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Written bySharon Crossett
Why it is important to invest in yourself
“The most important investment you will ever make is in yourself!”
When people think about investments, their minds go straight to stocks, hedge funds, real estate or business. These are the areas in life that people tend to place real value on when it comes to investing in the short term for long term gain. The reason for this is usually because people value wealth and material possessions above all else. For many it is a way to show their worth, other people can see how far they have come.
People often crave a sense of security that they believe they can only achieve by having money to get by in bad times and by having material possessions around them as a source of comfort. It is also a way to demonstrate status in a society that has always valued wealth and success as a barometer of who one is.
While these may all be valid reasons, and while everyone is entitled to their own opinions and values and should never be judged based on them, there is another way of looking at investing that is in some ways even more important and important.
It is investing in yourself. I so often tell clients that the most important investment they can ever make is in themselves, and below are the reasons why I think this is true.
What it means to invest in yourself
You are the only person who will ever truly invest in you. Yes, there will be people around you who will support you, perhaps help you financially and materially, who will care for you, love and respect you.
However, you are the only person who can invest in you, because without your time and dedication to yourself, the efforts of others will be in vain.
You could have access to the best personal trainer in the world, but it would be a shame if you didn't put in the time and effort. You can go to the best university, but if you don't study, you won't get anywhere. You have to put yourself first and make yourself your priority. You need time, effort, dedication and commitment, that's what self-investment is all about.
Why you are a good investment.
You are the most important person to invest in and your share contributes greatly to the life around you. But as individuals we often don't realize how important it is to invest in ourselves and the value we can get from it.
If you think it's selfish to spend time, money and effort on yourself, then you shouldreevaluate your thoughts. Investing in you helps everyone around you. Rather than being a selfish act, it actually benefits the people you interact with.
Only by taking care of yourself can you take care of others. Learning to understand that you are just as important as anyone else will open your eyes to how investing in you can be a game-changer.
4 areas of your life you should invest in
Health
This really is the crucial area you need to invest in, and yet so many people don't do it or don't do it enough.
Think about it, what do you really have without your health? Health gives you so much: the ability to go about your day and do all the things you want or need to do.
Your health gives you freedom, it gives you joy, mobility, a job, prosperity, the ability to travel... the list is endless. If you take a moment to think about what your life would be like if you didn't have good health, it would help you fully understand how much you would need to invest in it.
Making this a priority in life is something everyone should do. Do not postpone or prioritize other areas of your life as this investment will keep all other areas of your life running.
This is not just limited to physical health, but also to your mental and emotional health. What and how we think plays a decisive role in how well we are physically. Good emotional and mental health can prevent many physical ailments, and a positive mental attitude can be the key to longevity and well-being. That is why investing in your health should be of vital importance.
Education and learning
Many people think that learning and education ends at school. However, the truth is that you must continue to learn and educate yourself every day so that you can grow and develop as you get older.
The thoughts and ideas you have at age 16 or 18 will be completely different from the thoughts and ideas you have now, and this often comes from learning new experiences and personal growth. We must always learn and educate ourselves to progress and achieve more in our lives.
Continuing to learn and grow is good for the work we do and for our communication with others; it affects all areas of our lives. This investment will continue to provide us with returns.
To develop good habits and break bad habits
This is an investment that can pay off in so many areas of your life. Developing good habits will keep you focused and focused on where you are going in life and who you will become.
Take exercise, for example. This is a good habit to develop and is one that will keep you fit and healthy. It helps prevent serious diseases and keeps your mind fit and healthy.
Breaking bad habits, such as eating the wrong foods, smoking or drinking too much, will in turn improve your overall health and well-being. It becomes easier to invest in good habits the more you do it.
4. Relationships
We all have many relationships throughout our lives and it is something we need to invest in for many reasons.
Think about all the relationships you have or have had over the years, from school friends to colleagues and personal relationships with family; they will all have taught you something or given you something.
