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My favorite word is “aware.”
I believe that missed opportunities, stress, poor decisions of all types, just many of the things we complain about result from not being aware of what is happening around us.
Being aware means having knowledge or perception of something. It involves noticing, recognizing, or being conscious of what’s happening either around you or within you.
In essence, being aware is about being connected to what is happening, both internally and externally, and having a sense of understanding or perception about it.
Being aware was brought to my attention during basic training in the army decades ago. They try to keep you off balance, to stress test you, to create illusions. If you don’t exercise awareness, you are always stressed. One night we had to crawl under live machine gun fire with tracer bullets to add to the fear. We were told the guns we’re aimed three feet above the highest point on the range. Most of the guys assumed that meant three feet above our heads, but being aware you would notice the highest point was actually a pole some eight feet high. More awareness, less stress.
Dealing with finances requires awareness for sure, especially when thinking – or not, about the future. Buying decisions, investing decisions, borrowing decisions are all aided by awareness of things around you. And in the 21st century that means a global awareness.
Are you aware of what may happen to Social Security and Medicare, taxes, interest rates, tariffs, new technology on the way, global droughts, how the Saudi’s pump oil. It all matters to your finances.
Heck, are you aware that you cell phone battery is about to run out? 😱 Or, that dream car from Germany will soon cost significantly more?
This awareness thing is made more difficult by the trash and misinformation on social media. Many people seem to simply accept what they read as fact and then act on it or pass it around.
Sadly, my perception is that the majority of us, walk around in a dome of obliviousness happy in our state – and suffer the consequences.
Take a lesson from the Boy Scouts – Be Prepared- Be aware.
Attention.
Awareness, in general, is not possible without attention. If your attention is hooked on cat videos, it is not possible to be aware that the market is crazy. Attention is a preciously limited resource, easily stolen by subliminal stimuli without awareness (read threatening noise, outrageous ads or messages). The famous “invisible gorilla” video experiment is one supportive evidence. Without deliberate training, our natural wandering mind is hostage to flashes of attention hawking signals – a generation of ADHD is born. The human mind has evolved, not for wise attention, mostly and solely for survival and procreation (excitement? yes but happiness? no).
While I am minding my own business, the invisible gorilla is juggling my retirement account, and I didn’t even notice 😉
Only surprised the word isn’t “income”! 😉
I would offer a modifier that being aware but not having control/agency may not lead to less stress. Take the Covid stock crash. How many people were aware but took the wrong decisions around selling the dip compared to those who simply ignored the news?
If you have terminal inoperable cancer would you rather be aware and live your days under a shadow or be unaware until symptoms bite?
You can also be aware about lots of things that don’t end up happening. I’d say some of that and trying to game out scenarios again might lead to more stress rather than less. And when it comes to the current US/global political landscape that’s quite a lot of stress.
Being aware is hard work. We need to read, listen, observe, consider opposing views. Look way beyond our narrow little world. Look to lessons of history and possibilities for the future. It’s a never ending quest.
When I think about people I know who seem to be constantly under stress, they do seem to lack a general awareness. Their thoughts seem narrowly focused on whatever it is that causes their stress.
Having said that, I don’t mean to diminish physical and psychological causes of stress and anxiety.
I wonder how many poor decisions are made because someone is not aware of the issues to consider?
I have a favorite verse:
“I am debt averse!”