Jun 30, 2020
How has your life changed in 2020? We’re not talking about how you’re learning how to bake bread, choosing Zoom backgrounds for your virtual meetings, or watching way too much Netflix.
We’re talking about how the intangible stuff has changed. Your values. Your priorities. Your life goals. Maybe you’re realizing that you want to make more time to spend with family. You might find that you want to pursue hobbies that make you happy. Or maybe you’ve realized you need to make lifestyle changes now in order to make your dreams come to life in the future.
If the pandemic hasn’t pushed you to at least think about what’s important to you… well, we’re calling you to think about it now. In this episode of Wealth by Design, we’re also helping you figure out what’s important to you so you can start living your most ideal life.
Whether you’re a go-with-the-flow kinda person or someone who thrives off of structure and deadlines, you can benefit from having some kind of roadmap for your life. It can get you back on course when life throws a curveball at you — for example, a curveball in the form of a global pandemic. Who’d ever see that coming??
Okay, you might be wondering, “Why are you talking about life choices and values? What’s that got to do with money?” Fair question! And the answer is… money is a big part of life. When you understand your values, goals, and priorities, you’ll start making financial decisions that are in line with them. Eventually, you’ll realize you can really enjoy life and find it fulfilling if your money choices are in line with your vision.
As Danielle says in this episode, “Just focusing on the money side of things doesn’t really serve you. We want you to start looking at your life in a different way.”
You can start looking at your life in a different way by using our Vision Worksheet inside our resource library. (Psst...if you need something more detailed to plan out your financial future, there’s our new program called Wealth by Design™ DIY. Check it out.)
There are three scenarios we want you to imagine when you start using our Vision Worksheet.
First, imagine that you are financially secure. You have enough money to take care of your needs now and in the future. How would you live your life? What would you do with your money? Would you change anything?
Then, imagine that your doctor tells you that you have five to ten years left to live. You won’t ever feel sick, but you also won’t know the exact moment of your death. What would you do in your remaining time? Would you change your life, and if so, how?
Finally, let’s imagine that your doctor tells you that you have only one day left to live. How do you feel? What do you wish you had been, or seen, or done?
These scenarios aren’t meant to scare you with the thought of death. Nor are they meant for you to think about for a few minutes and then file away for later. To truly sit with the idea of death and how you want to be living your life, you need to carve out some time to fill out the Vision Worksheet. Really think about the questions and be honest with your answers.
From there, you can start crafting a timeline for your goals. Want to buy or build your dream home by a certain age? Start writing a book? Learn how to play an instrument? Work less and focus on your hobbies more? Assign these goals to the ages in which you want to accomplish them. Ta da! You’ve taken your first few steps to bringing your vision to life.
We get it, y’all. The idea of death is scary. The idea of changing your life can be, too. But when you start living life intentionally, you’ll find more meaning and purpose in everything you do. And that’s an awesome feeling.
This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.