Personal finance blog that makes you save or earn a little at the time. Simple frugal living.
Heartstorming is brainstorming with the heart (or the emotional part of your brain). The mental kind of brainstorming is good for generating problem-solving ideas. It’s useful for mapping out the logical space of solutions. Generate lots of ideas, and sift through them to pick the best ones. That kind of brainstorming, however, is terrible for…
This video shares how to boost your confidence, overcome impostor syndrome, and upgrade your self-image by creating powerful reference experiences you’ll cherish and appreciate.
The reasons people offer for making a decision often don’t match up with their real reasons. Real reasons are generally emotional, not logical. People hide and guard their real reasons for making decisions. When you quit a job or leave a relationship, how often do you tell your boss or partner your real (emotional) reason…
Many of my journal entries take the form of conversations, similar to a discussion, debate, or interview between two parties. Most often I use the interview approach. I play one role, usually as myself. I assign the other role to a different perspective, such as my future self, the universe, or the spirit of a…
I did some reflection in my journal about why I like my life so much. Here’s what I came up with: Space for Reflection I like that my life isn’t overloaded with so much activity. Sometimes I get really busy, but over the course of a year and during most months of the year, I…
Recently I was pondering ways to generate ideas that feel more fiery or sparky. I always have a lot of options for what to do next, and it’s easier for me to feel bored than stressed, so I often want to explore paths that offer some extra stimulation and challenge. Here are the questions I…
While pondering an update to my mission statement, I was thinking about how to frame relationships, and this line popped into my mind: My relationships are based on play. My relationship with Rachelle fits this like a glove, and I think it’s why we’ve had 10+ happy years together. Same goes for my best friendships.…
Here’s a really simple idea that can be useful for self-motivation. Sometimes our frames are too flabby, giving us lots of leeway to drop the ball and slack off. In such cases it may be useful to adopt harsher frames, at least temporarily, to demand more from ourselves. Here are some of these ass-kicking frames…
In the past 11 weeks, I’ve lost an average of 1.15 pounds per week, mainly just by logging what I eat. This simple practice has helped me tweak and adjust my meal choices even though I’m still eating the same foods as I was previously. I’m eating less food in terms of calories, but my…
One is a squishy, emotional, heartfelt hug with bright, shining smiles. The other is a grayscale photocopy of a hug photo. Visually they’re both easily identifiable as hugs. Experientially they’re vastly different, and when given, they land very differently with the receiver. Pretending to care can still lead to a contribution, albeit one bereft of…
