AS we all know, we need to have a solid foundation before we invest. Did you know that there was a lot of learning we need before investing? In this article, I will be sharing with you the meaning of “REST” in your finances.
Everything starts with a single idea in your mind, diligently processed and acted upon in a step-by-step and consistent manner, which will gradually produce progressive results.
Before you start investing, you must free up your mind from all negative thoughts and stop all activities that do not add value to yourself. Deal with people who have problems for every solution. Determination keeps you going.
Start filling your mind with principles and lessons that will help you find the right path.
Get connected with people who have a positive outlook in life, who can inspire and encourage you to pursue and achieve your goals. Spend time reading books and articles and listening to stories that will teach you lessons learned from other personal experiences and tips on how to improve your current situation. Be sure to evaluate what you currently have and determine how to utilize it to begin your saving and investing journey.
You need “R.E.S.T.”
1. Reviewing. It is a must for you to revisit your daily routine and review if your daily tasks are helping you achieve your goals. You must also review your dependencies: Are you dependent on other people’s preferences in making decisions?
Remember that insights from other people are eagerly considerable definitely for those who will be affected by your choices; that your decisions should be based on your conviction and values.
2. Eliminating. Start eliminating the things and tasks that are not helping you grow and keeping you in achieving your goals. Learn to stand on your own feet. Pursue God’s purpose for you. Do not depend on other people pulling you away from your purpose.
God will indeed send people who will help you but bear in mind that growth starts from within. You will never know yourself and discover God’s will for you if you never tried spending time alone with God.
3. Strengthening. Freeing up your mind and refilling yourself with the necessary empowerment is hard to do just alone.
You need someone beside you, but the best one to be with you is God. Go to a solemn, relaxing place (this can be your room, a mountaintop, a beach resort or even your comfort room) and spend time alone with Him in prayer, praise and thanksgiving. Receive from God by meditating on His Word and a book that will guide you in finding God’s purpose for your life.
You will be surprised to find peace of mind and calmness of heart in finding your life purpose. Excitement to walk on your life purpose will follow. Seize the moment and start envisioning what you will become in the future. It must be direct to your discovered purpose. God will send people who will encourage you, and God sent you also to be an encourager to others.
4. Timing. One of the most important assets we have in this world is time and the element of timing. We need time to study, prepare, realize, discover, share, preach, plan, buy, sell, save and invest. As time is essential, timing is also considerable: the right timing in doing the things that matter.
How would you know the right timing to buy, sell, save and invest? Studying, planning, and excellent preparation are all needed. Knowing the right timing is only the result of all these preparations. Experience taught us how to move next same as learning from experience (whether good or bad) is the best takeaway that we can have. Avoid repeating the same mistake that you have committed.
Now that you have emptied yourself and refilled your being with the right mindset and direction, you may now check your cash flow. In most cases, people stop or pause for so long after checking their cash flow. Remember that you are doing all of these for a purpose, and unnecessary delays are unadvisable.
Do ask yourself these questions: Do you have proper monitoring of your cash in and outflow? How are you doing expense management? Are you doing expense management properly? How much income are you receiving? Are there enough or more than enough funds to finance your daily bills and expenses?
Rodora Mendoza is a registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 90th RFP program this June. To inquire, e-mail info@rfp.ph or text at 0917-6248110.