THE FINANCIAL PHILOSOPHER

Life 'must be lived forwards'

History certainly has its value but it is difficult to prudently move forward if we are focused too intently on looking backward.

What's more, the present moment is valuable in terms of mindfulness and self-awareness, but can also be a source of anxiety, especially if we allow ourselves to be disturbed by the noise that surrounds us.

Today's Uncommon Wisdom comes from one of my favorite philosophers, Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855):

It's quite true what philosophy says, that life must be understood backwards.  But one then forgets the other principle, that it must be lived forwards.  A principle which, the more one thinks it through, precisely leads to the conclusion that life in time can never be properly understood, just because no moment can acquire the complete stillness needed to orient oneself backward.

I believe the modern-day analogy of driving a car works well:  We should be mindful of the task at hand   (the present moment) and eliminate distraction to the best of our ability; check the rear-view mirror from time to time but not to the point of fixation; keep our own pace with the underlying goal of "arriving on time" with little regard for the pace others are keeping; and we should try to see the big picture so as to see, not only a few feet in front of us, but the road ahead and all that surrounds it.

In fact, perhaps we could travel well if we attempt to drive on a road that is a bit less traveled... 

What are your thoughts? 

This is my final post... on 'Self-Improvement'

"From all this I am beginning to have a rather better understanding of what I am.  But it still appears -- and I cannot stop thinking this -- that the corporeal things of which images are formed in my thought, and which the senses investigate, are known with much more distinctness than this puzzling 'I' which cannot be pictured in the imagination.  And yet it is surely surprising that I should have a more distinct grasp of things which I realize are doubtful, unknown and foreign to me, than I have of that which is true and known -- of my own self." ~ Rene Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy

Please join me for an exercise in logic at my guest post, Is There Really Such a Thing as 'Self-Improvement?', over at PickTheBrain.

Can the self be improved?  I would love to know what you think... 

If you are visiting from PTB, please make your self at home and peruse some of my "Philosophy Favorites" in the left column of this page or sample a few of my recent thoughts related to the PTB post you just read:

The De-construction of Social Convention and the Unlearning Process

'Who Am I?' Part One: Emotional Intelligence

'Who Am I?' Part Two: Learn How You Learn

Thanks for visiting and thanks to Peter at PickTheBrain and the The Change Blog for the opportunity to write the guest post.  I especially thank my readers and Rene Descartes for teaching me that "I think -- therefore I am..."

 

The Lesson of the Moth

"People have a hard time letting go of their suffering.  Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Do you know anyone who seemingly prefers to complain about everything rather than do something about it?  Is that person you?  Perhaps a greater enemy to our personal growth than complacency and apathy is inertia.  Most people who suffer from inertia, or the condition of being stuck, do not realize it. 

Today, I would like to share the lesson of the moth with you in hopes it will awaken a sense of self-awareness that may be the beginning of the end of inertia in your life:

I was talking to a moth the other evening.  He was trying to break into an electric light bulb and fry himself on the wire.

'Why do fellows pull this stunt?' I asked him.  'Because it is a conventional thing for moths?  Or why, if that had been an uncovered candle, instead of an electric light bulb, you would now be a small, unsightly cinder.  Have you no sense?'

'Plenty of it.'  he answered, 'but at times we get tired of using it.  We get bored with the routine and crave beauty and excitement.  Fire is beautiful and we know that if we get too close it will kill us,

But what does it matter?

It is better to be happy for a moment and be burned up with beauty than to live a long time and be bored all the while.  So we wad all our life up into one little roll, and then we shoot the roll.

That's what life is for.

It is better to be a part of beauty for one instant and then cease to exist, than to exist forever and never be a part of beauty.  Our attitude toward life is Come easy, go easy.

We're like human beings used to be before they became too civilized to enjoy themselves.'

And before I could argue him out of his philosophy, he went and immolated himself on a patented cigar lighter.

I do not agree with him.  Myself, I would rather have half the happiness and twice the longevity.  But at the same time, I wished there was something I wanted as badly as he wanted to fry himself.

I certainly do not suggest risking your life for a brief moment of beauty but I believe the lesson of the moth tells us that there is self-fulfillment and even self-actualization in placing our energy into our passion, rather than in routine, ritual and "longevity." 

