The Wind Blows on Us All
My mom used to say, “There will be days like that.” She was referring to those days when things are not going the way you wanted them to go.
Jim Rohn referred to difficulties in our lives as “the wind that blows on us all.” He then referred to our reaction to the wind as “the set of our sail.” Of course, he uses the fact that sail boats use the wind to get to where they want to go.
Like sailing, we must be aware of the wind and be prepared to adjust. It would be great if every day was smooth sailing. However, the wind does change direction, occasionally, which will alter your course or interrupt your day. Will you allow that change to take you off course by over correcting, overreacting?
The wind blows on us all. Our reaction to it is very important.
Reaction from Preparation
The purpose behind my blog is to help you build a better mindset for money. And a big part of your mindset for money is the preparation you make to adjust to the changes in the economy, your income, your health, and the actions of those around you that can affect your personal finances.
Like the seasoned sailor, some of your experiences will help you make the necessary preparations for better decision making in the future. They become “I do not want to do that again” experiences. In other words, we will make mistakes along the way. Learning from those mistakes is very important.
Allow the error to teach you a lesson.
Study the Wind
The wind can be slow but can change without warning. Although scientists have helped to make some warning possible.
There are outside elements that can affect the direction of your personal finance account balances, as well. Those elements include the economy (the accumulation of the way the population and government officials manage funds), your job, your family’s health, your home, your transportation, etc.
Any wind of change in these elements will affect your financial situation. Will you be prepared to use that change to get you to where you want to go?
Use the Wind
We will find success in life when we learn to prepare and use the wind of change.
When financial advisors ask us about our savings accounts, most of us are a little embarrassed to answer. My hope for you is that you can build such a good mindset for money that you have to seek out a good financial advisor to help you invest your large savings account wisely.
Farmers and construction workers are well-acquainted with why the phrase “save for a rainy day” came about. Interruptions to your income and unexpected demands for spending are the wind and rain that can damage your financial balances. A large amount in savings would cushion that blow.
What we want and what we need creates a conflict, a turbulence, in how we spend our income. Be sure to set your sail to push you in the right direction. There are more than subtle differences between watching cable TV and NOT having anything to snack on and having plenty to eat while settling in to read a book from the library.
Save where you can and build that savings reserve.
Watch the Compass
To give our lives direction, we must set some goals that will give our days more purpose. What do you want to do? What career do you want to pursue? Where do you want to live? How do you want to live?
Give those questions some thought. Your answers could become your current goals. Then you have a source to structure your course.
As you get acquainted with your goals by frequent reviews, you will note the steps you need to take to achieve them. Granted, some of your goals are just things that you want. Learn the amount you need, and you have a savings goal. If you keep your eyes open, you may know what you need to have on hand to take advantage of a deal.
Other goals may require certification or a formal degree. Yet others may come about with various reading and hands-on experiences.
If we let minor events distract us, we can easily drift off course. So, check your goal list often to be sure you are headed in the right direction.
Watch your compass to stay on course.
Work on Your Sail
The wind is what makes the sail useful. Your sail is the fabric of your skills and attitude to deal with the economic wind you face every day. Will you control your sail or let the wind determine where you will go?
Everyone wants life to be easy, to be simple. However, most of the time it requires work and dealing with some frustrating situations. Those moments can feel like a gust of wind that pulls the sail controls from our hands. It is important to keep ourselves under control while we find the rope to pull the sail back in place.
While obtaining skills is important and the experience of applying new skills, nothing is as important as a good attitude which reflects patience, faith in prayers being answered, and a good sense of humor. We cannot take ourselves too seriously and need to be forgiving for the errors and shortcomings of others.
We all are in the process of becoming.
Work to keep your sail in good condition. And use your rudder.
Keep Extra Sails on Hand
Keep in mind that your sail will help you use the wind to make progress. Most fabrics in sails have a limited life. So, you need to continue to build an inventory of sails in reserve.
Then, when an economic blast of wind rips your sail, you will have a replacement. Are you prepared to earn an income another way if you lose your current job and that line of work is not available locally? Or, what if your job requires physical labor and an injury makes it necessary to earn a living with your mind?
That is why I suggest you learn as much as you can for backup options to make a living. And, to relieve pressure on finding adequate income, you must reduce your monthly cash flow requirements, such as paying off debt and stopping services that may not be essential to your lifestyle.
Sometimes saving is as good as earning.
Expect the Wind
Sometimes you can get deals on extra sails. Keep saving and you will find that you can take advantage of those deals.
People get into things and later find that they cannot afford them. Those things might include equipment that they could not maintain, rental property, a small business, etc. that, for the right price might prove to be a valuable investment for you.
Most people see a deal on something they need or want that could help them make an income through selling or using that item and they must pass on the purchase because they have no extra cash.
That is the moment when your consistent savings effort will pay off!
I have known people who carried extra cash on them just for those moments when someone is desperate to be rid of something useful to them. Those opportunities are all around us. So save to be able to use the opportunity.
Anchor During Storms
Sometimes storms will hinder our progress. And they may cause us to tie-up to a dock or put down an anchor to keep us steady.
Damage can come with storms. Though storms are often short in duration, making repairs and preparation to travel again may take longer than we want.
A good saving reserve will help you recover from the storms in your life. Aside from having money to invest, a good savings reserve will make setbacks easier to overcome.
Enjoy the Adventure
Your life is what you make of it, not what happens to you.
Make learning useful things a constant habit. Set goals to design a course for your life.
My wish for you is to expect the wind and set sail to enjoy your adventure!