It has been said (and many times proven) money can’t buy complete happiness; only money can’t buy complete happiness. There does need to be a balance in life. Investing in life only for financial gains will leave a person unbalanced. A person needs to invest in self; financially, spiritually and mentally. He needs to invest in family and others around him. He needs to invest in balancing the return on investments.
Investing in learning and growing as person is considered one of the greatest investments a person could make. It is one which will help provide understanding for balancing life. The return, although not measured in dollars or cents, will be one which is considered priceless. It will then be reinvested in ways which were not present before. The returns will be great.
Written in 1897 is a book entitled The Investment of Influence by Newell Dwight Hillis. In the book he says, “As a lump of clay is lifted to the wheel by the potter’s hand and under gentle pressure takes on the lines of a beautiful cup or vase, so man sets forth a mere mind.” So to then, under gentle pressure, care, and cultivation, the mind of man will then be able to hold, pour out, and be filled again.
The investment gained, held within the mind, will then be able to pour out in many ways; financially, emotionally and spiritually, and be able to receive those in return again.
The statement from the book informs the reader to invest in self and a return on investment will be realized. Unless a person is willing to become more or set forth their mind, they will not be able to pour out more. A person cannot give what they don’t have.
Not depending on a person’s beliefs, a truth is ‘reap what you sow’. And not to be taken negatively as it is often done today but to be thought about positively. Only by planting the seed can the vine grow to then provide more. If the seeds were never planted than more could not be received. A planter will reap what they sow.
Nature has proven this in so many ways. The give and take and return can be noticed if sought for. Some examples found within the wise old book mentioned above are as follows:
- Give thy body food and thy body will give thee mental strength.
- Give thy brain sleep and rest and thy brain will give thy thought nimbleness
- Give thy mind to books and libraries and the literature and lore of the ages will give thee the wisdom of sage and seer.
Give and receive. Invest and return. If an investor gives ‘good things’ then the return will be ‘good things.’ Sure not every monetary investment returns a positive percentage in terms of dollars. However, knowledge and experience were given in return, if recognized. At the time those may not be what an investor had hoped for, but with the right attitude, those can be reinvested and bring even greater returns in the future.
Investing will always give something in return. If received with wisdom the returns will always turn positive.
Enjoy and invest well always