I believe, for the moth, the beauty, or meaning, was actually found in the pursuit of it rather than in the end result... 

The moth was not seeking death but seeking life...

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Source:  Bennis, Warren & Nanus Burt. Leaders: Strategies For Taking Charge. Harper: New York, 1985, 1997.

Weekend Wisdom: Pleasure vs. Happiness

"Isn't it the mind that translates the outer condition into happiness and suffering?" ~ Matthieu Ricard

Buddhist monk, photographer, author, and, according to US neuroscientists, the happiest man alive, Matthieu Ricard, delivered a wonderful "talk" on TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, called "Habits of Happiness," that I highly recommend.  Ricard makes a convincing attempt to define happiness and provide the means of obtaining it, which is primarily achieved by "training our minds in habits of happiness."  His talk is supported by his stunning photographs of the Himalayas and of his spiritual community. 

Here are some of the words that struck me as profoundly simple and true:

No one wakes up in the morning thinking, "May I suffer the whole day?"

Consciously or not, directly or indirectly, in the short and the long-term, whatever we do, whatever we hope, whatever we dream, somehow is related to a deep, profound desire for well-being or happiness.

How do we proceed in our quest for happiness?  Very often we look outside...  Our control of the outer world is limited, temporary, and often illusory.  So now look at the inner condition and it is stronger.  Isn't it the mind that translates the outer condition into happiness and suffering?

Although we seek happiness, we seem to turn our back to it.  Although we want to avoid suffering, it seems we are running towards it...

The most common [confusion] is happiness and pleasure:  If we look at the characteristics of those two, pleasure is contingent upon time, upon its object, upon the place; it is something that is changing in nature.

Ricard goes on to give life examples of the misleading and short-term nature of pleasure and how it is entirely different from true happiness.  One example he uses is eating chocolate cake:

The first [piece] is delicious; the second one 'not so much;' then we feel disgust.  That's the nature of things -- we get tired.  [Pleasure] sort of uses itself as we experience it.  It is not something that is radiating outside...

What then will be happiness?  Happiness, of course, is such a vague word so let's say 'well-being...'

Well being is not just a mere pleasurable sensation -- it is a deep sense of serenity and fulfillment -- a state that actually pervades and underlies all emotional states...

How do you define happiness?  Is it a feeling you get or is it a state that underlies everything that you do?  I like Ricard's usage of the ocean as a metaphor, which I'll paraphrase:  Where there is great depth, storms may occur but the water is not greatly affected.  Where there is little depth, waves are crashing in dramatic peaks and troughs...

What do you think?  Can you draw a correlation to money and finances?

I highly recommend viewing the talk.  Click here for the link.  It's well-worth 20 minutes of your time.  Also, if you've never perused TED.com, then please do...

Enjoy your weekend and be well...

TFPAuthor, Kent N. Thune, QPFC, is the President and founder of Atlantic Capital Investments, LLC (ACI), a 'fee-only' financial planner and Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Your Brain: Food for Thought, Thought for Food

"You know you've got to exercise your brain just like your muscles." ~ Will Rogers

Weight-loss fads come and go but the best way to keep our bodies physically fit is through a smart diet and consistent exercise; however, obtaining physical health does not need to be complex or difficult.  We just need to form good habits and stick to them.  You may not be surprised that the same common sense behavior holds true for obtaining and maintaining our mental health...

"The energy of the mind is the essence of life." ~ Aristotle

Since "we are what we eat," logic follows that a healthy diet is required for a healthy mind.  As it turns out, the human brain is the most demanding organ in our body and what we eat helps determine how effectively we think:

• Eat Breakfast:  The brain needs a steady supply of fuel (glucose) for energy and many studies have shown that skipping breakfast reduces people's performance at school and at work.
• Avoid Junk Food:  Trans-fatty acids, common in processed foods such as cakes, pastries and biscuits, are the worst!  They not only add pounds to your body, but are found to be correlated to several mental disorders, from dyslexia to ADHD to autism.  Also, studies have shown that memory performance increases as trans-fats are decreased in our diet.
• What to Eat:  Eggs, rich in choline, are used by the body to produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine; Salads, packed with antioxidants, can keep the brain young and in shape by destroying those damaging free radicals; Yogurt contains the amino acid, tyrosine, which promotes alertness by aiding in the production of the neurotransmitters, dopamine and noradrenalin;  Legumes (Beans) are high in fiber, which has been linked to improved cognition; Green Tea is rich in polyphenols (antioxidants) that help prevent premature brain aging; and, the greatest brain food, Fish, contains omega-3 fatty acids, which lubricate a developing brain and help fight off dementia.

