I was thinking today about values. Not sure why. It just struck me to question the difference between what I believe my values to be versus what my thoughts and actions each day show that they are. And the disconnect that can persist in everything that we do, dragging down our moods and removing us from even the possibility of success. So how can they be so different?
It’s easy to think of values I would explain to other people. I might say that a core value of mine is a dedication to healthfulness. In my mind, for this to be true, I must be knowledgeable about my medical history. I must keep up with my vital statistics. I’ll make good dietary decisions at each meal. And other qualities. But is this really what I subscribe to?
It’s much more difficult to tease out the things we say to ourselves in the dark. The habits we may or may not feel guilty about but that reveal our true priorities. The truth with a capital “T” is that I fall short in all the above areas. My thoughts are filled with my favorite Wendy’s french fries that I eat more often than I should at lunch. I give myself permission to eat “bad” things because I’m stressed and deserve a treat. I haven’t done a thorough audit of my medical history and that of my family. And so on.
Honestly, much like the other ideas I put forward on this site, I still struggle with bringing my thoughts and actions in line with my values. Everyday life is a never-ending exercise in embracing my authentic self.
But I guess the point of this post is to share my struggle with this and invite you to challenge your own ideas of what your values are. To what degree do your core values, the things about yourself that you take the most pride in, take a back seat to everyday life? To what degree do you put happiness and balance last? And then, what steps can you take to truly bring your life in line with what is truly important, making it your Truth?
I, for one, am putting having a conversation with my parents about my medical history on my calendar. I’m going to also make an appointment with a nutritionist to make sure the new habits I work on forming are the right ones for my body. And I’m going to make a grocery list after that visit to start incorporating some of those foods. I’ll take it one step at a time and find comfort in knowing that my Truth is within reach and moving in the right direction is indeed virtuous enough. May your journey to your authentic self be a fulfilling one.
Continue reading about A journey to virtuous values, even in the dark
How often do you go to bed at night wishing you could start the day over and get more done? The solution to this is a common one: time management. But unfortunately, we denigrate this concept. It’s the unwanted step-sister, forced to stay at home. Scrub those floors Cinderella! But the ground that lies beneath your feet can actually teach you a new perspective, allowing you to decrease your stress and still go to the ball!
In real estate, there is a concept referred to as the ”highest and best use.” In a nutshell, the highest and best use is the reasonably probable use that produces the highest property value.
In this concept, the current use of a piece of land, may not be the most profitable. And therefore, it makes more sense to re-purpose the property and achieve the highest value.
For example, a real estate investor might buy an unusually large piece of land, tear down the house that sits on it, divide the land into two properties, and build a new house on each one. Then, he can sell two houses instead of one! Or, if he gets the zoning changed from residential to commercial, he could get a store to generate even more cash.
This concept can certainly be applied to time. Most of us give up many opportunities each day in making better use of our time and bringing our goals to us faster. For example, you could stand in line at the bank steaming because it’s taking so long. Or while you’re on your way to completing the day’s banking, you could see the extra time as a gift and decide on an action for a problem you’re having in your business or at work. Or you could decide what is for dinner and save time later because you’re not wandering around your kitchen lost and confused.
Now you’ve prevented lower uses of your time later by taking full advantage of the time you have now!
I’ve elevated the concept of highest and best use of time to a Wealthy Appetite fundamental because it’s pivotal to maintaining our sanity in this fast-paced, high stakes, pressure cooker called life. And time strain and drain is a major stressor.
So the next time you’re wishing there were 25 hours in a day or feeling overwhelmed by the busy day ahead of you, take a step back and do some creative time management. Think high impact. How can you combine tasks? What is the ONE THING that if you get it done today will help you sleep tonight? Stop trying to pack too much in. Trust in the end result. Cinderella will thank you!
Continue reading about What your lawn can tell you about time management
How do you feel when you get up in the morning? Imagine bounding out of bed with a smile, grateful for the new day and ready to take on the world! For too many, this idea is laughable. It doesn’t need to be. Do these simple exercises, and you’ll be on your way to finding your passion!
Exercise 1: Ask people you trust what they think you’re good at. Tell them that you want their input on what they think fits you if you were to choose a new line of work.
You might be surprised at the answers people give! And if more than one person says the same thing, you might want to brainstorm ways of making money around that idea.
Don’t be scared off by suggestions that you’ve discarded in the past. They could just need tweaking.
For example, if you’ve been told that you’d be a great teacher, but the thought of standing in front of a classroom and dealing with behavior problems makes you ill, consider different avenues. Would you prefer being an author? A public speaker, paid to talk about a topic that you’re passionate about? What about consulting? Is one-on-one interaction more your style?
Take the strengths you already have and combine them in new ways. Have fun with it!
Exercise 2: Brainstorm what feeds your soul. Don’t edit in your brain. Just let it spill out on a piece of paper, even if it sounds silly.
