Finding the Perfect Gifts

 

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving gifts. You may be both the giver and receiver.  If you are anything like me when I shop, I have a tendency to stumble upon things I would like when shopping for others.  Surprise! Surprise! These items I want have a way of finding their way into my shopping bag.   Although material gifts are beneficial, I know gifts of peace, joy, and love surpass them.  Somehow the comparison is bleak when you have a new sweater but peace, joy, and love are lacking. What gifts are you in need of finding for yourself this Christmas?

Recognize that money worries have a tendency to steal these precious gifts of peace, joy, and love.  What can you do to prevent this? One way which helped me break the cycle of worry is taking note of my thoughts. How do I think? What things do I say to myself?  In turn, I ask you the same question.  What kind of thoughts do you generate in your mind?

One of the greatest inspirational books ever written is The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.  When a book makes the bestsellers’ list you know it’s good.  When a book sells over 5 million copies, you may want read it. Amazing how much a book can offer a person when you have an open mind to what it is teaching. Dr. Peale’s commentary on the back cover states, “This book is written with the sole objective of helping the reader achieve a happy, satisfying, and worthwhile life.”  If money worries are taking away your ability to live a happy, satisfying, and worthwhile life, this book may offer some solutions.     

Ways of finding the perfect gift for yourself

The gift of peace is derived from a positive attitude.  Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a BIG difference.”  You will make significant progress by adopting a positive attitude.

 

The gift of joy comes from reading positive and encouraging resources, books, and articles.  Replacing negative thoughts with creative and healthy thoughts happens when you feed yourself a generous dose of inspiration.

 

The gift of love will propel you to be, to do, or have everything you want. The first chapter in Dr. Peale’s book starts with “Believe in Yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” 

 

If you are hunting for these precious gifts, you may choose to follow a guiding light within you, a gentle nudge that will lead you in the right direction. However, it’s up to you to interpret which direction to take. Take stock of your life and live within your means. This is the best advice a financial planner can give. As the New Year approaches have faith and hope that your dreams will be attained. Perhaps they will not come as soon as you may like, but they will come.

Merry Christmas!