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.  When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." ~ Buddha

We have discovered "food for thought."  Now, let's take a look at "thought for food..."

Food is to our bodies as thought behaviors and mental exercises are to our mental state and the essence of our livelihood.  A contented mind is a healthy mind and happiness comes from within -- it is almost entirely an internal phenomenon.  External sources may bring about a short-term emotional response but long-term happiness and contentment is entirely self-created.  Self-awareness is critical here.  We must be "train our minds" and be mindful of what information we consume and what external sources are vying for our attention -- that those sources are leading us to ourselves and not suggesting an attractive, but misleading, path; We must learn to "be here now" and not dwell on the past or obsess over the future; and we must form those behaviors into habit to stay on our path...

I believe one of my favorite authors and experts on emotional intelligence and self-awareness, Daniel Goleman, makes my point better than I:

...meditation is mind training.  If during [a walk] you daydream, you plan, you reminisce, you listen to some music on your Walkman, you are not training your mind at all.  If during that time, however, you are more disciplined and pay close attention to what you are experiencing, like the wind on your face, the smells and what you see, and you don't let yourself get lost in thought, that is mindfulness training -- bringing your mind back to the moment whenever it starts to wander.  Then you are actually acquiring mental skill.  If you do that kind of practice regularly, with discipline, and you do it daily, you actually begin to reshape the brain circuitry for emotions and for perceptions in quite a powerful and beneficial way.

Now we have a foundation for placing ourselves in the present moment and for "mindfulness training" but what about those sources of information?  What should we read?  How do we discover ourselves?  Where do we start?  Of course, no one but you can tell you "how to be you" but, if you've not read the posts, "Who am I? Part One: Emotional Intelligence," and "Who am I? Part Two: Learn How You Learn," I suggest beginning there.  I have also posted on attention allocation but I will yield to Goleman again to crystallize my thoughts:

If you do Tai Chi every morning, or yoga, you are doing that with your skeleto-mucular system and perhaps your attention, if you are doing it mindfully.  If you are doing mindfulness meditation, you are doing it with your ability to attend to the moment.  However, if you are reading  a book like "The Power of Now" but don't do anything about it, you may feel great while you're reading, but it is not going to help you in the next moment.  If you do a practice and train your attention to hover in the present, then you will build the internal capacity to do that as needed -- at will and voluntarily. (emphasis added)

In summary, a simple healthy diet of the right foods, the right frame of mind, and the right sources of information will combine to place us on the right path -- the one that is ours -- not the one paved by attention thieves and social conventions...

What foods work well for your brain?  How do remain "mindful?"  I'd love to hear the thoughts of the smartest blog readers in the blogosphere -- you...

Sources:

11 Steps to a Better Brain, by Kate Douglas, et al, NewScientist.com

Boost Your Brain Power, by Dr. Maoshing Ni, Yahoo! Health

Interview with Daniel Goleman, by Dennis Hughes, ShareGuide.com

TFPAuthor, Kent N. Thune, QPFC, is the President and founder of Atlantic Capital Investments, LLC (ACI), a 'fee-only' financial planner and Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Dying to Live

"We say that the hour of death cannot be forecast, but when we say this we imagine that hour as placed in an obscure and distant future.  It never occurs to us that it has any connection with the day already begun or that death could arrive this same afternoon, this afternoon which is so certain and which has every hour filled in advance."  ~ Marcel Proust

You will only live once. Now think about that...

I don't mean that in a "spend money now and live life fast" context.  Unfortunately, that's the socially accepted meaning of a phrase that could otherwise be quite useful for self-improvement.  My purpose for using the phrase, "you will only live once" is to provoke the kind of thought that could potentially set your life's course on the best path.  For many, it takes a Near-Death Experience or a death sentence to shift our thoughts and values on the course to a meaningful existence...

