Maria Gonzalez Blog
Mindful Leadership

Being a Mindful Investor Is Critical for Your Well Being

As we experience significant declines in all financial markets and economic turmoil around the world, I am once again struck by the role of fear and greed in these critical times.  When Graham Byron and I wrote The Mindful Investor How a Calm Mind Can Bring You Inner Peace and Financial Security in 2010 it was in response to the market meltdown in late 2008.

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At the time, from a human point of view, it was the same issue – fear and greed.  As Mahatma Ghandi said, “there is sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed”.

The reaction to what “might happen” is fear – investors leaving the market for fear that it will get worse.  And once again, what brought us to this place is greed.  Both individuals and governments around the world for the most part have refused to truly manage their debt and face reality.  So what we are witnessing are the hindrances playing out at the level of the citizenry and governments, alike.  It is a dissatisfaction deep within that says that we are not okay as we are, as things are.  And if others have some material wealth surely we should have it as well.  Rather than what we have being considered a privilege, the belief is that it is a right.  Consequently, we pursue it with vigor, at all costs.

And the cost will surely be our well being physically, mentally and spiritually.  The more we disassociate from who and what we really are, the more we will find ourselves stranded and unable to find our way back.

But there is always hope.  Who and what we really are is as close as our breath; it is around us and within us.  And the quickest way to find it is to be “still”.  When we go into a place of stillness, the entire world slows down regardless of external circumstances.  It is in that stillness that we can make the right decisions for us, whether it be to sell, hold or buy.  From that place of stillness our judgment is sound and our decisions appropriate and thereby we can enjoy greater well being.