Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Firewalker

Lately I have been thinking loads about my life; more specifically about the direction of it, about where I am going and where I would like to be. There are different ways to express this. One way is to tell you that I have been thinking about ‘goal setting’. Another is to tell you that I have been thinking about ‘planning’ my life. I prefer to say that I have been thinking about taking charge of my life – just like I have been taking charge of my finances. After all, choices about finance are inevitably choices about life-style; taking charge of one’s finances is about taking charge of their life.

I am not going to deny that in part this thinking was precipitated by the fact that I have this unique opportunity of having a year when, if I so wish, I can work on being anything I wish to be. One year is a decent time period – where would I be at the end of it.

Thinking about all this I noticed something. Most of us, in fact probably about 99% of us, plan taking as their starting point today. Where am I today? OK, taking into account where I am today I’ll be ‘there’ in a year time. This kind of ‘life planning’ is very problematic – we are always locked within the current trajectory and generally we allow little opportunity to break out. Our lives are incremental – I write academic papers in which 10-20 people around the world are interested (if I really hit a nerve) and as many politicians use to justify their decisions (not to examine them). Planning from where I am today I’ll continue doing this, working harder, moving step by step...until one day 30 years from now I’ll be at Heaven’s doors regretting never writing a !!!!!! novel (well, ok...not !!!!!!; a historical novel). Or not speaking at a blogger convention; or not teaching primary school children philosophy.
It seems to me that the clever thing is to plan backwards from the future. Where do I want to be in five years? In twelve months? Once this has been decided planning backwards is ‘piece of cake’. One can plan the resources, skills and timing down to the day.

Right, let us do some proper planning; life-style design that can lead us where we really wish to be without regard to where we are now. Where do you want to be in your life twelve months from now?

Firewalker

Firewalker

Right! We are up and we are packed. Have to order a taxi yet but this can be done. A long day of Airports ahead!

Will let you know how this one went tonight.

FW

claudiac_2

I take it today is the day you are off home for a month? I hope you have a good, safe trip, and get all the things done you have to do.

As to last night's post, this will take some working out. I am going to apply what you have said and attempt to mind map my life 2 years from now, then use that as a basis for achieving it! I find a year passes by so quickly and usually I have not done half of what I would have liked, so if I do 2 years and break it down into small chunks I may have more success. Wish me luck!!

Firewalker

Claudiac, it is your call but I won't mind map immediately. First, I will 'dream' Walt Disney style. Sit comfortably and close you eyes; start dreaming, talking about a vision of yourself - just don't let the 'critic' and the 'accountant' in during dreaming. Dream specifics - what are you wearing, where are you, what are the smells, who else is around, what is the lighting, what is the conversation (if any). Keep doing it for 10 minutes. And keep getting at it...It is a very interesting technique - when I did it last I had this image of myself doing a keynote at a very, very prestigeous conference in my field...and then when I heard what I am talking about it was entirely different....

Once the dream is there is suffricient detail the accountant/planner and the critic can be let in. Normally, we start dreaming and than the critic get in and says: 'You know darn well, this is not possible.' End of dream, start of what we call 'life'.

Good luck, my friends.

Firewalker

Firewalker

Sorry, meant to say - apparently we all greatly over-estimate what can be achieved in a day but under-estimate what can be achieved in a year.

FW

claudiac_2

Thanks FW - No time for dreaming right now, go to get to work, but I will find some time later to sit in the garden and try out this technique.

ani_26

This is very easy to answer since i'm in the 1% , ( the minority ), who don''t plan their life. I have no aspirations other than to be able to pay essential bills.

Maybe sometimes we all make ' life ' too difficult. Live from day to day?

Firewalker

Ani, the 1% are the ones who plan backwards from an outcome. And generally they get to the top of whatever (not necessarily a good thing, I know, and I should have not started this sentence with 'and' but there).

How are you? Any change of luch and fortune yet?

FW

NorthernLas

Have a great time FW family! Airports can be fun (well it is possible to get coffee and beer at any time of the day)

Triciaxx

Safe journey!