Weekend Wisdom: Frog in a Well

"We think too small, like the frog at the bottom of the well.  He thinks the sky is only as big as the top of the well.  If he surfaced, he would have an entirely different view." ~ Mau Tse-Tung

I'm going to do something today that I do not do often enough here at The Financial Philosopher:  Write a blog post with no real preparation...

First, I must comment on the action this week in financial markets, which is a disappointing yet fascinating display of human behavior.  All the activity and frantic motion, bordering on panic, only reminds me of what I have learned over the last several years of managing investments; studying the markets and personal finance; working with individuals to plan their financial future; starting my own business; becoming a father; and "stumbling upon" the profound power and wisdom of ancient philosophy: 

• The more I learn about the markets and the human behavior that comes with it, the more comfort and peace I feel with the grounding wisdom that philosophy provides.
• As the world's focus narrows on money, my focus actually widens to see the big picture.
• As people wonder, "What should I do?"  I find resolve in answering the same question to myself:  "The same as I've been doing all along."

As I freely write my thoughts on the week, one theme seems to be emerging:  When we are limited in our vision, it just may be that we are limiting it ourselves, whether we know it or not. 

Just like the frog in the well, we are limited by what we see in our nearest surroundings.  When our surroundings (i.e. stock market turmoil, personal relationship problems, career issues, the presidential election) are troubling we tend to shrink as our perception of the problem widens.

If we adjust our perception appropriately and consciously and choose to step away or, in the frog's case, climb out of the well, we will clearly see that where we are (or were) is something small and insignificant.

Climb out of that well and have an enjoyable weekend...

Wow! That post only took me 10 minutes to write!  Let me know your thoughts...

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.

Comments

[donna]

As individuals we may be small and insignificant. But if we see ourselves as a part of the Tao, then we are part of something vast.

The droplet becomes the ocean, but the ocean also becomes the droplet...

Namaste!

[The Financial Philosopher]

Donna:

It's interesting that you say that we are "part of something vast." In a recent post, "Dying to Live," I quoted a person who had a near-death experience. Paraphrasing her, she said that the fact that we are "separate" on earth seemed as an "illusion" in her "death." She felt an overwhelming sense that "we are all connected."

Here's the link if you have not read the post:
http://financialphilosopher.typepad.com/thefinancialphilosopher/2008/01/dying-to-live-1.html

Thanks for the comment...

[Ana]

I always come back to your blog to step out of the chaos and the narrow view. And yes, it is true, just keep doing what we do...but to realize that we need to quiet the mind that is creating all the panic and say to ourselves "that is not the real view ...that is the narrow view...this present moment is immense..!
Enjoy a cup of tea.
By the way, I'm a mortgage loan officer out of work, going back to school, don't know where my next penny is coming from, but the tea is warm and the morning is cold, love it!

[The Financial Philosopher]

Ana:

Thanks for the comment and I admire your attitude on finding work. Just remember that money is "abundant" -- not "scarce."

One philosopher, whose name escapes me, was approached to help raise money for a cause. The task seemed immense and the support staff was beginning to panic. They asked the philosopher, "Where will we find all this money we need?" The philosopher replied, "From where it is now."