24 hours. 365 days. The clock stops for no one. We all live under the same sun and sleep under the same moon. All around the world, we experience the gift of the present.
We live. We play. We work. And, we dream. Sometimes we’re overcome with deep feelings like excitement, anticipation, worry, or surprise, and a variety of other emotions.
Life is beautiful, but in some ways there are many external and internal threats to living at our best. In this case, time can either contribute to our benefit or our detriment.
An impressively powerful essay that has forever shaped my perspective about how to maximize my life is “Can We Reclaim Time to Think?” by Margaret Wheatley.
It was shared as pre-work for a race and equity meeting I attended for work back in 2012, but the piece was masterfully penned in 2001 – over 20 years ago!
Wheatley says, “… I don’t believe anybody is going to give us time to think. We have to reclaim it for ourselves.”
I agree.
Wholeheartedly.
It can be easy to get trapped into the so-called rat race and lose track of who we are, our goals, and dreams. We go, go, go. Rinse, wash, and repeat over and over again with established routines, clocking in and out of work, and so on with oftentimes monotonous ignorance. If we’re not careful, we can fade away gradually without ever really realizing what we have lost.
But, as a lifelong earner, I don’t believe in doom and gloom. We’re not victims of our situations. Instead, we are victors who persevere and can triumph if we start with one, basic human small step:
To Think.
“We need time to develop clarity and courage. If we want our world to be different, our first act needs to be reclaiming time to think. Nothing will change for the better until we do that.” – Wheatley
We ought to think about our lives deeply. Our relationships. Our choices and the aspirations we hope to achieve.
Now, how does thinking improve our financial situations? Well, thinking matters a lot.
Yes, money is a tool and a means of exchange. A system. It doesn’t define us, but it is a critical component of our daily lives to which we should direct intentional thought and action.
In terms of personal finance, remember no one can or will outline your path and goals. Although there are so many resources to help, you drive the decisions and direction of your life.
But, beware of the paralysis of analysis. We can spend so much time pondering our decisions that we delay getting things done. I encourage us all to think and act.
Here are some personal finance questions as you reclaim one of your most valuable assets – time – to think about the role and impact of money in your life:
- What is my money story?
- What have I learned about money in the past?
- What successes can I multiply?
- What missteps do I want to avoid?
- What are my financial short-term and long-term goals?
- What do I want to achieve?
- How much do I want to save?
- How much debt do I need to pay off?
- Do I have the systems in place to meet my financial goals? If yes, what is the status of these systems and do I need to recalibrate in any way? If no, what systems will I establish as soon as possible?
- How can I contribute to help my family, friends, and/or community?
- What resources and information can I use?
- Who are my allies and partners who can support me?
- Should I consult with a certified financial planner as a guide?
- How might dedicating more time to reviewing my personal finances help me accelerate more towards my goals?
- What mark do I want to make in the world today?
- What legacy do I want to leave behind?
Finally, think about this. Napoleon Hill, author of the world-acclaimed Think and Grow Rich, said:
Our value is not explicitly linked to our net worth or any amount of money. No price could ever calculate our inestimable identities. But, when we apply intentional and targeted mental power to assess and direct our lives, we may just be unstoppable and exceed our wildest dreams with our finances and more.
Just think about it.