Budgeting

Taking inventory of all your Energy

Our relationship with money is connected to our relationship to time, and both are connected to the world we are investing in for tomorrow. As the saying goes, every time you spend a dollar, you are casting a vote towards the world you want to see. When we are not consciously deciding how to spend our time and money, we give away our ability to create our worlds.

Our financial bank accounts are tied to our karma bank accounts - even though we don't know it, we may be racking up our negative karma bank, by purchasing items that have bad karma attached to it. Certain karma attached to items could be the environmental implications tied to its production, unfair wages and abuse towards the production workers of the item or any piece associated with the item, the travel needed to get the item in your hands, and the health and environmental hazards that item poses on your own self and your home once you have it.

Budgeting was always easy for me when I was younger; I always seemed to know how to save. But as I picked up some bad habits and unhelpful mentalities surrounding money, saving money became trickier as I got older. It really depends on how conscious I am of my spending in every moment.

There's nothing I can do about the items that I already have in my possession, except to take care of them as best as I can, not take them for granted, and to utilize them to the best of my ability. Most of what I have can help me move forward in the missions that I have set for myself, so it's really important to take stock of everything, find its place and find its purpose in my life. That is the responsibility I have for accepting it all into my sphere of awareness.

In creating Opulence, it's not just about budgeting money, but rather energy, which comes in many forms. Yes, money is important, but so is time and attention, because these are all currencies that create the world you choose. You take in and are given a certain amount of energy in this lifetime, and if you are able to really hone in and make the most of what you have, you can expand and beautify the energy in and around you that much more. That is the Tantric way of life.

I have spent too much of my life giving my energy, time and money towards things that are not benefitting me or the planet, and I'm starting to really feel the effects of doing so. As part of this mission towards Sustainability, I am moving towards being more conscious about the investments I'm making, because that's all it is - investments. I would like to invest in a better mindset, a healthier body, more impactful time with my friends and family, and towards a better world. This starts with being honest with everything that's wasting time, energy and money, and acknowledging the steps to becoming wiser with my spending/investment. Just like you are what you eat, you become what you pay attention to.

Take an honest audit on how you spend your day, what you're paying attention to either on social media or otherwise, what you're spending your money on, and how you spend your "free time" away from work. You can still enjoy your life by making wiser investments.

Start small: Begin by making minor adjustments in your daily routine, like choosing to spend time in nature rather than mindlessly scrolling through your phone. Replace one unhealthy habit with a nourishing one each week, and soon you'll notice how much more energized and aligned you feel.

Track your progress: Keep a journal or use an app to monitor how your new choices are affecting your life. Are you feeling more fulfilled? Are your relationships improving? Are you noticing a difference in your health? Seeing these changes can motivate you to keep going.

Celebrate your wins: Recognize and reward yourself for every step forward. Every mindful choice you make is a step towards a more sustainable, fulfilling life. It’s not about perfection but progress. And remember, every little bit counts.

By consciously choosing where you place your time, energy, and money, you're not just creating a better life for yourself but also contributing to a healthier, more sustainable planet. After all, when we invest in what truly matters, we all reap the rewards.

Let’s embark on this journey of intentional living together. What will you choose to invest in today?