So what does the thought of death have to do with finance or philosophy?  Everything.  In most western cultures, we are programmed from childhood to understand that "money makes the world go around" and that our abilities are measured and limited by monetary means.  Often, our self-worth and perceived happiness is mistakenly tied to our financial worth.

Today, I will provide some educational and anecdotal information that will hopefully aid in getting you on the path to a meaningful existence...

According to the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS), a Near-Death Experience (NDE) is "a profound psychological experience, typically occurring in about 10% of people during a physical or emotional trauma, a life-threatening health crisis, or actual clinical death."  Typically, the experience is marked by a "review" of the individual's life that is indescribable with words.  Consider this description of the typical NDE "life review" from an "NDEr" and author on the subject:

During a life review, many of us experience not only our own feelings, but the feelings of everyone else -- as though all other people participating in our lifetimes are joined.  We can feel, then, how everything we've ever done or said affected others.  The sense is that we don't end at our skin.  It is an illusion that we are separate.  This deep review of our life shows us that, at a higher level of consciousness, we are all connected.

This new perspective totally changes our values and attitudes about the way we want to live.  Materialism decreases and altruistic values become greater in most NDErs' lives.  Almost all of us talk about a sense of mission.

Must it take the closeness of death to bring us closer to life?  What, if anything, else might bring about the kind of changes and realignment of values that will place you on the path to a meaningful existence?  What would you do if you were given three to six months to live?  What changes would you make?  Unless you've had an NDE or were given a death sentence, these questions will be extremely difficult to answer without complete and honest consideration of your life and the impact it has on others.

Perhaps a complete and honest consideration of someone else's life who has been given a death sentence can move us to a "life review" of our own.  Such a case can be found with Randy Pausch, a notable college professor and father of three young children, who was given three to six months to live.  One month after receiving his death sentence, he gave his "last lecture," which I highly recommend and, if you experience it as I did, you will be moved to tears.  Click here to watch it.  The entire piece is one hour and forty minutes but what's 100 minutes for those of us with years or even decades to live?  Six million people have already viewed the moving piece.  Here are some points I took from the speech, which only enhance its effectiveness:

Pausch has 10 tumors in his liver and was given three to six months to live.

The speech centers on three items:  His childhood dreams, enabling the dreams of others, and "lessons learned."

His relative youth, good looks, outstanding communication skills, healthy appearance, complete acceptance of his demise, and his self-described "cognitive dissonance" make his message even more powerful.

He spoke of virtues, none of which were related to money or material objects.

Pausch offered several philosophical views, which became increasingly self-evident with death approaching, that impacted his life.  Here are a few of his words that struck me:

Most of what we learn, we learn indirectly.  These kinds of 'head fakes' are absolutely important and you should look out for them because they are everywhere.

Brick walls are not there to keep us out... [they] are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.  The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough.

Respect authority while questioning it.

Don't complain.  Just work harder.

If your kids want to paint their bedroom, let 'em do it.  Don't worry about the resale value on the house.

[Life] is not about how to achieve your dreams.  It's about how to lead your life.  If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself.  The dreams will come to you.

Without adequate words to add, I will end this blog post the same way it began and, hopefully, the words will have different meaning for you this time...

You will only live once. Now think about that...

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Sources and Additional Resources:

Randy Pausch's homepage, including updates on his status.

One Man Who Gives Thanks Daily, by John A. Byrne, BusinessWeek, November 21, 2007.

"Hat Tip" to TheKirkReport

Barbara Harris Whitfield's Near Death Experience

Related Financial Philosopher posts:

Can Money Really Buy Happiness?

The Path To Thanksgiving... Is Ongoing

Stop Making Resolutions & Start Thinking...

