by Eugénie | Dec 24, 2017 | Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle & Fun, Self Empowerment
Happy Holidays 🙂
Hello my dear friends, family, partners, and online community,
What a year it has been!
As we are about to partake in another Christmas season and welcome 2018, I want to extend a haughty holiday wish to you and a wonderful, everything-you-could-imagine-it-to-be 2018. Personally, I love the deep appreciation that unfolds at this time of year as people reflect on the joy they have created for their lives and so many others, and as they look forward to realizing their desired vision and dreams.
What a pleasure it has been for me to observe such a wide spectrum of people take up their own pursuit towards personal empowerment and financial independence. This past year I had the privilege of meeting so many of you, from all corners of this beautiful planet, and I am so grateful for all of you who helped to make my 2017 marvelous. In my quest to help you, I have in the process helped myself. #WinWin Thank you!
Let’s move into 2018 as true change makers!
People worldwide are discovering their desire to connect deeply to their own vision of life value, and to move beyond all barriers. Now is the time to use our inner integrity as our compass, moving in the direction of real action to contribute to the uplifting of others.
Let’s connect with what is boundless in us, bring joy to the world, and enjoy this time of year with our loved ones. And most of all, let us take some time for ourselves, to carve out our own authentic journey – forward.
You are receiving this letter because you are loved and appreciated. May the spirit of Christmas and the anticipation of a New Beginning pervade your life, and may you continue to prosper and flourish – both personally and professionally, in the coming new year.
With love and gratitude,
by Eugénie | Dec 15, 2017 | Lifestyle & Fun, Marriage & Relationship, Money & Finance
The difference between real suicide and financial suicide is that in real suicide a person voluntarily and intentionally take their own life while in financial suicide a person voluntarily but unintentionally deplete their funds. And so it is very easy for someone to get into situation(s) that allow financial suicide to take place. Financial suicide happens as a result of something that was previously done. It is the effect of a cause. Here are 7 Ways You May Be Committing Financial Suicide.
1. Marrying the Wrong Person
One of the biggest decisions any individual can make, is choosing to get married. Choosing whom to marry is an epic decision with major implications, and there are many aspects to consider, discuss, and come clean about before making that big decision to marry. Unfortunately, the financial aspect of the relationship rarely gets discussed prior to many couples getting married, which has proven to lessen the survive-ability of those marriages. Remember: Marriage is also a financial contract! As such, it’s always a financially dangerous proposition, and should not be conducted without the proper pre-marital investigation of both parties with full disclosure, and a viable financial plan discussed and put in place. Also, there are countless “responsible” people who ended up bankrupt due to the actions of a financially undisciplined spouse. You can go into a marriage with the most assets, funds, and the most at stake, and you could lose it all – if you do not protect yourself from the beginning. If you are getting ready to be a bride, take note! Don’t take the plunge until the financial situations are disclosed, discussed, and decided with a plan. The average cost of a divorce is approximately $20,000, and that does not include any assets you stand to lose in your divorce. Be smart, savvy, and strategic in your premarital decisions and avoid financial suicide.
2. Living Above Your Means
Trying to keep up with the Joneses is a sure way to commit financial suicide. Yeah, we all like nice things! And what “nice things” are for me, may not be nice things for you; however, the criteria of what’s desirable is usually decided for most of us by our peers – famous, popular people in our age range. This desire often lead an individual to strain their finances to live in the same neighborhood as the Joneses, drive the same car as the Joneses, wear the same designer clothes as the Joneses, join the same clubs as the Joneses, eat at the same restaurant as the Joneses, take as many vacation to the same destinations as the Joneses, send our children to the same schools as the Joneses, and the list goes on and on. This type of living – if not carefully planned for, will wipe out every dollar, dime, and penny into financial suicide instead of financial prosperity.
3. Failing to Accurately Track Income and Expenses
Trying to get a handle on your personal finances without knowing how much money you are earning, and where it is all going, is tantamount to trying to drive while blindfolded. People who fail to take the time to analyze their finances typically end up crashing and burning because they lack a means of ensuring they get the most from their income. As with anything else, if you are taking out more than you are putting in, it will definitely be a matter of time before it is all depleted. So, whether or not you are keeping up with the Joneses, make sure you are accurately tracking and managing your finances. To do otherwise will have you committing financial suicide.
4. Failing to Establish a Plan for the Future
The young always seem to have more time than money, which is why financially important things like putting aside money for short and longer-term emergencies or feathering a retirement nest egg, are often never even considered until people approach their golden years. Of course, by then, it’s usually much too late. The old cliche really is true: Failing to plan is the same thing as planning to fail. The best time to start planning is always when you are younger; however, regardless of where you are in age right now, you need to start planning for those days when you are no longer able to work but still must survive and thrive. If you do not have ample amount of savings, you will run out of funds and end up committing financial suicide.
5. Abusing Your Credit Cards
Credit Cards are powerful! And can help you get ahead in many ways. However, without the proper financial knowledge, acumen, and discipline, credit cards can be detrimental to your financial health which could also lead to other personal ruin. If you haven’t yet gotten a credit card, learn how to use credit cards responsibly before doing so. It is also important that you not get a credit card if you do not have a secure job, or have a substantial amount of savings to use to pay the minimum balance in the event you lose your job. Using credit cards without proper planning can catapult your debt, ruin your credit, and result in you committing financial suicide.
