How To Live Like A [Little] Prince

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How To Live Like A [Little] Prince

Eight Truths From Saint-Exupéry

A movie came out last year called The Little Prince. It’s an adaptation of the 1943 novel of the same name by aviator and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. News of this movie reminded me of the book, which lead me to reread it last April. I’m glad I did. This work of fiction was pure gold when the book was first published and it’s even more precious now for a society that wants everything but values nothing.

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The Inverse Relationship Between Chronic Stress and Success in Life

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The Inverse Relationship Between Chronic Stress and Success in Life

Stress, it seems, is an inevitable reality of modern life. Everything seems to be a trigger: work, school, family, money, urban living (including commuting, incessant noise and overcrowding), even our own dreams and desires can stress us out.

The stress I’m referring to is chronic stress vs the type of acute stress we feel when we do something that takes us momentarily out of our comfort zone, such as doing something physically demanding, asking someone out on a date, delivering a speech, sky diving, or having a near-miss collision while driving home.

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On Chasing Rainbows - Dreams vs Fantasies

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On Chasing Rainbows - Dreams vs Fantasies

I've met a number of rainbow chasers over the last number of weeks. I'm sure you have too. They're all around us. Their head is in the sand, in the clouds...it's anywhere other than where it matters most. 

I know the type. I used to be one.

I used to chase rainbows, those fantasies we're all taught to chase. But fantasies aren't our dreams. They're ideas we know deep down aren't real but we kid ourselves into thinking they'll solve our problems...forever.

Conversely, dreams are desired future states that are *gasp* plausible. In what you can picture, you're still you, only better and more fulfilled. It's not perfect, but it's the good life you aspire to. It's a potential future state of what's real.

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Don’t Think Up. Think Down.

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Don’t Think Up. Think Down.

When it comes to overcoming fear and uncertainty, it helps to think "down", not "up". Let me explain.

I’ve had some animated discussions with some folks lately about what it means to have “enough” when it comes to financial independence. The answers vary wildly but there’s a common theme for some of us: the number can insidiously creep ever upward.

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Making Change Stick

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Making Change Stick

Last month, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by a local radio station. The topic? How to successfully start, and stick to, an exercise program—a popular pursuit at the start of any new calendar year. My main message? Start small and do what feels enjoyable to you. Something sustainable. And if you’re still not sure, seek the advice of a professional who can help point you in the right direction based on your personal needs and preferences.

I felt pretty good about the interview and fortunate that I’d recently read The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. (Phew. Talk about timing!) I might not be writing much about the power of exercise here on Free to Pursue, but what I can offer is that the same principles that lead one to become a lifetime exerciser also apply when changing any other habit, including money habits—a category near and dear to my heart.

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That Busy, Huh? What Are You Avoiding?

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That Busy, Huh? What Are You Avoiding?

While attending a conference this past September, I found myself increasingly preoccupied with my trio of electronic devices. I was constantly checking my iPhone, working on my laptop or iPad, and seeking WiFi hotspots to ensure I could stay connected. I was downright manic about it.

Funny how that always seems to happen when there's something I need to do that I desperately want to avoid.

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What Bungee Jumping Taught Me About Visualization

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What Bungee Jumping Taught Me About Visualization

It's 1:30 in the afternoon and the weather's perfect. The crew at Victoria Falls Bungee have just strapped me in and they've done all the necessary safety checks to ensure I'm good to go. They're now helping me move to the edge of the platform because my ankles are secured with tight straps around two thick layers of folded towels to protect my legs from the jarring they're about to receive. My toes are over the edge, I look out over the Zambezi river and then I hear it..."3-2-1...BUNGEE!"

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