As the author of The Old Money Book, it wouldn't surprise anyone to learn that I have an interest in self-improvement. I've read a few self-help books, even as my book choices have always been random in terms of genres and subject matter. I've tried to become a little bit of an armchair expert in any subject that sparked my interest. Then I've moved on to another subject.
I've read biographies and looked for habits that prominent men and women possessed or adopted, thinking that I might be able to imitate certain behaviors in order to be more productive. (The jury's still out on that.) I've read novels, and I've imagined how I might emulate the fearless mindset or rock solid resolve of the hero in order to improve my everyday, non-heroic existence. I looked for parallels between the obstacles faced by protagonists in another time, in another land, in another life not my own. If they could overcome these insurmountable odds and prevail, I told myself, so could I. (The jury's still out on that, too.)
Being a creative type, the heroes of fiction have had as much of an impact on my psyche as those in the quote/unquote real world. Most recently, I found myself motivated to embody the relentless optimism and supreme good manners of Count Rostov in A Gentleman in Moscow.
This may sound like a silly and childlike practice, but I couldn't care less. It's a lifetime practice, one of several approaches I use to try to be a better person and get better results out of this adventure we call life.
Which brings me to my point: it is a common error in human behavior to seek out an immediate remedy--a shortcut--to improved circumstances rather than adopt a longterm, daily routine that reinforces a habit or produces a beneficial outcome that, step by step, improves our lives.
This is the preference we all have: we want to discover a secret, rather than adopt a practice. If we discover a secret to a better life, we can just rub the proverbial lamp, produce a genie, and make a wish that will soon be effortlessly granted.
Oh if it were only so.
More likely, we find ourselves accepting the fact that we need to change our behavior and adopt a practice--like reading, study, work, exercise, or saving money--that over time creates the situation that we desire.
Furthermore, we discover that we need to continue the practice in order to have the desired results continue to manifest in our lives. Discover whatever secrets you like, if you don't make a habit of daily effort--even in small doses--the chances of seeing anything positive appear in the future decrease substantially.
The concepts that are often sold as 'secrets' (says the guy whose book title includes the phrase 'Secrets of America's Upper Class') are more often than not tools and strategies that we can use to improve our lives. They require use in order to be effective, which brings us back to 'practice'.
My final word of advice on this topic of seeking out a beneficial practice is this: consider many, adopt few. If you've adopted an Old Money philosophy (and practice) in the way you handle your finances, dress, and live your life, great. You still have room for an exercise regimen, a spiritual practice, and other routines that can help.
But don't try to adopt a dozen self-improvement strategies and maintain them all. You may become overwhelmed, distracted, and discouraged.
As I've said before, I invite you to join the True Nobility: those of us who work to become a better person today than we were yesterday.
How you do that is up to you.
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