Research has revealed that Lottery winners and Paraplegics show the same levels of happiness. Can you believe this? One group have came across unbelievable fortune by hitting the million to one chance of picking random numbers. By no skill whatsoever they have been given a cheque for huge amounts of cash - tax free. The other group have had their life decimated by tragedy. It is unlikely that they will be able to look after themselves. Therefore, it is almost incomprehensible to believe that these two groups can be equally happy, and yet that is the case.
This is because happiness is not directly correlated to the amount of money you have in the bank. Happiness is created in your own mind. I think that everyone can actually relate to this if you see enough examples. To my mind, think about the happiness of the man who has just been released from prison. He doesn't think about the pain of the previous period, but rather looks ahead with a fresh sense of freedom to the future. On the other side of the coin, look at the unhappiness of a star such as Kurt Kobain. Thousands in the bank but an inability to find contentment in their life.
For those of us who are Working Class or Middle Class though there are many ways in which Personal Finance and Happiness are intangibly linked. From my own experience I can see an obvious way in which money-in-the-bank and happiness are one and the same. I call it Common Sense - but it's actually an uncommon notion. Here is what I am talking about: If you have been on holiday to "Butlins" and you enjoyed it, then there is no need to upgrade to Disneyworld when you have more cash coming in. Happiness is Happiness. You don't get more Happiness by going to Disneyworld. Media pressure may make you think that way but it just isn't the case. Don't fall for Lifestyle Inflation. The same applies to Cars, Houses, Food, Toys, TVs, Washing Machines etc etc etc.
There used to be a common saying, "be happy with your lot", and although in terms of ambition and your goals in life I would totally disagree with in, in terms of being happy it should actually be the watchword of your life. By sticking with the simplest and cheapest thing that makes you happy, you will find that not only will your life be more fulfilled but also your savings should increase relatively quickly.
The opposite of being happy with your lot is "keeping up with the Joneses". Your next door neighbour gets a conservatory so you want one too. Your best friend gets a new car so you need one too. It's all nonsense - and is by no means the road to happiness. It creates a nature of always wanting more. Unless you have an enormous wage cheque then this process can only lead to misery.
Take action today to find your base line happiness level. I'm happy with a run-around that gets me from A to B so I have no need, want or desire for a Porsche. I'm happy with homemade soup for tea so no need for a takeaway. Set your stall out today and start the good fight against Lifestyle Inflation!
New FREE download available at http://www.uncommonadvice.co.uk Ross Taylor is the author of "Mortgages, Money and Magic" and "The No B.S. Credit Crunch Ready Guide to Buy to Let in 2008". Ross is a succesful Financial Adviser specialising in First Time Buyers and Buy to Let. He owns over £2million worth of property in the UK and regularly gives lectures on Financial Planning.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Taylor
Showing posts with label law of attraction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label law of attraction. Show all posts
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Make sure you stay on track
I received a fantastic email today that really got me thinking. It was the usual autoresponder churn which I generally delete straight away but on this occasion, the subject line, "3 questions you really need to ask yourself", intrigued me.
The first question was, "if your life could be exactly what you want it to be, what would it look like?" For me, I'd like to have a job where I start and finish really early. I'd be up at the crack of dawn and enjoy a heart breakfast. I'd go out and work for a few hours and then return in the early afternoon at the latest. During the afternoon I'll have some free time to myself which I may use to run a small internet business, visit relatives, go for a hill walk, play some snooker, play darts and read books. I will then prepare a lovely dinner which the family sit around the table to eat together. In the evening we'll take part in activities. There are no money worries whatsoever. We don't spend, spend, spend but there is enough to live very comfortably if you're not fussy. It's just not an issue.
The second question was, "how much money will you need to earn each and every month for the rest of your life to support this lifestyle?". This is another question which I have thought about in the past, and I feel that a monthly income of £2000 would be enough. This amount would be enough to pay the mortgage, the bills and still have enough left over to support charities, take day trips, share with family and friends, live life and enjoy holidays. Initially I'd like a maximum of £1000 of this money coming from linear sources i.e. a job, with the other half coming from residual sources such as the rental income from my properties.
The third question is when I really sat up and took notice: "If you keep doing what you're doing right now, will you ever meet the monthly income goal?". When I took a couple of minutes to think about this I began to get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach as I began to realise the answer was simply NEVER! If I continue at my current rate of progress, I will never get my end result.
On reflection I have lost focus over the last 6 months. I have been too busy working IN my business to be working ON my business. I have been shuffling paper, moving sideways instead of taking steps towards my goal.
In order to get back on track, I've decided to take a couple of days off work. I'm making my path so clear that it will be impossible to get lost. The answer to my problem is to reassess where I am at the moment, reaffirm my destination BUT this time ensure that I have put in place some sort of feedback mechanism to ensure that I stay on track.
It is easy to over-complicate life but if we can easily bring everything task in life down to three things: set goals, take action, review. If we can do this consistently then we won't go far wrong!
Please take this opportunity to ask yourself these three questions. You may find the answers are not what you want to hear but I hope they make you wake up and get back onto the Fast Track of Life! Good Luck.
The first question was, "if your life could be exactly what you want it to be, what would it look like?" For me, I'd like to have a job where I start and finish really early. I'd be up at the crack of dawn and enjoy a heart breakfast. I'd go out and work for a few hours and then return in the early afternoon at the latest. During the afternoon I'll have some free time to myself which I may use to run a small internet business, visit relatives, go for a hill walk, play some snooker, play darts and read books. I will then prepare a lovely dinner which the family sit around the table to eat together. In the evening we'll take part in activities. There are no money worries whatsoever. We don't spend, spend, spend but there is enough to live very comfortably if you're not fussy. It's just not an issue.
The second question was, "how much money will you need to earn each and every month for the rest of your life to support this lifestyle?". This is another question which I have thought about in the past, and I feel that a monthly income of £2000 would be enough. This amount would be enough to pay the mortgage, the bills and still have enough left over to support charities, take day trips, share with family and friends, live life and enjoy holidays. Initially I'd like a maximum of £1000 of this money coming from linear sources i.e. a job, with the other half coming from residual sources such as the rental income from my properties.
The third question is when I really sat up and took notice: "If you keep doing what you're doing right now, will you ever meet the monthly income goal?". When I took a couple of minutes to think about this I began to get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach as I began to realise the answer was simply NEVER! If I continue at my current rate of progress, I will never get my end result.
On reflection I have lost focus over the last 6 months. I have been too busy working IN my business to be working ON my business. I have been shuffling paper, moving sideways instead of taking steps towards my goal.
In order to get back on track, I've decided to take a couple of days off work. I'm making my path so clear that it will be impossible to get lost. The answer to my problem is to reassess where I am at the moment, reaffirm my destination BUT this time ensure that I have put in place some sort of feedback mechanism to ensure that I stay on track.
It is easy to over-complicate life but if we can easily bring everything task in life down to three things: set goals, take action, review. If we can do this consistently then we won't go far wrong!
Please take this opportunity to ask yourself these three questions. You may find the answers are not what you want to hear but I hope they make you wake up and get back onto the Fast Track of Life! Good Luck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
