As driven, young, professionals you are probably very familiar with the concept of investments. More specifically, I am referring to the idea of Return on Investment. As a historian, I stayed as far away from the business and math regions of my undergrad campus as possible. But, I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by friends and family from diverse learning backgrounds. My love partner studies economics and was patient enough to give me a lesson in investments one day over lunch. He offered me the Reader’s Digest definition of Return on Investment. ROI is simply the amount of profit or return an investor receives on the time and money they spend on an investment.
Let me first establish that this is definitely not an attempt to equate our social and personal interactions with capitalist ventures. As a peace seeker, I am often thinking of ways to connect methods of obtaining inner peace and success to ideas that we are already familiar with. When we think of investments, profits, net gain, etc., we are most often referring to money transactions. But, I am offering an addition to this concept. At the center of every transaction we make on a daily, weekly, monthly (or add your time frame of choice) basis is one essential entity. That key factor is, our Self. This concept of Self is not just about your physical appearance or your public persona. Self is who we are on the inside. It is who we are in our most peaceful and successful state. Self is not just about how much money we make, but about the steps we take in the building our careers. Self is the central element of Self-Actualization.
Would you be willing to invest your hard earned money in a bad stock? Would you continue to buy a product that is dangerous, doesn’t work, makes you sick, or is plain and simply not a good return on investment? No? Then why would you invest your most precious asset-Your SELF- in something that is toxic, dysfunctional, and unworthy? Integrating this indispensable asset into your life investments increases the chance of success for every other investment we make. If you are unhappy, stressed out, and at your wit’s end, even a great financial return on investment losses its value. On the other hand, if we are on the path to peace and success from the inside out, we are more likely to enjoy the product of our financial/career and socially related investments. Here are a few tips, suggestions, and examples for building a positive, productive, and profitable Investment in Self (IS).
One of the most important investments we make is in our relationships. Positive and healthy relationships bring a sense of peace to our lives. On the contrary, negative relationships with friends, family, and colleagues can drain every last bit of positivity, optimism, and plain goodness from our lives. So, the first step in making a Positive self-investment is Eradicating Toxic Relationships. By no means does this mean to eliminate people and relationships from your life. What this does mean is to make every relationship that effects your investment as meaningful as possible. Spend some time evaluating your interactions with the people closest to you. Simply sit down and make a list of pros and cons of your relationships friends, family, and colleagues. Be honest with yourself. If you see toxic trends such as emotional abuse and selfishness that may even make you depressed, it is most likely time to start approaching the person(s) in question with your feelings. Lessons in politeness teach us that if we don’t have anything nice to say, not to say anything at all. But, being as honest and genuine as possible with those you love is not being unkind or mean. You are actually making a positive investment in your inner peace and in the future of your relationship with that person. An even more in depth exercise might include writing down your expectations and hopes for your connections with others. Focus on keeping the ideas you come up with dynamic by revisiting them often. You may even choose to share them with others or make them a part of your
Peace Journal.
Another important aspect of your personal investment in relationships is your willingness to be a positive investment for others. Consider what you bring to the table as a child, friend, lover, and employee. Are you giving what you get? If not, then you have some work to do in yourself. Be mindful that great relationships are worth building, maintaining, and saving. They teach us that some people are meant to be in our lives for a lifetime. However, we should meditate on not being sad when we find that a relationship is not working. Bad return on investment relationships offer us a chance to understand that some people come into our lives for a season. They are only there long enough to teach us an important lesson. That lesson might teach us to be conscious when putting trust in others. Or we may learn not to make others a priority while allowing ourselves to be their option. Whether you encounter good or bad*relationships; building a positive Investment in Self makes all of your interactions more thoughtful, peaceful, and successful. In financial terms, if we forget to pay our bills or fail to meet important deadlines, our credibility and investment potential decreases. On a different level, investing in ourselves sends out a message to others that we are unique and irreplaceable. Ultimately, the commitment we make to our personal peace and success becomes a part of our Self-Investment Portfolio and a natural part of our interaction with the world.
Yet another important aspect of the Investment in Self is our Environment. Let’s revisit these ideas together, focusing on creating a peaceful and successful environment. Until we meet again…Remember that YOU are your most precious and indispensable asset.
And So It Is!
In Love and Peace,
