This post is 945 words, about a 5 min read
I recently turned 29. The last year of my twenties.
Unsurprisingly nothing changed. Crazy to think that I am walking into the third decade of my life. Well in my short time on this floating space rock we call Earth, I have learned a few things that I believe have helped shaped me into the person I am today.
By no means have I mastered any of these items on the list, rather they are general aims of who I want to become every year I age. I believe if I can live up to the ideals in these lessons, I will be more successful than I am today and have amazing relationships with friends, family, and my future spouse.
These are in no particular order but the last 3 are vital to the way I choose to live my life.
Let’s begin:
Generosity is greater than greed
It will never be ENOUGH
No matter how much money you make, it will never be enough to fulfill you
True fulfillment has always and will always come from having people who love me and I love aka Deep Relationships
BONUS: Less is MORE
Kindness is extremely underrated
Hanlon’s Razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity
Show grace to yourself and others
Boring is GOOD
No one cares. Seriously, NO ONE CARES
No one thinks you are cool or important
Everyone thinks if they had what you have they would be cool and important
Play your own game
It is the only one you are good at
The hard part is figuring out what exactly is your game
BONUS: Don’t try to be the best at anything. Be the only version of your thing
Quit fast and early on things that do not make you money or bring any joy
This goes for career and relationships
BONUS: Say Yes until you can afford to say NO
Saying NO is the only way you take back control
It is the shortest but the most powerful word in English
It gives you focus and clarity
BONUS: If it isn't a HELL YES! SAY NO!
Appreciate your position while plotting your promotion
If you hate your job find something you like about that job so you can do well and stand out in that job
However, keep working and finding ways to improve yourself and work towards the next thing you want.
BONUS: Opportunity comes dressed in overalls and looks like work
Good advice is NOT always good for me
Get the NO
Better to be told NO for sure than to fantasize about a potential YES
Free your mind
Listening is a superpower that very few people have
Listen not to respond but to understand
Asking questions is how you listen better
This is very exhausting
BONUS: Be curious
Get perspective over making assumptions
The most valuable resource you have is time.
Be mindful of whose you are stealing
Be mindful of who you give yours to
I am more influenced than I think therefore I must choose my influences wisely
What I read, watch, and listen to
The people I allow in my life
Being truthful is the best way to live
BONUS: Telling the truth requires a bridge so choose your words wisely especially if its a footbridge
Money ain't everything but it is one of the most important things
BONUS: The greatest gift of money is not being able to buy more things but it is the ability to own your future and control your time
Every Dollar saved is guaranteeing owning that part of your future.
The opposite is true for every dollar owed
Compounding is the 8th wonder of the world and it is in everything you do.
You either earn more or lose everything
Be careful what you choose to do repetitively
Never do anything to interrupt it when it is going well
BONUS: Never sacrifice Long term happiness for short-term comfort
Investing is simple and hard
All it takes is consistently buying index funds
The hard part is learning to do nothing
Being average for a long period makes all the difference
Your feelings are great to tell you where you are but horrible at directing you
Pay attention to them but never take directions from them
Always take time to process
BONUS: Writing is a cheat code to see yourself outside of yourself
Learn from the ancients & the dead
Read books and talk to old people, they have seen it all
Expectations are debts on your happiness. Set them appropriately
BONUS: Happiness is the result of realistic expectations
Happiness can come at a cost but JOY is always FREE. Choose JOY
Everything you ever want is on the other side of FEAR so face it head on
True Freedom is found in Honesty, Transparency, and Vulnerability
Which is why it is the scariest thing you can do
Transparency is sharing what has happened
Vulnerability is sharing what is yet to happen that would never otherwise be known
BONUS: Faking it till you make it is a recipe for disaster
Keep IT SIMPLE
The simple answer is usually the correct one
The simplest explanation is usually the correct one but not always
Have people in your life that you never want to disappoint.
Marry the Right person because they either make or break everything.
Ask Yourself: Can I have 10,000 dinners with this person?
Discipline is FREEDOM
FEAR GOD & REST IN THE PEACE OF GOD'S BUTS!
Proverbs 1:7 & 2:5
Daniel 3:16-18
Thank you for reading
I hope this is as helpful to you as it has been for me.
✌🏾
Recommended Reads
Morgan Housel, Paying Attention. There is too much information today. How do we select what to pay attention to? Morgan's three great ways to keep the necessary things and get rid of the unimportant things.
Money Scoop: Preparing for Student Loans Repayment. Please DO NOT WAIT till the last minute. Start making plans for what you're doing for student loans.
Planet Money: What Personal Financial Stress Can Do To The Economy. This was a very fascinating article from Planet Money on how people deal with money stress. I was shooketh reading how my beliefs on how people would deal with financial stress are so WRONG
Morgan Housel, Compounding Optimism. Morgan gives a very compelling reason to be an eternal optimist.
Morgan Housel, Why We Believe The Things We Do. Have you ever questioned why you believe some of the things you believe? Or tried to change your mind and could not. Morgan breaks down how we do not care for the truth as much as we may think and how we form our beliefs.