If you have trouble getting started, try one of these:
When I was 15, I liked to…
My ideal day would start…
The key here is to be specific. Don’t just write, “I want to work from home on my computer and have the freedom to go traveling.” That’s not enough. What are you doing at home? Where are you going and why? Who is your ideal customer or client?
If by the end of the exercise, you’re smiling, then you’re on the right track!
Exercise 3: Did you hear something on TV or from friends that peaked your interest? Use this as an opportunity to learn more about it.
Find someone in that profession, perhaps someone you know. Offer to take the person out to lunch for an opportunity to pick her/his brain. Alumni associations and non-profit groups often offer opportunities to network with or look up people in various disciplines.
Here are some questions to ask the person you find:
- What does an average day look like for you?
- How would I get started? What education do I need?
- What do you like most about your line of work? Like least?
- Do you make enough to support your lifestyle, or do you have other streams of income?
- What do you wish you would have known before you started?
Don’t forget to get business cards from these people! They could become mentors that you contact occasionally for advice. At the very least, you can make the person part of your network.
Exercise 4: Another way to explore your passion is to find a free or low-priced seminar in your town.
Check out county-sponsored workshops. Or search the internet for a non-profit group connected with the topic and contact it for information on local events. Even if you don’t find your next opportunity, you might happen upon a fulfilling hobby.
But if you can see yourself becoming an information junkie when it comes to a particular endeavor, you’ve struck gold!
Now you can brainstorm ways you’d enjoy making money doing this. And perhaps take more courses to become well-versed in the topic.
Caution: Be careful not to get sucked into buying high-priced products at sales or product pitches posing as workshops. Be extremely critical. And only buy something after you’ve investigated it thoroughly, and you’re positive it’s within your means. Going deeper into debt for the sake of exploring won’t get you to happiness. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
In the end, your job shouldn’t be something that just pays the bills. It should be a calling. Something that fills you up instead of leaving you braindead at the end of the day.
Subscribe to this free blog and gain access to a future post that will give you ideas on where to go next. And discover the best way to earn money while doing what you love!
Aching bunions from standing in long lines. Loud, crowded malls. An inflated credit card bill. Buying gifts that will probably end up covered in dust bunnies. Happy holidays everybody! If you’re tired of the pressure to buy the perfect gift, wanting to save money, or just looking for a different but meaningful expression of affection this winter, check out these sites for creative and perhaps free gift ideas and alternatives.
- Ideas from Buy Nothing Christmas
- Creative and eco-friendly gifts
- Group gift exchanges
- Weird and cheap
Today may be black Friday, but you can skip the lines that wrap around the block in 28-degree weather and start some new traditions!
I invite you to enter your ideas for spending less this holiday season. Or let a gifter bask in the glory and share the unique gifts you’ve received and cherished!
Continue reading about Lions and tigers and 52-inch 1080p LCD HDTVs. Oh my!
I am all at once excited, terrified, humbled, and confident about what stretches in front of me. This begins a new chapter in my life. And I’m wondering what exactly I’m moving toward. But in any case, I’m well-aware of what I’m leaving behind: perfection. Or more accurately, the need to be perfect.
Perfection may be unattainable though the small victories are deceptively encouraging. The pure joy of inking a post-it note to someone that is perfectly spaced, perfectly worded, conveys the perfect tone, and is perfectly legible is intoxicating. And perhaps only those who share this dizzying affliction will agree.
But these small (seemingly perfect) victories I speak of are figments of my imagination. Mirages. Fellow junkies, we need only think of the terrible burden of pressure and anxiety forever(?) strapped to our backs. I’ve decided to move away from this desert.
I will fight against the impulse to beat myself up for thinking of the “perfect” thing to say 20 minutes after I stumbled for words. I will fight against the impulse to criticize my body for not being the “perfect” size and shape. I will fight against thought patterns like “This always happens to me” or “I should’ve known better than to hope for that.” I will fight against lamenting the balance in my bank account.
I’m hungry for freedom and fullness of life. No longer will I bow to petty, unimportant details. No more will I be blindly ruled by the urge to avoid disappointing myself and others. I now seek balance in all areas of my life. Not perfection but true wealth.
We shall define a wealthy appetite as actively consuming and incorporating into life the emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial ingredients for authentic and powerful living. No more obsessing about what I don’t have. It’s time to create the soul-stirring life I deserve.
Summary: The trouble with perfection is not really that it is unattainable. The real trouble is the fact that while we’re busy focusing on what’s wrong and investing energy into pleasing the critic that lives in our heads, we’re missing the true, reckless, unpredictable beauty that is IMperfection. It is indeed LIFE! And to live a life that most powerfully enriches us and positively influences those around us, we must begin with the right hunger. Only then will we find the happiness that comes with true wealth. We must begin with a wealthy appetite, seeking true balance.
1. emotional balance
2. spiritual balance
3. financial balance
4. physical balance
Fellow wealth-seekers, this is our escape from perfectionism. Subscribe to this blog and let’s create dream, soul-stirring lifestyles, bite by bite. Are you hungry yet?
