Today’s Mandala Message: Invest 10%
This week I’m working through Principle #58 “Pay Yourself first” of Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles”. I set my intention today to ponder the idea investing 10% of my earnings. Canfield shares a fabled story where the wise sage advises the main character to put aside the first 10% of his earnings for himself. He further states: “As easy as this 10% formula is, I’m always shocked at how unwilling people are to hear it. … I believe your future must initially be built on the solid bedrock of a long-term investment plan. The earlier you start, the more quickly you can build your safety net.”
I’ve heard of this idea years ago and I even started it a couple of times. I would love to have the self-discipline to do this. But I know me, if the money is easy to put in and take out, I tend to take it out…maybe not right away, but sooner rather than later. By knowing it’s there, I’m more likely to access it … thus making it difficult to allow it to build up over time.
Currently, I’m going the CD (certificate of deposit) route, this way I can’t touch it until it matures and I’m penalized if I withdraw early. The downside is you can only put money in when you open the CD. In doing the google just now, I discovered a possible solution for me: an add-on CD. It has similar restrictions regarding withdrawal and usually a lower interest rate but you can add to it throughout its term. I further discovered that I can continue adding funds to my existing IRA even though I’m 70. One way or another I’m going to make this 10% idea a new habit this week.
I have to admit, it feels weird to talk about money, CDs, investing, IRAs, and so on when it comes to mandalas. Since I was guided to use Canfield’s book this year for the MotDs, I must continue through the principles. In his book, principles #56-62 are all about money and our relationship with it. Since doing last week’s MotDs, I’ve been gradually embracing the idea of money as energy…to honor it like I would any other form of energy.
If you find yourself being triggered by these latest principles, I understand…it’s all I can do to keep from being triggered myself. That being said, I think it’s worth it to work through these triggers to eventually be free of them.
A good mindfulness practice would be to consider the idea of putting aside 10% of your earnings.
So how about you? Are you able to put aside 10% of your earnings? Do you have the discipline for it? Do you feel yourself being triggered by this idea?
“If you don’t put yourself first,
— Oliver Myers
you are letting the world know
you can wait—and you will wait,
because each time you put
someone else’s happiness
before your own,
you drop yourself down a place
until you are last.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 