No matter how dire the circumstances, there are examples of people who were able to persevere.
So, why are so many people unable to improve their financial situation?
The pessimistic would say improving their finances is “Impossible.” They say it’s only a matter of luck, of being in the right place at the right time.
Here’s an answer that might surprise you:
Probably yes!
But here’s the caveat: Even when opportunity and luck start to knock, without a belief in ourselves, that door won’t open.
To put it simply, it comes down to how you feel when you hear that something is “Impossible.”
Is it a declaration of objective fact – something to give up on?
Or is it a challenge to overcome – to prove the nay-sayers wrong?
What if the word "Impossible" could thrill you with determination and excitement?
Photo by Martin Wyall on Unsplash
What do you believe about the world?
Pessimism is easy to sell: it sounds like righteous indignation.
If someone said “The rules are stacked against us,” it becomes extremely tempting to agree. Of course the rules are stacked! And no matter what we do, we’ll take one step forward and two steps back.
But if we really believe that the world is unfair, or out to get us, or against us, how will that affect the decisions and choices we make?
What if instead we believed that the world is generous, or abundant, or looking out for us?
Between those two different types of world views, which is more likely to lead to giving up?
Which is more likely to give us resilience?
Statistically the better choice
When we discuss investments, we mention that profits in a diversified portfolio come from just a small handful of companies, and that it is not possible to predict which companies those will be.
Life is similar. When looking at some of the “Great Achievers” in the world throughout history, we see that they only reached their level of success due to a small number of actions that they took.
The important thing, though, is that they continued to take chances, to strive for success, and it eventually paid off.
What does this mean? The more you keep taking positive actions, the more you increase your chances of success.
And if we look at those two previous world views, which one makes you more excited to try something new?
Statistically, historically, those who adopt an optimistic view of the world have a higher chance of achieving success than those who view the world pessimistically.
Catch-22
Of course, this leads to a catch-22. It’s easy to view the world optimistically when the world has already been generous. When the world has been kind, it’s easy to see that impossible things happen every day. And that an “Impossible” feat just means that the reward will be that much sweeter.
But if the world has been unkind to you, it’s incredibly difficult to view the world as anything other than hurtful.
This is where working with a coach can be beneficial. They can show you strategies to cope when times are low, and also to take advantage when times are high. They could also show you how to get from point A to point B through a path that their familiar with.
As Einstein said, “If I have seen further than other men, it’s because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.”
If you’re ready to revolutionize your new year with a financial coach, click here to register for a free Bronze account. A licensed advisor will reach out to schedule a meeting.
You don’t have to go it alone – we’re here to help.