How to find the positive
I found this quote to be a great reminder and especially helpful in light of the challenges we all currently face.
“Wellbeing is attained by little and little, and nevertheless is no little thing itself.” - Zeno
When you climb a mountain, you start with the first step. And with that logic in mind, a simple exercise can help reframe your current challenges into a more positive light. Here’s how you can get started:
Write down some of the good things in your life right now.
I’ll go first...
1. We converted our sun porch into an office.
This created a MUCH better workspace than my basement. A little sunshine and a nice breeze goes a long way when working from home.
2. The Assistant helped us pick out a new fire pit for the backyard.
We’re looking forward to family fires and roasted marshmallows all spring and summer long.
3. You can’t NOT smile when the Intern smiles at you.
This happens about 500 times a day. Just look at her!
Now try the same exercise with your finances. What’s good in your financial life right now?
For example...
1. We’re socking away extra cash.
This frees up more choice and flexibility for us now and in the future.
2. We’re able to support our local community in these tough times.
Enjoying nice takeout dinners while supporting our local restaurants, their staff, and families is an easy win-win.
3. We’ve updated our own planning with the necessary adjustments.
With Michelle’s 401k match being cut and future bonuses possibly impacted, we increased our savings rate to our investments. Having a flexible financial framework in place made these adjustments simple to identify and change.
(If you’re interested in doing the same for your planning, I can help with that.)
Why is it important to identify these positive things?
Because gratitude leads to a positive mindset, which leads to taking the first step towards change. Worry won't get you where you want to go; small steps forward will.
I hope this exercise helps remind you just how good you’ve got it even in these challenging times. And if you need some help finding your positive place, let’s talk about it.
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