Exploring the view, one more, and holding back

Welcome to the Intentional Dollar weekly newsletter — great work taking this small step to move your money forward. I’m Logan, a Certified Financial Planner™, and I’m excited you’re here!

What’s inside?

• One tool to experiment with

• Two quotes from others

• Three questions to dig deeper

• Four lines of poetry for the point

_{One tool to experiment with:}

The View:

When’s the last time you hiked a difficult trail?

Do you remember that first step — how’d you feel? Often at first step, the prospect of the ultimate view fuels your body with adrenaline and excitement. And as you trek along, expending more and more effort at each aching increase in elevation, the internal narrative starts to change. It becomes something along the lines of, “In what delusional state did I agree to this?”

And here is the risk. We miss the real value of the struggle while we are going through it. It’s not until we gaze at the view that we appreciate the cumulative steps that got us up the mountain to see it.

We are better at appreciating things in hindsight.

This happens because the effort-induced pain and suffering takes your mind hostage. When the path finally opens up and you see the vast landscape, the clouds of despair dissipate.

The texture of the view ahead helps you realize that the effort was worth every ounce of struggle.

You don’t get the mountain view without first climbing it, without exposing yourself to the risk and the efforts that come from toiling up.

Think of it compared against a scenic lookout. When you drive your car and stop at a tourist mark to look over a guardrail, you can see wonderful things. But have you noticed that you don’t stay there as long? You don’t have much invested in the view at hand.

This is true for money as well. The dollars in your bank accounts, your investment accounts, the equity in your home — these are things you’ve toiled for. You’ve delayed gratification, slowly stacked your chips, and prudently placed your future-self in a better spot through your own trying efforts. And when you look at those balances and reflect on where you’ve come over the past 5, 10, or 20 years, you can rightly appreciate the view.

You have to earn it.

So while you’re climbing up whatever mountain you’ve chosen, pause and take a look around; look back and see how far you’ve climbed already. The struggle is a necessary element.

The efforts you put forth are personal to you. When it feels hard or boring or like it’s taking too long — remember, it’s supposed to be hard. And if your view isn’t what you’d like it to be, know that you can change it. You can climb a little higher, push a little further, give yourself a new vantage point, or go find a different mountain.

_{Two quotes on one more:}

Adopt the mindset of going one more. One more day, one more rep, one more iteration, one more percent, one more dollar saved. Eventually you’ll get what you’re after.

_{Three questions on holding back:}

1. Where have I been holding back effort with my dollars?

2. Why haven’t I been putting everything forward — what fear is blocking this?

3. What results will I get if I continue to rob myself of my full efforts?

Which question stuck with you? Questions like these are spotlights for the mind. Reply to this email and let me know which one shined light on a previously dark cave.

_{Four lines of poetry for the point:}

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