Basics of Mindfulness Practice

Mindfulness helps us put some space between ourselves and our reactions, breaking down our conditioned responses. Here’s how to tune into mindfulness throughout the day:

The basics of a mindfulness practice
  1. Set aside some time. You don’t need a meditation cushion or bench, or any sort of special equipment to access your mindfulness skills—but you do need to set aside some time and space.
  2. Observe the present moment as it is. The aim of mindfulness is not quieting the mind, or attempting to achieve a state of eternal calm. The goal is simple: we’re aiming to pay attention to the present moment, without judgment. Easier said than done, we know.
  3. Let your judgments roll by. When we notice judgments arise during our practice, we can make a mental note of them, and let them pass.
  4. Return to observing the present moment as it is. Our minds often get carried away in thought. That’s why mindfulness is the practice of returning, again and again, to the present moment.
  5. Be kind to your wandering mind. Don’t judge yourself for whatever thoughts crop up, just practice recognizing when your mind has wandered off, and gently bring it back.

That’s the practice. It’s often been said that it’s very simple, but it’s not necessarily easy. The work is to just keep doing it. Results will accrue.


References:

  1. https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/

U.S. Federal Public Debt

As of September 30, 2020, 64 percent of the outstanding amount of marketable Treasury securities held by the public (about $13.1 trillion) was scheduled to mature in the next 4 years. Current coupon rate is around 2,5 percent

During the past decade, the federal government’s debt increased at a faster rate than at any time since the end of World War II, outstripping economic growth over that period. At the end of 2019, federal debt was higher than at any other time since just after the war.

When the federal government runs an annual budget deficit, the Department of the Treasury borrows money to make up the difference between spending and revenue. Then, if special funds like the Medicare trust fund have surpluses, the “extra” revenue is lent to the rest of the federal government.

The federal debt is the total amount of money that the federal government owes, either to its investors or to itself. Total federal debt rose to $26.9 trillion at the end of fiscal year 2020, equal to about 79 percent of GDP, a higher percentage than at any other time since just after World War II.

To finance the government’s activities, the Treasury issues securities—collectively labeled debt held by the public—that differ in time to maturity, the ways they are sold to investors, and the structure of their interest payments. Marketable securities make up the lion’s share of that debt, and nontradable securities, such as savings bonds, make up the rest.

The Treasury sells securities in the capital markets—often through a primary dealer intermediary­—to various U.S. buyers (such as the Federal Reserve System, mutual funds, financial institutions, and individual people), to private investors overseas, and to the central banks of other countries. Domestic investors currently own about three-fifths of outstanding debt held by the public.

Your Mindset and Clarity of Vision

A young couple moved into a new house. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the washing outside.

“That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better soap powder. Her husband looked on, remaining silent.

Every time her neighbor hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.

A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”

The husband replied, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life… What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.

So don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires.

“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”

Diversify Your Income Sources

Relying on a single source of income can be risky, as unforeseen circumstances can lead to financial instability. By diversifying your income sources, you not only increase your earning potential but also create a safety net in case one stream dries up.

Whether it be starting a side hustle, investing in the stock market, or monetizing your skills, having multiple income streams gives you financial flexibility to better weather economic storms.

Take control of your financial future by diversifying your income streams and setting yourself up for success!

Below are seven income sources you can pursue:

  1. Earned Income – this is the money you receive in exchange for your time, skill and labor.
  2. Profit Income – this is the money you earned from sales or providing products and services.
  3. Rental Income – this is the money you earn when you rent out a property you own or collect rental income from an investment.
  4. Portfolio Income – this is the money you earned from investments from stocks, dividends, bonds and interest.
  5. Royalty Income – this is money you received from sources such as royalties or through a contractual agreement for work.
  6. Passive Income – this is money you earn through channels that don’t require your active participation.
  7. Capital Gains – this is money you receive when you sell a capital asset such as real estate or stock.

https://links.myneurogym.com/think&growrich-jafb

Applied Faith – Wishes Won’t Bring Riches

“If you truly want to change your life, you first must be willing to change your mind.”

 

How to make the crucial leap from faith to action in bringing your dreams to life.

Believe in yourself…Have faith and be confident in your abilities. But faith alone is often not enough. You require Applied Faith.

The greatest application of applied faith is learning the art of keeping your mind focused on what you want.

