Have you ever solved a jigsaw
puzzle? Anyone who has learns something
through the process. One thing is
certain, puzzles require patience. Without patience you are hopeless especially
when the puzzle has many pieces. The more complex the puzzle, the more
difficult it is to solve.
Did you know there are appropriate steps to solve a puzzle? The first step is to begin with what we
know. We first look for the outside
border pieces. These straight edges help define the boundary. Then the other
pieces are sorted into piles by colours, patterns, and shapes. Particular attention is given to the tiny
details on each of the pieces. These intricate details help place the pieces in
their rightful place creating a final beautiful image.
No doubt, we may not be
interested at all in solving jigsaw puzzles.
Ever! But perhaps we are
interested in solving our financial puzzles. There’s a correlation between solving
puzzles and fitting the pieces of our finances together so we achieve and create
a beautiful image of our lifetime goals, dreams and aspiration.
Looking at the disarray of our
finances may resemble looking at pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We can’t see the whole picture when the pieces
of our finances look like they’re broken and shattered into one big heap. Debt here and there! Savings who knows where!
Lifestyle expenses unknown! Consequently the more pieces to our financial picture,
the more confusing and complex it can be.
Working slowly through the intricacy
of our financial pieces is the same advice a puzzle solver knows only too well.
When we work too long on any project, the tendency is to become overwhelmed. The
frustration leads to giving up on the puzzle.
Most puzzle-solvers know their limitations. They walk away only to
return later with a new burst of renewed energy and fresh eyes to see something
new they hadn’t seen previously.
We know a myriad of steps could
solve our financial puzzle. Here are a
few simple rules that we can extract from puzzle-solver enthusiasts and apply
them to our needs.
I am an advocate for putting your
goals in writing. When you refer to your
list, you will not be swayed by distractions.
Your vision will be clear; and you will focus only on your concrete
desires.
When you first sort through your
lifestyle needs, debt obligations, and savings plans, you may not see the whole
picture. But if you are persistent and
determined to create a beautiful image with your finances, you will be
astonished with the results. You must
tell yourself that giving up is not an option.
There are many advantages to
having an accountability partner. Two such advantages are motivation and
clarity. When you find yourself in a
slump, knee-deep in financial confusion, you need someone who will shine a
fresh perspective on your circumstances.
We could all use someone to help us see what we can’t understand,
analyze what we don’t how to fix, and especially achieve what we didn’t think
was possible. Your spouse, friend, family member, or financial planner could be
that person in your corner.
These three simple, yet concise,
steps sound so easy when you are making sense of your financial puzzle. The power is in knowing what to do and doing
it. Any time you embrace knowledge, you are empowered to change your
circumstances. When you manage your
money and debt wisely and save for the future, you will achieve what you want
to achieve.
So one question remains…“What
bugs you about the pieces of your financial puzzle?”
Post your question below! Every question deserves an answer.
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