew to admire the bravery it took for me to try certain poses. I grew grateful to myself for dedicating the time to practice. I loved myself for being able to laugh at falling or looking silly. I was amazed at this powerful, capable vessel that housed my soul - my body - and wondered how I could have ever criticized her so hard for not looking a certain way. I was discovering all of these things about myself that made me, me – and I loved it all!

4. Have fun with it!

During this time alone, I was free to practice at my own pace and to focus on balancing my chakras. I could choose whatever music helped me flow best (yes, my mix includes both Sufjan Stevens and Jay Z!). I was also free to go for poses I would not have normally tried in class. Use this time to go for that pose you saw on Instagram that looked impossible. And if you fall, laugh it off! Because if you keep practicing with clear intention, it will come eventually.