You need to know how to transform belief into action, and faith into real-life plans.

Application, Enthusiasm, Action are the three keys required to do more than just adapting a “believe in yourself” mindset–but to actually become the person you want to be.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/goalachieverswithjohnassaraf/permalink/839508644520679/

5 lessons from Napoleon Hill’s book “The Law of Success”

1. Definiteness of Purpose: Success starts with having a clear and definite purpose. You should have a specific goal in mind and should work towards it with persistence and determination. Without a clear goal, you are unlikely to achieve success.

2. Self-Confidence: Self-confidence is paramount in achieving success. He explains that a person should have faith in their abilities and trust themselves to succeed. Without self-confidence, a person is likely to give up or be easily discouraged when faced with obstacles.

3. Mastermind Alliance: The power of collaboration and the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people who share a common goal. A Mastermind Alliance is a group of individuals who work together towards a common purpose, and this kind of collaboration can lead to greater success.

4. Applied Faith: Faith in yourself, others, and a higher power are crucial for success. Applied faith involves taking action towards your goals while believing that success is possible. It’s importance to persist in the face of adversity.

5. Personal Initiative: Successful people are proactive and take action towards their goals, rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them. And, they take responsibility for their actions and decisions.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9 NIV

That Money You Borrowed? Remember Who Owns It

A new study shows that many people go into debt because they disregard that the money is not really theirs.

January 22, 2020 | by Drew Calvert

In 2019, U.S. consumer debt reached an all-time high, surpassing levels last seen during the 2008 financial crisis. Such debt takes many forms, including mortgages and student loans. But credit card debt alone exceeded $870 billion, and most of that is the result of discretionary spending. Why are so many Americans needlessly putting themselves in the hole?

The answer might lie in the psychological profile of the debtor, according to Stephanie M. Tully, an assistant professor of marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business. In a recent paper, Tully and her coauthors found that not all consumers feel the same way about available financing.

On one side of the continuum are those who perceive borrowed money to be entirely their own, and thus are more willing to spend it freely. On the other side are those who perceive such funds as decidedly not their own. This latter group is more likely to see the money as belonging to the bank, and thus more conservative about how they spend the money.

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad; Poor Dad, likes to say that, “Assets feed me, liabilities [debt] eat me.”

If you have to borrow money, it means you can’t afford what you want to buy. Even though, by the way, that’s not true, right? It’s not true. I

You can and probably should definitely use debt to buy real estate when it makes sense. Or, you can use debt when it makes sense to buy a business. Be smart with money such that money doesn’t leave me. And debt is a way for money to leave you and enslave you.


References:

  1. Drew Calvert, That Money You Borrowed? Remember Who Owns It, Stanford Graduate School of Business, January 22, 2020. https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/money-you-borrowed-remember-who-owns-it

Meteor, a Meteorite, and a Meteoroid

What is the difference between a meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid? The answer is Size

The three—meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid—are different phases of the same object! It works like this:

A meteoroid speeds through space until it enters the atmosphere, burning away as a meteor and impacting the ground as a meteorite.

Financial Advisers Reported That 40% of Their Clients Were Forced to Retire

People are retiring today, but they’re not slowing down — it’s the new retirement.

A survey by financial services firm Edward Jones found that 40% of financial advisors said their clients retired not at a time of their choosing, but when life circumstances “forced” them to do so.

Almost all financial advisors surveyed (97%) agree that retirement involves more surprises and challenges than their clients expected while an equal number (98%) agree that preparation, flexibility and willingness to adapt are key to success in retirement.

The majority of financial advisors recommend that retirees obtain supplemental health insurance (52%), secure long-term care insurance (48%) and adopt a more frugal lifestyle (48%) for financial stability.


References:

  1. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/financial-advisors-report-40-of-their-clients-were-forced-to-retire-edward-jones-survey-finds-301877073.html

 

Price is what you pay; Value is what you receive

A rumpled man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He says he is going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.

The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for such a loan. So, the man, clearly eccentric, hands over the keys to a new Rolls Royce parked on the street in front of the bank. Everything checks out, and the bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. An employee drives the Rolls into the bank’s underground garage and parks it there.

Two weeks later, the man returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest of $15.41.

The loan officer says, “We are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi-millionaire. What puzzles us is why would you bother to borrow $5,000?”

The man replied, “Where else in New York could I park my car for two weeks for $15.41?