Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 413 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Practical Principles and Guidelines for Life

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy podcast. This is Day 413 of our trek, and today is Philosophy Friday. Every Friday we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. Along our trek today, we will discover some practical guidelines that will assist you in preparing for and living each season of life to the fullest so that you will succeed even through the winters of life.

We are broadcasting from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It continues to be a warm summer here in the Charlotte area, and it has also been warmer than usual in Ohio and Arizona. So, it is nice to be able to work indoors most of the time. It has been a busy week of work activities, but this evening three of our children will be over for dinner. So, that should be a great time together. As we get together, it is a time for sharing and learning more about life’s lessons. On our trek for today we will explore some of those lessons on the trail called… 

Practical Principles and Guidelines for Life

Here are a few practical principles and guidelines that will help you to maximize each season of life. They are not in any particular order, but are all gems that will make a huge difference in your seasons of life long-term:

• Never spend more than you make. If you can’t afford to purchase something with cash, then don’t buy it. There are very few necessities in life. Learn to sacrifice some now so that you won’t be a slave to debt long-term. Proverbs 22:7 tells us plainly, “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is a servant to the lender.” When you are debt free, it gives you options and freedom that you won’t have when you borrow.
• Be willing to live a frugal lifestyle in all areas. This may include the way you dress, what you spend on entertainment, and where you go on vacations. You can have all of these without spending a lot of money doing so. You will have less stress, more joy, and more peace even if you do not have all the material things that you desire.
• On a personal level, except for your home which should increase in value, do not borrow money. Even with a home, only purchase what you need and can afford including allowances for repair, maintenance, and yearly fees/taxes.
• Never co-sign a loan for someone else, no matter how close you are to them. It is exactly the same principle as borrowing money yourself, except you don’t own the item that is being purchased. This is not wise.
• The purpose of transportation is to get you to and from locations. If at all possible, pay cash for a vehicle. If not, only purchase basic transportation, not what the car dealer thinks you can afford. Their sole purpose is to sell cars and make a profit.
• Be willing to give up habits that are not only costly but usually not good for you. These may include drinking, smoking, gambling (even lottery tickets), overeating, and making impulse purchases. These seemingly small purchases add up to thousands of dollars per year. Be willing to make the small sacrifices now so you will have options in the future.
• Don’t use credit cards. The only exception to this that I feel is valid is if you have the discipline to use them as a cash card, and you get earning bonuses for using them. The rule here is that you have the money in the bank to cover all purchases, and you pay them off in full every month. No exceptions. If you currently have credit card debt, pay them off as soon as possible and don’t use them again. Throw them out so you will not be tempted.
• Create a budget and stick to it. To be prepared for all seasons of life and to survive the winter seasons, you must plan ahead and stick to the plan.
• If you are currently in debt, stop all non-essential spending until all debt is paid in full. Make sure you are honest with yourself on what is essential and what is not. Very few expenditures are truly essential. This may mean no cable, limited mobile phone plans, limited internet, no eating out, no costly entertainment, and purchasing second-hand clothes and household items. If you are unwilling to sacrifice now, when will you later? It’s your choice to be a slave for life or know the freedom of living without debt.
• Change your vocabulary from spending to investing, and it will change how you view your purchases. Investing should bring a good return; spending never does.
• Work hard, but take the time to relax and recharge in the appropriate seasons of life.
• Learn to enjoy your work. It boils down to your choice, as do most decisions in your life. Ecclesiastes 5:19 says, “And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.”
• Don’t accumulate stuff. The more you own, the more you are owned by your possessions. Learn to live more minimalistic. It will save you money, and you will actually be happier than if you own a bunch of stuff that you rarely use. It is ridiculous to spend money on stuff and then have to spend more money to store the stuff you rarely use.
• Learn to live on less, not more.
• Don’t try to keep up with your neighbors. You don’t really know their situation, and they may be drowning in debt or have serious issues with their family. As King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:4, “Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.”
• Eat healthy and wholesome foods. It is less expensive long term, especially when you consider the cost of healthcare. Minimize eating out. Take the time to cook at home, and control your portion sizes.
• Exercise and stay active daily. A good brisk walk each day will work miracles physically, mentally, and spiritually.
• Meditate/pray every day and read/study good books.
• Take time to be grateful every day. Make it a habit of thanking others for even the smallest of tasks.
• Integrate the attributes of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control into your life. Master them so they become part of who you are, and then everything else in life will be viewed in the proper perspective.
• Love yourself unconditionally. There is only one you in the world and you have the capacity to change your world for the better.  No one else can do what you can to make a positive impact on your world.
• Celebrate life each day. It is a gift from God that will multiply the more you give it away.
• Never stop learning, every obstacle or challenge is an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Never stop dreaming – regardless of your age. I will be 60 at the end of this month, and have never been more excited about the potential of the future than I am now. Think about it from this perspective…With today’s medical advancements I could easily live to 125, which means that I am not even middle age yet. If I use my accumulated experience and knowledge from the first 60 years, just think about the impact potential that I can have during the next 60 years. With technological advancements, there are no practical limitations.
• When you have your head in the clouds dreaming, make sure you keep your feet firmly planted on the ground.
• Have faith that if you are honest and disciplined that your life will turn out just fine. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”
• No more excuses. It is never too late to become who you want to be.
• Practice empathy and compassion, how else will you become good at them if you do not practice. Eventually, they will become a habit.
• Practice the golden rule at all times.
• Help others succeed, and in turn, you will succeed also.
• Don’t criticize or become negative. Life is too short to live negatively.
• Take time to laugh, to stop and smell the roses, and to enjoy the journey of life. You only have one life to live, so enjoy it each day. A simple plaque that Paula’s Aunt Pauline give to me many years ago when she noticed how much and hard I work hangs in my office. I have to read it occasionally to get me back on track. It says, “If you keep your nose to the grindstone rough, and keep it down there long enough, in time you will find there is no such thing, as brooks that babble and birds that sing, then these three things will your world compose, you, the stone, and your worn out nose.”
  

The older and wiser I become, the more this poem means to me. Yes, I still work hard and enjoy my work, but I do try to take the time to listen to the babbling brooks and the singing birds, to enjoy our grown children and grandchildren, to enjoy life and its journey regardless of how rough the trail is at times, and to be prepared for each season of life, the times of working hard, and the times of leisure.

Today we have discovered several guidelines that will help us to more effectively navigate the cycles and seasons of life. Next Philosophy Friday we will begin to explore some of the lessons from Jim Rohn’s book titled The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle. I think you will find his insights interesting.

Our next trek will be Motivation Monday where we explore more trails of how to get and stay motivated to bring value to your world. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our trek for today. As you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, we ask you to help us grow Wisdom-Trek by sharing with your family and friends through email, Facebook, Twitter, or in person and invite them to come along with us each day. If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek, so each trek will be downloaded to you automatically. I would also appreciate it if you would rate and review us on iTunes or Google Play so that others will find out about Wisdom-Trek and join us.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you on Monday!