Investing Where it Matters Most

Being wealthy.  Being rich.  Managing investments.  Having a savings account.  Making sacrifices that may or may not pay off in the long run.  All of these things are vital.

I'm not, however, talking about money.

I'm talking about investing your time and energy and resources where they matter most.  I'm talking about having a savings account of good karma.  I'm talking about the wealth and richness you get by feeling good and being happy and grateful and amazed by what you have.

I'm also talking about defending and protecting the people you love by feeding them healthy food and encouraging them to exercise and read and explore and smile.  Sometimes you will literally need to protect and defend those you love from the harsh words and actions of others.  Sometimes you will need to protect those you love from their own harmful behaviors and words toward themselves.  

It goes back to the whole "village" concept: when those around me thrive then my life is also more secure and improved.  Sometimes, however, our investments do not pay off.  Sometimes we invest time and energy and maybe even money into people who turn out to be toxic.  We have to stop investing in people who make us feel unappreciated or lonely or hurt.  Just like we eliminate toxic food from our diets, we have to let go of toxic people.

You have to learn to say no to people who may need your help if helping them means you feel worse or taken advantage of.  When doing things for others fills your plate so full that you feel overwhelmed, then something has to give.  When your sister calls for the tenth time in a week to complain about her job, and you feel yourself wanting to scream...don't answer the phone.  When your daughter decides she wants to take ballet, but she already plays violin and does swimming lessons and plays soccer...just say no.  It isn't okay to overextend yourself to make someone happy.  Just like actual money in a checking account, your emotional checking account can be overdrawn.  NO is a complete sentence that doesn't require explanation.  Saying no can and will make you feel guilty sometimes, but you cannot help anyone else if you are drained.  Period.

Figuring out just what exactly to invest and how much and in whom is an enormous challenge.  Remember to place great value on yourself and your body and your time.  Invest your goodness in people who return goodness to you and to others.  Don't extend yourself beyond your limits, even for those people who are most important to you.  Tell them they are important and loved and cherished, and then remind them that if they love you they will understand why you have to say no.  And then let no be a complete sentence.