Episode description

What is the purpose of having wealth? Some people use their wealth benevolently to give back to society. Others use it to create generational wealth for their kids and future generations.

Building wealth is an integral part of our society; however, looking ahead too far in the future can cause us to miss out on what's happening today.

The Power of Now

In 'The Power of Now,' Eckhart Toley encourages us to train our minds to become more present at the moment. Toley believes 80-90% of thinking is compulsive and destructive.

Compulsive thinking is an addiction where you feel you have no control over it and cannot stop. It gives you a sense of false pleasure that invariably turns to pain.

We derive our sense of self from our thinking, and we must keep thinking to keep our ego alive. The ego constantly looks back into the past, projecting ourselves forward.

We can also get so caught up in the past and future that we try to convince ourselves into thinking things like, 'Well, just as soon as this happens,' or 'Once I get this job,' or 'Once I do this, then I'll be happy,' but that rarely happens. True liberation, happiness, and peace come from being truly present.

Personal Wealth

Those of us with ADHD are impulsive. We struggle with the purpose of saving money, and every time we start saving, something happens that inevitably throws a wrench in our plan. The next thing we know, we're back to where we were before. It's very frustrating, overwhelming, and annoying!

We ask ourselves, 'What should I do to get myself moving in the right direction?' It comes down to building personal wealth, which is not just about money. It's life wealth, financial wealth, a wealth of life experiences, and using money as a tool to help you create the life you want.

How Do We Build Financial Wealth?

There are three primary ways to increase our wealth:

• Saving money
• Making more money
• Investing in or increasing the return of our money

If you're an impulsive spender and make a lot of money, one of the most effective ways to increase your wealth is to save more by limiting the amount of impulsive spending. Get a cheaper car, and start trying to peel back your lifestyle.

If you're not making enough money, take stock of your skills. Is there an opportunity to work part-time or start your own business? What about asking your boss for a raise? It's sometimes difficult for us with ADHD to speak up and advocate for ourselves. Find the courage to take stock of what you're good at and get compensated for your work.

When it comes to investing,  you need to find a way to make your money do more than sit in a bank account where it's not keeping up with inflation.

Remember, building wealth is a journey. Identify opportunities you feel you can tackle, avoid compulsive thinking, and don't forget to be present!

If you would like to reach out and ask me a question, contact me on Instagram or my contact page at ADHDMoneyTalk.com

Reference links:
Power of Now by Eckhart Toley
Ideas to Make More Money episode #7
Lifestyle Creep episode #15

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