It is the foundation of our lives and helps us build confidence, get jobs, meet partners, build our own families and secure our future. These investments will get us through the good and bad times of life. Without relationships we would be so much poorer in so many ways.
10 reasons why you should invest in yourself
Investing in yourself increases your self-confidence
The better you think about yourself, the more confident you will be and the more you will be able to move through life in a positive and meaningful way.
Investing in yourself shows that you believe you are worthy and that you have value in your life.
2. Self-investment can build on your current strengths
We all have areas where we excel, even if we don't always admit it to ourselves. When you invest in yourself, these areas are strengthened, making you more likely to achieve good results in your life. Building and investing in your strengths is a hugely positive thing in life and can greatly increase self-esteem and confidence.
3. It can provide you with opportunities to make important connections
Taking the time to invest in yourself can open up many opportunities. Self-investment will increase your ability to connect with people who can provide real value to you, both in a work environment and in a social setting.
4. It helps keep your mind stimulated and in good health
Self-investment is a positive endeavor; every positive action you take in life can only be good for you. When you take the time to learn, read and study, you invest in yourself; these habits are good for you mentally.
The brain, like every muscle group in the body, needs to be used to maintain good physical health. It will be incredibly helpful to keep your mind stimulated as you get older.
5. Self-investment can help you deal with difficult times in the future
There will always be good times and bad times, and that is an absolute certainty in life. When we are in good times, we generally don't tend to think about our mental state. When times are bad, the people who have invested in themselves will be much better prepared and able to handle the tough times.
This is because they have invested time and effort into looking after their mental health and wellbeing and will therefore be much better equipped to deal with what life throws at them than those who have invested nothing in themselves.
6. Investing in yourself can keep you flexible and adaptable
We all know someone who seems to be able to deal with the ups and downs of life without going under. The kind of people who never seem to crumble, no matter what life throws at them.
They will be people who have invested in themselves, who have seen the feasibility of taking care of their mental well-being.
Self-investment means you can adapt and be more flexible with whatever life throws at you. You will have the mental strength to deal with all the changes and obstacles that come your way.
7. Self-investment enables career development
If you want to make some progress in your career, the best place to start is by investing in yourself. Consider studying in your chosen field, gaining some additional or higher qualifications or studying with online courses.
Learning a new set of skills or developing your soft or hard skills can always help in your career, as well as learning a new language. The more you invest in yourself, the better you will be able to climb the career ladder.
Make sure you invest in tools such as laptops, computers, phones and anything that will help you succeed in the workplace.
8. Self-investment can help you achieve your goals faster
If you want to rush through life, you really have to invest in yourself. Goals you set for yourself will always be achieved much faster if you prioritize yourself and really put the time, energy and resources into them.
Think of yourself as a company: the more investments a company has, the better off it will be and the more likely it is to achieve its goals. Have the same mindset for yourself and you will see your goals achieved faster than you can imagine.
9. It can help you stay abreast of the latest developments in your field
If you work in a field that is constantly growing, innovating and changing, you really have to invest in yourself to keep up.
You may need to keep up to date with the latest technology or the latest commercial trends. You may need to take additional qualifications or courses to stay ahead.
Always view these investments in yourself as valuable and profitable.
10. Investing in yourself keeps you firmly focused on your most important goal
When you make yourself a priority in your life, you will be focused on your goals and ambitions and pursue them regardless of any obstacles you may encounter.
Self-investment keeps you persistent, it keeps you focused on what you want and what is important to you.
Final thoughts
When you adopt the attitude that the most important investment you will ever make is in yourself, then you will begin to prioritize yourself in your life and you will begin to see opportunities arise and goals achieved.
By following the tips above, you can invest in yourself. You just have to make the decision and go for it.
If you would like to invest more in yourself but are not sure how to go about it, where to start, what direction to take or if you need skills to build self-confidence, you can work with aresidential coachcan really point you in the right direction. The investment you can make with a coach can help you for a lifetime. UltimateVanis the most important investment you will ever make
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Sharon Crossett