It starts by discovering what your core values are. In my book, The Wealth Creator’s Playbook: A Guide to Maximizing Your Return on Life and Money, you will find a Values Discovery Questionnaire that can be used to create a list of your top five values, ranked in order of importance.
How we spend, save, and share our money says a lot about who we are and what we care about most. Taking the time to identify and understand your core values will help you simplify decision making, especially around money. For example, I value health and fitness. I love allocating my resources towards rowing and other outdoor pursuits that bring me a great deal of happiness. I feel successful, fulfilled and happier when I spend my time and money living out my values.
If you have a spouse or partner, consider creating a shared list of values for your relationship and posting the list where you will see it regularly. Aligning your values with those of your spouse/partner will help you become conscious of your daily decisions around money and time spent, and whether your choices are honoring the values you both prioritize. Because each person has a unique values wiring, you might need the support and facilitation of a professional wealth coach or counselor to help you reach the best outcome with this type of conversation.
Another way to align your money to your values is to invest with a social conscious, or what is commonly referred to as Socially Responsible Investing (SRI). The SRI philosophy looks for opportunities to invest in areas that support a broad array of social concerns, such as reducing negative environmental effects, improving labor relations, or helping underserved communities. SRI represents an important way to incorporate your core personal values into the investing equation, putting your money where your heart is.
Originally published on Quora.
A Guide to Maximizing Your Return on Life and Money
The Wealth Creator’s Playbook is the must-read, go-to guide for individuals who are chasing financial success and all the richness of a deeply fulfilling life.