Sound Money

“What are your principles?” my sister in-law Ameera asked me recently.

I recoiled slightly.

It is such a big question and it requires deep thought so… I brushed it off.

A few days later I was reading the philosopher Epictetus. There is no escaping the direct line of questioning from the stoics…

You are right Epictetus, I am not a child anymore 🙂

So, Ameera, Epictetus, family and friends, here are the ideals to which I would like you to hold me.

Honesty and truth with myself and others

This is a cornerstone principle. I want to be able to communicate clearly and gently enough plus have strong enough relationships to be able to speak the hard truths, even if they are painful. I want to speak no lies and I want to seek out truths, even where they appear less apparent. Most difficult of all, I want to be truthful to myself – that is a work in progress 🙂

Community: relationships with family, friends and society

I want a community of people who I can rely on (and they on me), communicate with and share life’s ups and down so that we can grow each other and deepen our understanding of the world. I want relationships that can surpass the superficial and are willing to share all of life’s intricacies. I appreciate that this makes me somewhat intense, but I also think it is possible to have meaningful conversations and relationships with relative strangers by appreciating the conversation for what it is.

Think independently rather than merely follow the crowd

I appreciate that this ideal can lead me to be otherwise and I make tones of mistakes because I can refuse to listen to the accepted advice from time to time. But I think it is critical to be independent and mentally alive. Thinking for oneself, making decisions on the back of those thoughts and taking responsibility for the consequences also creates the conditions for learning and personal growth.

Humble and open-minded

I want to be humble in the face of everything I do not know; open minded to the various opportunities to learn about myself and the world around me.

Mindful and grateful

To be mindful of the present moment and grateful for everything I have, cultivating an appreciation the joy available in each and every moment.

Seize the moment

I want to experience what life has to offer while we are here and able to. Grasp opportunities to go outside, take an adventure, travel to a new place and engage with the never ending possibilities that life presents to us.

Bravery under uncertainty

I want to be brave and live without unfounded fear, facing up to the inevitable pain and uncertainty that life presents. Sitting with the discomfort created by uncertainty is a major focus of mine in H2 2022.

Loving kindness

I want to be kind to myself and others, practicing loving kindness frequently. Personally, it is so easy to speak badly to myself within my own mind. I appreciate that positive self talk is a practice. It is a process to learn to have a more constructive conversation with myself. I am committed to this process and an integral component of this is a commitment to extending the same goodwill, love and kindness to everyone. My life and the life of others is certainly enriched by greater kindness.

I would love to hear your critiques and your ideals. And, as I said above, please hold me to these. I am looking forward to adding to and fine-tuning these ideals.