happiness

The Happiness Manifesto – Part 3 – Take Notice

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There is something rejuvenating about plane rides for me.  Strange as it may seem, it is a small space of time, in between gate connections and rental cars, that I have a moment to reflect on my life, my relationships and the joy of where I am at the moment.  It forces me to slow down, read edifying books, and write about the things that I am focusing on right then.

So, as we continue the Happiness Manifesto, our next point is…

1.  TAKE NOTICE … Be curious, catch sight of the beautiful moments, be aware of the beauty of your world, reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters.

Research suggests that it is the moments of pausing, reflecting, noticing, that creates a self-regulatory behavior.  So, those moments of meditation, of cognitive behavior therapy or just writing your thoughts on the moments you live will help you to be aware and choose the actions that are more in line with your values and your interests.  It is this awareness – this thoughtfulness – that can inspire us to live our best lives.

So, too, can taking notice of your financial lives.  I know you have heard me say that it is not about the money, and I mean no different here.  Take notice of the things that you do for the money – does it align with your values and your intent in this life that you live?  When you invest, do you look at the results that you aim for, or are you so tied up in the volatile world of that currency that you lose sight of what is truly important in the grand scheme of your life?  If you say to me that your life is not grand, I would want to know why – you are the master of your destiny, so shouldn’t you live a very BIG life?  Create what will inspire you and move you into the life you desire.  Money is just the tool that will get you there, so make it do what you need.

We tend to dream about what we will do later in our lives, what joy we will have when we start living our lives and stop working for money.  I am here to challenge you to find what you love NOW, and start to create the life you want to live so that you can work with the money.  Or, at the very least, make the money work for you and your grand dreams.

And, I would love to hear what those dreams are!  You are welcome to comment or email me and tell me how you are dreaming your best life.  I’ll post some of those dreams here, so you can be held accountable for living that grand life.

The Happiness Manifesto – Part 2 – Take part

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There is something about running and hiking that renews my spirit and reminds me of what is important in my life.   I will actually laugh out loud while pushing myself to the limit in which I am comfortable, and then pushing myself over the edge of the precipice of my normal boundaries.  It is like the act of moving actually imparts some mental or spiritual benefit.    Which may actually be the case, as there are experts that state that physical exercise can decrease depression, reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure and help a whole host of other physical ailments.  Some doctors state that it can be as effective in the treatment of depression as medication.

2.  BE ACTIVE … Go for a walk or run.  Step outside.  Play a game.  Garden.  Dance.

So, let me take this same action and say, “Take part, be a part, of your investment and financial choices.”

There is nothing that you can not know.  There is nothing that is beyond your potential to grasp.  If you can read this blog, you can understand things about your money and your finances.  Sure, you may not want to grasp all the minute details of how a non-publically traded REIT works, may not want to be eminently wise about all the workings of Mezzanine Financing, may not desire to be intimate with all the details of how to choose the right Private Wealth Management company for your portfolio.  However, you should know what these investments are meant to accomplish, you should be clear about the risks that they entail and how it might affect you, and you should be very knowledgeable about the philosophies that your wealth advisor takes when helping you to choose great investments for your future and your wealth.

You do not have to spend 8 hours a day learning and studying the intricacies of the financial markets.  But, you should know what your money guide means when she says, “this is a good choice.”

You should take action, be a part of each decision, so that you are working together with your wealth advisor to make the informed decisions that will lead to a better money life, with more money happiness.  ?