Life

5 Ways To Invest In Yourself

Published

8 years ago

May 9, 2015

The investment business is worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Organizations spend millions to get your money and hope you believe their investment strategy is the best.

We are inundated with magazines, 24-7 investment channels, and investment “experts” on every aspect of the market. All of this is irritating because rarely does anyone honestly tell you the best investment decision you can make.

There is no doubt you can earn a decent return over time in a well diversified portfolio. That’s no secret. My long term money is invested in the market.

However, the best investment no one talks about is investing in yourself. Time and time again this is absolutely the best investment you can make in your life.

I’m not simply talking about taking more college courses or mandatory trainings from your employer. I am referring to making a commitment to learn new skills, improve old ones, and changing with the times.

When you make the commitment to invest in yourself, the return on investment will begin to multiply exponentially over time – similar to compound interest.

“Success Doesn’t come to you, you go to it.” – Marie Colling

At First you may not notice the payoff from the investment, but there will be a time when your growth will sky rocket.

Investing in yourself can lead to promotions at work, starting new businesses (like myself), better health, improving relationships, and much more. It is really the investment that keeps on paying dividends.

Most people go to college then believe there is no reason to learn much more. If you want to find success, you need to continue to grow.

There are three reasons why we stop learning: cost, time, and laziness. Since I know the people reading this article aren’t lazy, the main reasons must be time and money.

Luckily we live in the best time ever to continue our education. We have access to learning at our fingertips that our ancestors only dreamed of having.

Let’s discuss 5 ways to invest in yourself.

1. Podcasts

Most of us have a commute to work or a mundane activity we must do each week (i.e. clean the house, mow the grass, exercise, ect). Instead of turning on Pandora Radio to the 90s mix, look into Podcasts.

Podcasts are the best way to hear inspiring stories, learn new skills, or brush up on your own industry.

Jump on iTunes or Sticher and you can find topics that cover everything from business to comedy.

2. Online Courses

Want to learn to code? Improve your marketing skills? Start your own business?

You can do that today because there are courses at your fingertips for no charge. YouTube is filled with great information. If you only watched Ted Talks on YouTube you would dramatically change your life.

You can take real courses from the Khan Academy. Even MIT has courses you can take for free.

If you don’t mind paying for something, then check out Udemy, Lynda.com, or Skillshare. I learned how to place Facebook ads from Udemy and it was one of the best courses I ever took (and I have my MBA).

There are also a number of courses taught by people who specialize in a particular subject. You can find some great courses on copy writing, marketing, starting a blog, and much more.

“Your life doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better by change.” – Jim Rohn

3. Library

Most people don’t read books because they don’t want to purchase them or don’t want to make the trek to the library. According to Zig Ziglar, 58% of all people in our society, when they finish their formal education, never read another meaningful book.

Well, it’s not your grandfather’s library anymore.

You can rent books from the library and read them on your Kindle or iPad. There is a large number of books that you can check out and have for two or three weeks.

You can also rent digital books and play them on your device of choice.

Do what most people don’t – read books and become an expert in a topic.

4. Join a Group

Maybe you’re an introvert (like myself) and want to meet more people. Then join an organization. I don’t care where you live, there are groups to join.

A few sites to check out are Meetup and LinkedIn. You can find groups to join that have local meetings.

Just in my area you can join groups that discuss blogging, business, marketing, running clubs, and more.

Also, consider looking into Toastmasters International. This is something on my list of things to do because it is a phenomenal club. Learning to speak in front of groups is a skill that everyone could improve.

5. Go to a Seminar/Conference

A great way to learn more about your industry or break into a new industry is attend a seminar or conference. Not only will you learn a great deal, but you can also meet a number of new people.

If you don’t have the money to attend a conference, then try to be in the area when the conference will be held and attend meet ups. That way you can meet a lot of new people and start to foster more relationships in the industry.

If you pick one or two of these ideas, take action, and stay committed, your investment will pay off astronomically over time.

Related Topics:achieve change invest in yourself Investment motivation personal development personal growth podcast Succeed Success

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Travis Scott

Travis Scott, most importantly, is a husband and father of four in Ohio. In 2011, after losing a child and spending nearly a decade as a financial advisor, he decided a change was needed. Since then he found a career he loves, sold an app business, and learned what was most important in life. He also started StuffParentsLike.com where he provides tools to lead a happier & richer life for parents and teaches how he makes over $1k a month selling on Amazon part-time. You can follow Travis on Twitter @StufParentsLike.

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Life

Failing is More Important Than Succeeding

Failure is an integral part of life as life is incomplete without failures.

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4 days ago

Jan 27, 2023

M.S. Rao

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People often consider failure a stigma. Society often doesn’t respect the people who failed and avoids and criticizes their actions. Failure is an integral part of life as life is incomplete without failures. Not to have endeavored is worse than failing in life as at some stage of your life you regret not having tried in your life. (more…)

Life

5 Indicators of Unresolved Attachment Trauma

Published

5 days ago

Jan 25, 2023

Joel Brown (Founder of Addicted2Success.com)

Trauma caused during specific stages of a child’s development, known as attachment trauma, can have lasting effects on a person’s sense of safety, security, predictability, and trust. This type of trauma is often the result of abuse, neglect, or inconsistent care from a primary caregiver.

Individuals who have not fully processed attachment trauma may display similar patterns of behavior and physical or psychological symptoms that negatively impact their adult lives, including the choices they make in relationships and business.

Unfortunately, many people may not even be aware that they are struggling with trauma. Research estimates that 6% of the population will experience PTSD in their lifetime, with a majority of males and females having experienced significant trauma.