"Moderation, which consists in indifference about little things, and in a prudent and well-proportioned zeal about things of importance, can proceed from nothing but true knowledge, which has its foundation in self-acquaintance." ~ Plato  (This quote was used in the 2007 TFP posts, Plato: The Philosopher King and Asset Allocation: The Balanced Model)

If we follow simple wisdom, such as the immediately preceding quote from Plato, there is little need for making "new year's resolutions," such as "lose weight" or "get finances in order." Plato's "indifference about little things" suggests we do not "sweat the small stuff;" his idea of "well-proportioned zeal about things of importance" suggests we give more attention to things that matter most to us, such as health, personal relationships, and overall happiness; and, finally, Plato's underlying theme of moderation and his "foundation of self-awareness" (knowing yourself) strike at the very core of success in all areas of our lives, including personal finance...   

This post will attempt to step outside the confinement of specific goals and list-making and assess the big picture by thinking of philosophies to live by... rather than resolutions that may or may not be kept.  If we choose the right path, or philosophy, then good habits are consistently reinforced and bad habits diminish.  By staying on that metaphorical path, we will eventually reach our destination (if it does not find us first); therefore, a specific destination, whether it be a financial goal or some other personal accomplishment, becomes less necessary.

I believe several of the following quotes are wise thoughts to inspire your life philosophies and the direction of your path  in 2008 and beyond.  Rather than a predictable "best posts of 2007" list, I've constructed several quotes (with links to posts for additional support and reference) found here at The Financial Philosopher throughout the past year...

"Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem." ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti (From The Essence of Understanding)

"In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity." ~  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (From Simplicity & Balance: Investing With One Fund)

"Let no one delay the study of philosophy when young nor weary of it when old." ~  Epicurus (From Why The World Needs Philosophy)

"Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest." ~ William Shakespeare (From Less Than Thou Showest)

"If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires." ~ Epicurus (From Can Money Really Buy Happiness?)

"You spent the first half of your life becoming somebody.  Now you can work on becoming nobody, which is really somebody.  For when you become nobody there is no tension, no pretense, no one trying to be anyone or anything.  The natural state of the mind shines through unobstructed -- and the natural state of the mind is pure love." ~  Ram Dass (From Working On Becoming Nobody)

"Man acts as though he were the shaper and master of language, while in fact language remains the master of man." ~ Martin Heidegger (From The Five Minute Retirement Plan)

"If I have even just a little sense, I will walk on the main road and my only  fear will be of straying from it." ~ Lau-tzu (From Lau-tzu: Beginning of 'The Way')

Resolutions are often futile, although well-intentioned, attempts to make meaningful  changes in our lives; however, those same resolutions have the potential to lose meaning and effectiveness if they are not part of the same core philosophies that form our behavior and thought processes to begin with.  In other words, resolutions are almost always doomed to fail, so why do it!!!???

Metaphorically speaking, we should simply determine the direction of our path; start walking it; and do our best to stay on it...

TFPAuthor, Kent N. Thune, QPFC, is the President and founder of Atlantic Capital Investments, LLC (ACI), a 'fee-only' Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Mount Pleasant, SC.

   

Stop 'Running Away' From Stress...

"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment." ~ Marcus Aurelius

Stress is simply the inability to cope -- not something to avoid...

In between meals and conversations during this past Thanksgiving holiday, I ran across several internet pieces and blog posts online with tips for avoiding stress.  While much of the "advice" appeared useful to a minimal degree, I found it disappointing that all of the lists offered only tips for avoiding stress but none of them even touched upon coping with it.  There is a difference -- the former is a "quick fix" and the latter is a "tool" that can be used again and again...

In my personal experience, and in that of others I have observed, having a strong coping mechanism is the most effective means of stress reduction.  Avoiding stress may yield short-term value but is seldom a long-term solution.  Not only do many people read useless lists, such as the ones we see repeated each holiday season, but they spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on short-term "remedies" to reduce stress...   

Fortunately, after seeing many of the regurgitated lists served up each holiday season, I found an article from Smart Money magazine (print version only), called "Unwinding," that appeared useful in strengthening the reader's coping mechanism.  Here are a few key excerpts:

"Continual stress can damage the brain, but that harm can actually be reversed.  The brain circuits associated with memory and decision making, which shrink during intense stress, will stretch back to normal if the pressure eases up after a few weeks.  Better yet, our neurons -- the cells that allow us to think and perceive -- can multiply throughout our lives..." 

