The Race is on!

It’s 2:00 am and it’s starting. The mind madness. You awaken for no good reason and suddenly the brain goes on overdrive. Every item on your to-do list, all the worries of the world and the health of your loved ones, seem to race at lightening speed through every cell. “My gosh, please stop, I just need to sleep,” you say to yourself as you try to reason with your brain. Why is it that these issues always seem worse at night? There must be some scientific reason for it.

If it makes you feel better, you aren’t alone. In fact, it may even bring a smile if you think about the thousands of others laying with you, at the exact same time, contemplating the similar issues. Ahh, life.

I’m not a psychologist and I don’t claim to have the magical answer to this dilemma. I, too, struggle with the mind madness game. But, I can tell you what helps me. Faith and control. I know what you’re going to say…”But if you have faith, you realize you aren’t in control.” Yes, faith that a higher source is guiding you is fundamental. But, I also believe that God (or your higher source) takes care of those who help themselves.

So, what am I getting at? Rather than panic and get caught up in the media crazed doom and gloom, I suggest you step back, take a breath, and realize there is much that you can do to take control of your life. Take each item that you feel challenged by and break it into smaller pieces. Take small steps towards the resolution to your problem.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you or your spouse just lost a job. It’s scary, no doubt. But, if you get caught in the panic and fear, you can’t be productive in moving forward. Whether it’s looking for a new job or venturing out into the world of entrepreneurship, your mind needs to be open, clear and panic free. This mindset doesn’t always come easily, I’ll give you that. But, being proactive vs. reactive puts you in a place of empowerment and strength, rather than that of a victim.

Another example would be money issues. In this economic climate, many have watched their 401K dwindle, credit card debt increase or cash flow tighten. Again, no doubt, this can be a scary time. I’m not suggesting you put your head in the sand and “imagine all is well.” I’m suggesting you step back and look at what you can do to make things different. Are there spending habits that can change? Can you forgo dinner out for now? Can you come up with clever ways to bring in additional income?

Let’s even turn this around and make it an opportunity for growth. Personally, I think this is a great opportunity to teach our kids the importance of managing, respecting and saving money. What better time to show them what happens if they don’t learn to manage their money. Teach them the importance of staying out of credit card debt, having a savings account in place and creating healthy lifestyle choices.

This seems to come full circle, as much of our mind madness at 2:00 am, comes from our worry for our kids and their future. We want them healthy, happy and at peace. Part of that peace is knowing they can take care of themselves financially when they enter the world on their own. Be proactive and teach them, guide them and give them the gift of money smarts.