Unresolved attachment trauma can significantly impair the overall quality of a person’s life, including their ability to form healthy relationships and make positive choices for themselves. One well-known effect of unhealed attachment trauma is the compulsion to repeat past wounds by unconsciously selecting romantic partners who trigger their developmental trauma.

However, there are other less recognized but equally detrimental signs of unprocessed developmental trauma.

Five possible indications of unresolved attachment trauma are:

1. Unconscious Sabotage

Self-sabotage is a common pattern among individuals with unprocessed attachment trauma. This cycle often begins with hurting others, which is then followed by hurting oneself. It is also common for those with attachment trauma to have heightened emotional sensitivity, which can trigger this cycle.

This pattern can manifest in lashing out, shutting down, or impulsive behavior that leads to feelings of guilt, shame, and self-loathing.

Many people with attachment trauma are not aware of their wounds and operate on survival mode, unconsciously testing or challenging the emotional investment of those around them, and pushing them away out of self-preservation and fear of abandonment.

This can lead to a pattern of making poor choices for themselves based on impulsivity.

2. Persistent Pain

Chronic pain is a common symptom that can stem from early trauma. Studies have shown a connection between physical conditions such as fibromyalgia, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, insomnia, muscle aches, back pain, chest pain, and chronic fatigue with the aftermath of chronic developmental trauma, particularly physical abuse.

Research has found that individuals with insecure attachment styles, such as anxious, avoidant, or disorganized, have a higher incidence of somatic symptoms and a history of physical and emotional abuse in childhood compared to those with a secure attachment style.

3. Behaviors That Block Out Trauma

Trauma blocking practises are used to avoid the pain and memories connected with traumatic events.

Emotional numbing, avoidance, and escape via briefly pleasurable activities that distract from terrible memories or suffering are common examples. Unfortunately, this escape habit stops people from successfully processing and recovering from their trauma.

Furthermore, when the pain resurfaces, more and more diversions are necessary to continue ignoring it. This can be seen in compulsive behaviours such as drug or alcohol addiction, emotional eating, numbing oneself through relationships, workaholism, excessive or dangerous exercise routines, compulsive internet or technology use, or any other compulsive behaviour used to distract yoursef from intrusive thoughts and emotions.

These actions have the potential to prolong a cycle of avoidance and repression, preventing persons from healing and progressing.

4. A strong need for control

It’s understandable that some people may struggle with control issues in their adult lives, especially if they felt helpless or vulnerable during their childhood.

This can happen if someone had an overbearing caregiver who didn’t let them make their own choices, expected too much from them, or didn’t take care of them properly. As adults, they might try to control everything in their life to feel more in control and less anxious or scared. This might be because they didn’t feel like they had control over their life when they were a child.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s experiences are different and it’s okay to seek help if you’re struggling with control issues.

5. Psychological Symptoms That Are Not Explained

Individuals with a history of developmental trauma may experience a range of psychological symptoms, including obsessive-compulsive behavior, intense mood swings, irritability, anger, depression, emotional numbing, or severe anxiety.

These symptoms can vary in intensity and may occur intermittently throughout the day. People with this type of trauma may attempt to “distract” themselves from these symptoms by denying or rationalizing them, or may resort to substance abuse or behavioral addictions as coping mechanisms. This can be a maladaptive way of trying to numb their symptoms.

What to do next if you’re suffering from emotional attachment trauma?

Everyone’s experience of healing from trauma is unique. It’s important to be aware of whether you have experienced childhood developmental trauma and how it may be affecting your relationships as an adult. Sometimes, the effects of trauma can be overwhelming and we may try to push them away or avoid them.

If you notice that you’re engaging in these behaviors, it’s important to seek help from a trauma therapist who can support you on your healing journey. Remember, you’re not alone and it’s never too late to start healing.

There are several ways that people can work to overcome emotional attachment trauma:

Therapy: One of the most effective ways to overcome emotional attachment trauma is through therapy. A therapist can help you process your experiences, understand the impact of your trauma on your life, and develop coping strategies to manage symptoms.
Support groups: Joining a support group of people who have had similar experiences can be a great way to find validation, empathy, and a sense of community.
Mindfulness practices: Mindfulness practices such as meditation, pilates, prayer time with God or journaling can help you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, and develop a sense of spiritual connection and self-regulation.
Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT): This is a type of therapy that is specifically designed to help individuals process and recover from traumatic events.
Building a safety net: Building a support system of people you trust, who are there for you when you need them, can help you feel more secure and safe in your life.

It’s important to remember that healing from emotional attachment trauma is a process and it may take time. It’s also important to find a therapist who is experienced in treating trauma, who you feel comfortable talking with, and who can help you develop a personalized treatment plan.

If you desire to work with me on healing your wounds and unlocking the aspects of you that were never realized so you can achieve more success in your life then head over to awebliss.com and join my weekly LIVE online mentorship calls.

Life

3 Simple Steps to Cultivate Courage and Create a Life of Meaning

we cultivate meaning in our lives when we pursue our calling

Published

2 weeks ago

Jan 20, 2023

Craig Stanland

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Grit: The Key to Your Ultimate Greatness

Grit is an overlooked aspect of success, but it plays a critical role.

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Eric Miller

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A grit mindset is an essential key to your greatness. It’s what separates those who achieve their goals from those who give up and never reach their potential. It’s also the difference between success and failure, happiness and misery. If you want to be great and achieve your dreams, then you need grit. Luckily, it’s something that can be learned. Please keep reading to learn more about grit and discover four ways to develop it. (more…)