"Yin and yang, as  even most Westerners know, are oppositional forces, like stillness and motion.  According to Taoist philosophy they coexist not just in the body but in all things.  For us the problem is clearly too much motion and not enough stillness..."

"Get more sleep, because sleep deprivation drives up cortisol levels and increases stress; spend more time with friends, because strong social connections strengthen our resilience to stress; exercise regularly and meditate every day..."

The author of the piece found that meditation on a regular basis was just as effective, if not more so, than a "destination spa" costing up to $8,000 for seven nights.  What's more, meditation does not have to cost anything, can be done for 15 to 20 minutes per day, and does not require a reservation!

Of course, it helps to have the kind of personality or "hard wiring" that can naturally deflect anxiety but having the right kind of "tool" for stress reduction that works best for the user, both as a human and an as an individual, is essential.  Do you have a coping tool?  Have you even sought one?

In addition to meditation or prayer, you may have already guessed that I have found that philosophy is an outstanding tool for strengthening and maintaining a strong coping mechanism.  If it is part of a regular "diet" of consumption, philosophy makes for a powerful coping mechanism because it promotes self-awareness, simplicity, and moderation, among other things, and allows for a realistic perspective on life.  Here are just a few of my favorite pieces of wisdom for your quick consumption:

"Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance.  Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom." ~ Buddha

"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone." ~ Blaise Pascal

"Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are." ~ Chinese Proverb

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." ~ Benjamin Franklin

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." ~ Albert Einstein

"A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety." ~ Aesop

"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." ~ Ovid

"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important." ~ Bertrand Russell

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." ~ Lao Tzu

TFPAuthor, Kent N. Thune, QPFC, is the President and founder of Atlantic Capital Investments, LLC (ACI), a 'fee-only' Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Mount Pleasant, SC.

The Path to Thanksgiving... Is Ongoing

"As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are.  Otherwise you will miss most of your life."  -- Buddha

To complete this week's string of "becoming thankful" posts, I will offer some ancient eastern wisdom that helps me stay grounded, thankful, and on the right "path."  To me, being thankful is made easier by clearly seeing and appreciating the value of what we already have and coming to the realization that what we have is "enough." 

"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are.  When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."  -- Lau-tzu

"There is more happiness in doing one's own [path] without excellence than in doing another's [path] well."  -- The Bhagavad Gita

"You cannot tread the Path before you become the Path yourself."  -- Zen saying

"All human beings, though they may seem to be walking on divergent paths, are all marching to one goal, and that goal is Self-realization."  -- The Bhagavad Gita

"If I have even just a little sense, I will walk on the main road and my only fear will be of straying from it."  --  Lau-tzu

"Slow down and the thing you are chasing will come around and catch you."  -- Zen saying

"People have a hard time letting go of their suffering.  Out of fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar."  -- Thich Nhat Hanh

"When the way comes to an end, then change -- having changed, you pass through."  --  I Ching

"If you choose a job that you like you will never have to work a day in your  life."  -- Confucius

"The wise man knows that it is better to sit on the banks of a remote mountain stream than to be emperor of the whole world."  -- Zhuang Tzi

"If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete."  -- Buddha

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall."  -- Confucius

"My opinion is that you never find happiness until you stop looking for it."  -- Chuang Tzu

TFPAuthor, Kent N. Thune, QPFC, is the President and founder of Atlantic Capital Investments, LLC (ACI), a 'fee-only' Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Becoming Thankful: Allocate 'Control'

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."  Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

I often point to parallels between investing concepts and life itself.  On your way to becoming thankful, your path will become more clear when you decide to give more energy to things you can control and less energy to those you cannot.  With investing, we can control investment selection, investment timing, investment style, savings rate, and asset allocation.  We cannot control the direction of financial markets or the actions of others.  My original post, The Wisdom of Asset Allocation, elaborates on this point...

As for your life, I imagine you can think of some things you can control that deserve more energy and some things you cannot control that deserve less energy.

Thanks for reading!  Be safe and have fun...

TFPAuthor, Kent N. Thune, QPFC, is the President and founder of Atlantic Capital Investments, LLC (ACI), a 'fee-only' Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Mount Pleasant, SC.