Thoughts on Building a Great Life
1. Start by living below your means
The latest gadgets have replaced meaningful communication and have caused accidents, etc. Nonetheless, we feel the need to wait in everlasting lines for hours to get the latest and greatest? For some, it’s unaffordable, not necessary, and for others it’s just because. Sometimes we get caught up and act impulsively to soothe that immediate gratification. That “feeling” is short-lived unlike the credit card bill that will take months even years to pay off after making that impulsive buy. Learn to enjoy the simpler things in life. “Things” don’t equate to happiness. However, better money management skills will lead to a more stress free and better life in the long run. One of my favorite quotes is by author and radio personality Dave Ramsey, who say’s “live like no one today so later you can live like no one else.” Think about that!
2. Put Your Money to Work
Time is a crucial element to any investment strategy. The sooner you start putting it away the better. Your investment strategy will vary depending upon your age. In general, the younger you are, the more aggressive your investments can be. As you age you should move into more conservative investments such as bonds because you have less time to make up for market dips. Seek the help of a financial professional that knows how to make your money work for you.
3. Become a Reader.
As a teenager I hated to read, embarrassing to say yes; luckily the story ends wellJ I learned to love reading when I met my husband who always read. I felt like an idiot watching TV while he read. Luckily, by the time we had children my love for reading blossomed like a beautiful flower. If the book is good, forget it, I’ll be reading from cover to cover as quickly as possible. Now our kids are also lovers of books. In order to grow, we should feed our mind and our spirit; reading is a wonderful way to do that. This is how you remain focused, driven, and inspired. Spend less time and energy watching useless TV and more time reading. Through reading you’ll discover fresh and innovative ideas that might spark your creative juices. Consequently, you’ll acquire great wisdom and most importantly be more resourceful. 🙂
4. Nurture Lifelong Relationships
What good is it to have acquired all that you could possibly want in life but with no one to share it with? Don’t forget about those that supported you through both the good and the bad. When no one else believed in you, there were those that encouraged you to keep on keeping on. Success is irrelevant if you have no one to share it with. Take time to foster and nurture those personal relationships.
5. Pursue Your Dream and what you’re Passionate About
Set a goal and work towards it. This is your life, your dream, your destiny. Without a goal, you may feel dormant or like a dog chasing its tail. On this journey you’ll come across many stumbling blocks; learn from them. Knowing there’s an endpoint will keep you excited about living and life. Besides it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.