Planning Your Tomorrow
This post is sponsored advertising content by State Farm®
Keep thinking about your dreams. Picture them! Draw them out! Whatever works best for you to keep an image in your mind and hold onto that dream. Often, my dreams for the future are based on fun memories from my past.
Take this spread of my family at the pool. We had an amazing time in Palm Springs and a big part of that was family swim time. Now, my husband and I are thinking about how much we’d love to add a pool of our own to the backyard. It’s definitely a dream in the far-off future and would most likely take place in the summer of 2020. Seeing this scrapbook page will definitely help me remember how awesome it will be to have one between now and then.
Honestly, that’s how dreams are most of the time. They are big and far off. Sometimes, a dream is so big it can’t be reached unless it’s divided up into super small steps. Those steps might seem so tiny that to an outsider they may seem insignificant. When you make up your mind to reach those achievements, it means you’ll be willing to take as many tiny steps as you need to get there. One of the most helpful things to do is make a snapshot or a mental note of what that goal looks like to you. I’m a visual person and it helps me feel close to my goals when I draw or create a spread to remind me of what I would like to achieve.
Of course, dreams aren’t always as big as a pool. Even if I reach something “small” and inspire just one person to unleash their inner creative, I can go to sleep happy because I’ve made progress. At the end of the day, whatever you want to do is possible as long as you are strategic. One sure-fire strategy to help you get set up for success is to start by gaining control of your finances and developing a plan for your future. You’ll also want to hone in on your priorities so you can focus on achieving your dreams.
Honing in on your priorities can be challenging. After all, there’s so much in life that can divide your focus and attention. After years of considering, changing, and adapting, I’ve come to the conclusion that I have three areas in my life that are my top priorities where growth and stability are absolutely necessary: family, finances, and dreams. But identifying my priorities was only the first step. I knew that in order for me to stay focused on achieving my dreams, I also needed to identify things I could do each day to help maximize harmony across my priorities. State Farm® offers a ton of great tips and resources that helped me a lot as I went through this process.
One thing I really about State Farm is that they offer a variety of excellent resources for people in all stages of life– from college kids to brand new home owners to retirees and everyone in between. And while most people know State Farm for offering car insurance, that’s not the only product they offer. Did you know that State Farm also offers life insurance too?
I’ve been a loyal State Farm customer since I was 15 years old, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t know that they had so many great products and resources available. But now that I do, I find myself visiting their site more often for overall general life planning. If you’re looking for a place to start, I recommend checking out their site www.letsstarttoday.com where you’ll find a ton of helpful budgeting tips and resources to kick-start your financial goals. The more time you take to plan and prepare, the more achievable your dreams will become.
Plans change, and life can be full of unexpected twists and turns, but I feel good knowing I’m prepared, and have a sense of well-being now that I’m intentional about doing something each and every day to bring happiness and harmony to my life.
Family– Plan for (and with) the people you love. One of my little family’s core values is sharing the love of travel together. My husband and I have been all over the world and our five-year-old son has been on 89 flights. In fact, those of you who have followed me for a while know that I’m a huge advocate of traveling and I’m firm believer in venturing out into the world in search of adventure. That’s one reason I think building up your savings is so important. I want to be able to take great vacations with my family and experience life together in a grand way! Whether it’s a local SoCal staycation or flying halfway around the world, we need to make sure we can cover the costs. Between the airfare, the hotels, the restaurants and all of the activities - it can really add up! When you save a little bit every week... that great voyage gets closer every day. Saving money can sometimes be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be as long as you’re smart about spending. Here are some great tips for how to become a frugal superstar!
Finances – Prioritize the future over the present. It isn’t often you’ll hear me advocate for thinking outside of the present moment. In fact, so much of my work is about encouraging others to enjoy right now. However, there’s an exception to every rule and when it comes to finances, the future should take priority. I’m definitely “a saver” and have been for most of my life. My family and I are all about future planning. You wouldn’t go on a long road trip without a map, right? The same concept can be applied to building a life. Take the time to identify some goals, create a budget, and come up with a detailed plan for your future. This a great way to make sure you’re taking all the necessary steps toward the retirement you’ve always wanted. For example, one of our goals is to save for a new home that we can use to bring in rental income. It’ll be a fun place to create memories, but also a solid investment. Now, that’s what I call a win-win! If you haven’t yet identified some goals and set up a budget to reach those goals, not to worry, today is a good day to start your financial plan!
Dreams – Break down big goals into small steps. I have both short term and long-term plans, but my dream is to grow my company so that it can have a lasting impact on people and encourage them to live their best creative lives. Of course, all of that can be incredibly overwhelming. So, how do I chase after this dream? I stay focused and remind myself of the important things that I can do today. What small actions can I start taking in the direction of my dreams? Once I figure those out, I make it a point to carve out time each day to get me closer. Creating your own brand and business can be a huge financial investment, but the results are so gratifying! Mapping out the path ahead and charting your progress is a great motivator and can keep you inspired. Whether your dream is to one day start your own small business, or if you already have one and you’re looking to grow it, State Farm has some great articles to help with your small business needs.
This post has covered a lot of ground in these three very different but wildly important categories. As you approach your own goals, be sure to go slowly, while having the big picture in mind. You don’t have to do it all at once or do it perfectly. When we give in to the idea that happiness is just around the corner, it takes away our power to be happy with the life that is ours right here, right now. Our thoughts and energy become too focused on the future. Bring your wishes, plans, and hopes to the front and center. Focus in on those dreams and turn them into reality one tiny step at a time. Instead of thinking about what you can’t change, hone in on the things you can actually influence and control. Start trying to cultivate a present state of happiness that lives within today, not tomorrow. Get creative. Make a vision board if you need to. Or commemorate the good moments like I did with my scrapbook page. Do what works for you. And don’t forget to put a savings plan in place so you’re financially prepared to reach your goals. Check out these budgeting tips to help find the best way that works for you so you can get your dreams in motion!
This post was sponsored advertising content by State Farm - Here to help life go right.®
