A kinder, gentler philosophy of success

Here's a great TED Talk that might help you alleviate some stress.  Enjoy!



Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success

5 Things I Live By

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Several years ago when I got my very first promotion in the beauty industry I was on top of the world.  Finally, after years of hard work and making coffee my talents were being recognized and I knew that I had a promising career path ahead of me.  An industry that I loved, a good salary, benefits, 401(k) -- I was on my way.  Months later the company went bankrupt and I was laid off.  And that's the way the cookie crumbles.

One moment everything's great and the next it's shit.  Life is like an ocean, and here we are just riding the waves.  My dad used to tell me that the key is to stay level.  When things are going good, don't get high.  This way when things turn for the worse you won't get too low.  Native American spiritual warriors talk about this control of emotions and how important it is to master.  Taoism and Zen philosophy does as well.  So this is what I attempt to do in order to avoid stress and still live a life of abundance.

5 things I Live By:

1. My Work Is Not My Worth
I work and then I let it go. I'm all about going with the flow.  Not internalizing my goals or my ambitions because that's what causes stress.  I work and I plan but my work does not define me.  My happiness, my appreciation for life, my love for the earth and people around me, my passion for music and art, my ideas -- these are what define me.  Success does not make you happy, it may make you financially secure but life is so much more than that.  The great spiritual leader Osho says, "Life should not be taken as work but as play."

2. Don't Trust Employer
If they give me a great 401(k) plan great, but I don't depend on it.  I take my finances into my own hands with stock investments and 4N1Fund.  After getting burned once I refuse to let it happen again.  I could lose my job tomorrow, my employer could make the wrong investment choices for me.  By taking it in my own hands I feel more in control.  I make payments to 4N1Fund each month, which they leverage by combining it with other group members (social networking meets investing).  And I'm guaranteed a tax free income stream in the future that does not depend on the market.  If the market crashed tomorrow the amount of retirement money coming to me would not change!

3. Run
Running alleviates my stress more than anything.  It also challenges me and I see it as a metaphor for life.  The progress is slow but it's there.  I just believe in myself and I make it happen.  I don't think to hard and in fact I don't think at all when I'm running.  I breath.  And I go.  And I make it further each time and I feel better each time.  I feel stronger and I'm happier.  And so I wake up the next morning and do it all over.

4. Meditate
Meditation is the best way to quiet your mind, to separate yourself from the ego and to just be.  It's important to remember that your ego is not who you are.  Your ego in fact is what holds you back.  Cartesian philosophy introduced the idea of the self as the center of the universe but many other cultures and modes of thought believe otherwise.  When you begin to strip self or the ego out of the equation, your worries melt away.  When you surrender to the universe -- you are free.  Lao Tzu says, "There is nowhere to go, you are already there."

5. Live Life
It's so short!  Just live it, enjoy it.  Move on.  Appreciate.  Be grateful.  Have fun!  Stop searching for meaning.  The very meaning is being alive.  That's it.  It's not deep, not a struggle.  The profound is in the simplicity.  And that's beautiful.

Cash Chronicles - Entry #1

In an attempt to blog more frequently and revamp my posts so readers actually find them useful and relatable I've decided to make weekly post about my personal journey to save money and become financially stable without worrying all the time.

I come from a modest background, I was raised by a single mother in New York City.  My mom was well educated and cultured and she made sure that my brother and I were also.  We went to the best private schools, took music lessons, studied art and theater etc.  All the while, my mother was struggling to provide those things.  She sacrificed and stressed in order to take care of us.  My mother is an amazing woman as I'm sure most mother's are.  I'm grateful for her and I am who I am because of her.  But stress ruined her life.  She became very ill because of it and eventually stress killed her.

Now it's my mission not only to be financially successful but to do it without stress. 

Stress is a leading killer among Americans.  We live in a fast paced, goal oriented society that values success and ambition more than anything else.

I'm an ambitious person, growing up in NYC I really had no other choice but to be.  In order to learn how to deal with my own stress I began studying several Eastern philosophies and have come to realize that I believe in many Taoist principles.

The main principle of taoism is not to be ambitious but to go with the flow.  To be present, not living for the future, but appreciating the moment.  After a  mini stress related breakdown of my own, I finally understand what this means and I feel free.  Free from worry and stress.

In my blog I simply want to share my experiences with others. On this site I'll recommend several tools and tricks I've found that keep me living a happy stress free life.  Also I'll share tools I use to be more financially responsible.

I hope you enjoy!

Take A 401(k) Chill Pill

The American Medical Association notes that stress is the basic cause of more than 60 percent of all human illness and disease.  The good thing is, stress is avoidable.  Stress tends to be something we do to ourselves. People let themselves be stressed by not looking for solutions, not changing their attitudes, and by thinking a certain way.  

In today’s political and economic climate people stress most about money.   As people continue to stress about retirement and dwindling 401k’s it’s important to remember that there are other retirement planning options, less stressful ones.    

401(k) vs 4N1FUND 

  

Stress - Trust Your Employer - Can you depend on corporate America? Do you trust your employer?   A 401(K) requires you do both.  Some employers operating 401(k) plans are not in compliance with IRS and Department of Labor regulations.  Some 401(k) plans use risky or questionable investments. Many plans invested in mortgage-backed securities and lost most of their value in the mortgage collapse of 2008. You must investigate and research your employer’s 401(k) plan to make sure it’s safe and sound.

