In December, you may find yourself “in the thick of it,” with family gatherings, kids on sugar highs, and an extra long to-do list. It’s one of life’s most frustrating conundrums: when it feels like you should be living in the moment most, it can be the hardest time to stay present and appreciate all that is around you.
The reality is the people and things surrounding you during the holidays won’t always be there. As the years go by, children grow up, loved ones pass on, and your situation changes. Taking the time to really pause and appreciate exactly where you are right now is an underutilized way to create gratitude and value in your life.
I found a simple two-minute practice that might help you slow down and reflect during this holiday season. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by something, give this a try.
Step 1:
Close your eyes and imagine you’re 90 years old. Your children are grown up and have families of their own, your health isn’t what it used to be, and you spend most of your time reminiscing.
Step 2:
Now, imagine you have a time machine that you can only use to go back to this stressful, overwhelming moment in your current life. Your 90-year-old self gets 10 minutes with your current life, surrounded by the exact people and chaos you’re experiencing.
Step 3:
Now, open your eyes and embody your elderly self from the future. Look around and take in all the things through those eyes.
That long to-do list might feel more like a list of blessings; your energetic children might inspire more love and appreciation instead of annoyance. Considering the impermanence of life — the constantly changing nature of everything around you — it’s a powerful perspective shift that usually takes me to a place of deep gratitude and love.
Putting It Into Practice
I’m not saying all of this to be negative or morbid but as an encouragement to embrace all the blessings you have around you during this time. As you approach the holidays, remind yourself of these blessings, and remember that no other year will be like this year. Focus on those around you, on their joy, and recommit yourself to being present. One of the most beautiful gifts we can give is our attention.
From our entire Concentus team, we wish you a joyful, appreciative holiday season. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to talk with us more.
About VALUABLES
Many financial advisors focus on communicating with clients to provide complex analysis of the investment markets and economies. However, we have learned that most clients are not particularly interested in this complex analysis. Most clients hire an advisor for their knowledge of the markets, not for their ability to explain that knowledge. Most want to know what time it is, not how to build a watch.
Experience has taught us that wealthy families care most about using their wealth as a means to a desirable end, which is to achieve a more satisfying, fulfilled and impactful life, and to fulfill their most important Life Values.
VALUABLES is a periodic article series focused on the concepts, systems, and habits which we have observed among families who have been successful in this quest to use their wealth as a tool to live a life of significance. The most successful families share a set of habits, systems, and insights which enable them to use their wealth as a tool to fulfill their Values and what is most important to them.
We named this article series VALUABLES, because it provides an exploration of those habits, systems, and insights. We hope it will help you to consider your assets and possessions which are most valuable to you, and how you can use your financial wealth to enhance and cultivate your true “Valuables”.
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