          Sans Stress   

• Trust Yourself - 4N1FUND does not rely on the stability of corporate America and you don’t have to trust your employer to make the right choices.  All you have to do is commit to making monthly payments.  4N1FUND relies on the power of the group.  Once an online group is formed, your money is leveraged due to the sheer numbers.   

Stress - Pay Taxes - Generally, your 401(k) distributions are taxed as ordinary income.  401(k) plans also have a minimum distribution requirement.  If you fail to withdraw income by age 70 you pay hefty fees.  

         Sans Stress

• Annual Tax-Free Income Stream - 4N1FUND provides an incredible annual tax-free income stream.  The tax advantages are incomparable to any other retirement plan.  You don’t have to worry about paying Uncle Sam.  You’ve given him enough.  Go to the 4N1FUND website and see what your projections are!

Stress - Watch the Market -- A 401(k) plan is money invested in the stock market.  If you have one, you must do the work to monitor it.  You have to watch out for any alterations in portfolio options, strategy changes, manager departures, long-term performance shortcomings, etc.

         Sans Stress

• No Work Involved - 4N1FUND takes the stress out of planning for the future.  You won’t have to pay attention to the stock market downswings because when the market drops it will not affect your benefits.  You won’t have to monitor changes.   It’s a much simpler approach to saving!  Take the intimidating stress of being lost in the economic world out of the equation and focus on the fun things in life, like finding your next relaxing vacation spot.

Stress - Heavy Early Withdrawal Penalties - Don't touch your 401(k) before retirement. The money is yours, so you can withdraw it if you want, but not without paying taxes and heavy penalties (generally 10%) on the amount withdrawn.  If you make an early withdrawal, be prepared to lose money.

          Sans Stress

• NO Early Withdrawal Penalties - 4N1FUND provides living benefits in times of personal crisis.  You won’t have exorbitant penalties to pay if a circumstance arises that requires you to stop working and withdraw funds for income before you reach retirement age.  It offers protection in times of need and you won’t have to jump through any hoops.

 

Don't Touch My Nest Egg

I'm sure you've heard the term before but how many of us really have them?  Most people are worried about having enough money for their current expenses and can't imagine having enough money to save.  But it's important to have some sort of emergency fund, not only will it alleviate stress but it may also come in handy.

I'm working on creating a nest egg for myself.  It's not easy for a freelancer to plan ahead but I know it's important so I make it a priority.  Three reasons you should consider creating a nest egg of your own:

1. Alleviate Stress.
According to several studies the number one source of stress is finances.  So why not work to get rid of some of the worry by stacking money.  Knowing that you have money set aside that you don't touch will put your mind at ease.  Maybe you just started a new job that you think is great.  But what if it's not?  An emergency fund will keep you from feeling stuck there.  Or maybe you earn plenty of money and you think you don't need to save.  But what if you're wrong?  A nest egg will help make the 'what if's' in life a little easier to handle.

2. Emergencies Happen.
Life is unpredictable.  It's beautiful that way.  I love not knowing what's going to happen next because it opens up so many possibilities.   But with those possibilities come risks.  Since we can't predict the future, the best we can do is be prepared for it.  Maybe it's a leak in your house or a emergency medical bill.  It's good to have money set aside in case something goes drastically wrong.  Most likely, it won't but you never know.  And I'm big on not worrying about the future.  However, preparing for the future doesn't have to mean worry.

3. It's Doable.
Saving is not as hard as you might think.  Some of us can afford to save more than others.  But almost everyone can afford to save something.  The key is in your monthly budget.  Make a budget that outlines expenses, retirement savings and savings for your nest egg.  Start with a small amount, an amount you may even think isn't worth it.  This way, saving becomes a habit.  And as your income increases or as you become accustomed to saving as part of your lifestyle, you can increase your allotment as you see fit.

Just remember one thing, there's no need to stress.  Just take small steps and let the universe do the rest.

xx

Zen About Finance

Lately I've been re-examining ancient ideas and philosophies about life.  I tend to do this when I get stressed out and in the past few months I've been stressing about my career.  In the midst of what could've been a breakdown I actually had a breakthrough.  It's funny when you already know something intellectually but it takes a moment for it to click in practice, on the ground.  Well, that's exactly what happened.  I have been aware of the nature of the universe for quite some time but it has only recently clicked within me, and boy does it feel wonderful.

Money and success are not the key the happiness.  They don't hurt, but they should not be the ultimate source of satisfaction in one's life.  In fact, preoccupation with the goal is not ideal.  We all want to be recognized for our importance and our contributions.  But it is not the recognition that truly matters.

It is all about the journey.  Really and truly understanding that one's life and goals are not to be micromanaged but surrendered to the universe is liberating.  This doesn't mean we don't work to achieve.  I believe desires are healthy, especially in our society.  But, it's important to remember that the real value, true growth and meaning lie in the journey itself and not in the achievement.

In regards to finance and financial situations, it's important to remember that while we have financial goals and desires.  It's the pursuit that has the meaning.  Not only does understanding this alleviate stress and pressure on ourselves but it's exciting.  Trust that the Universe has your back, because it does.  If you can genuinely believe this you will have far less stress, about money or anything else. 

It's important to take risks both in life and in finance.  But don't be afraid of those risks or try to control the outcome.  Just know that it will work out.  Know that money will come.  Know that you will meet your goal and know that abundance is waiting.