6. Having Unplanned Children
Like any other huge decision, a plan should be in place for having a child including a time to start the conception process after the proper necessities are put in place, to ensure them the resources they will need. There is nothing more destructive to one’s financial future than bringing children into the world without having an established and stable means to support them. Raising children requires a tremendous investment of not only money, but time and commitment as well. Unfortunately, when those resources are in short supply, it becomes extremely difficult to maintain a stable home environment, meet basic needs, and accumulate wealth for their future and yours. This is not only unfair to you; it is unfair to your children as they did not ask to be here, and now without the proper provision they will be guaranteed to go with you into the financial suicide you are committing.
7. Maintaining Financial Dependency on Others
This is a disaster temporarily averted! It is a known fact that people who are being taken care of by others – financially and otherwise, will take full advantage of that situation and not try to help themselves. This is detrimental to the dependent, and I’m talking about grown, able-bodied adults – not children. This behavior has developed in them a dependency attitude that will cripple them in the long-term and leave them financially disabled. People who are taken care of by others are not usually working at enhancing themselves to come out of their dependency, but are instead becoming fixated and permanently financially disabled. For this same reason I’m absolutely convinced that the longer people remain dependent on government assistance or friends and family for financial support, the tougher it will become for them to achieve financial independence. What will happen when those sources are no longer available? They have already committed financial suicide and may now find themselves committing real suicide. Don’t leave your most important asset – yourself, to others! Get your priorities in order and move towards financial independence.
So there you have it! 7 Ways You May Be Committing Financial Suicide.
Unlike real suicide, financial suicide is not a death sentence! And it does not happen immediately! If you are committing any of the 7 financial suicide listed above, you have a chance to stop and turn it around in your favor. Remember, the first step is acknowledging, then and only then can you move forward in doing something about it. Make the change!
Xo,
by Eugénie | Nov 12, 2017 | Lifestyle & Fun, Marriage & Relationship, Money & Finance
Money and finance is the most influential, dependent variable in relationships, and the aspects of how they are handled in the relationship will be the deciding factor on the health of the relationship or the breakdown of it. Misalignment and mismanagement of money in relationships are the number one stimuli for arguments, mistrust, and resentment in relationships that most often lead to breakup and divorce. It may be surprising to learn that many couples who date and later marry have never discussed their individual personal finances before they get married, and this is a dangerous practice that will not only lead to divorce but can cause the partner in better financial standing to lose their money. Merging together in marriage is serious business! Not only are you entrusting someone with YOU – physically, mentally, and emotionally, but you are also entrusting them with your finances – your lifeblood which allows you to live the kinda lifestyle you enjoy, and make plans to enjoy later on when you retire. When you get married, you two become one! But you know what else become one? Your finances! You are responsible for mishaps or financial infidelity your partner makes, and vice versa. Therefore, it is imperative to examine your partner financially in order to know what you are getting ready to merge with, before getting all in.
Get Financially Organized Before Committing To Marriage & Ensure Your Partner Is Too
Before you enter into a serious relationship with someone, you need to consider your own financial situation whether it’s your debt, your credit score, whatever the case is with your finances. Know your financial stance so when you come to the table to scrutinize their financial situation, yours will also be in order, because they will need to scrutinize yours as well. And if they don’t, I would really be looking at them through the side eye and not taking them seriously. You cannot enter into a relationship half stepping and expect your partner to be full stepping, and neither should they. It doesn’t work that way! At least not long-term! And what may start out as a fun, romantic, happy relationship may end up falling apart when the ooowww and aaawww phase of the early stages of the relationship are over. (And it will!) Especially, if not done right, with the kind of full disclosure and premeditation that needed to take place prior to jumping in together. And as Dr Boyce Watkins wrote in his book Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets With Your Partner in Ways That Feel Good, “I recommend not considering having financial sex until you are ready. Getting ready doesn’t necessarily mean increasing your income, since income isn’t everything, it means spending time working on your own financial habit before getting someone else involved.” Examine your financial situation and be prepared to examine your potential partner’s financial situation, as well as have him examine yours.
Discuss Finances Before You Get Married; It Is Too Important To Ignore
Like any other partnership, knowing where each other stand financially before making any commitment, is not only common sense but it is crucial to the health and survive-ability of the relationship. Does each partner have debt? How much debt does each have? Is it good debt or bad debt? How will you work together to lower or eliminate those debts? Will you be combining those debts and working together to lower or eliminate them? Or will each party work to lower or eliminate his/her own debt? How are the credit histories looking? Who has been better with money? Who stands to lose more if the marriage collapses? Will you be instituting a prenuptial agreement? How will you navigate the financial aspects of the partnership once merged? Who will be responsible for what? Will each party have their separate bank account and another that is merged for each to use for the partnership? Will a life insurance be established for each other? How will each party keep the other accountable? These are just a tip of the iceberg on the questions that should be asked and the financial examination that must take place prior to entering into marriage – if the goal is to have a lasting, happy, and fulfilling marriage.
Make Love to Yourself Financially Before Inviting Someone Else To
Money allow us to take the utmost care of ourselves. It creates for us a bedrock where we have choices in the way we eat, sleep, take care of ourselves, and live. As such, establishing a solid financial foundation is vital to our well-being, and instrumental to the way we are treated. If you love yourself, your physical well-being will be a reflection of your financial well-being. When you show that you not only place importance on your physical well-being but also your financial well-being, you can be sure you will get a lot more respect from your partner at the beginning of the relationship which will have no choice but to spill over and continue throughout the relationship. As humans, we tend to treat people based on the way they treat themselves. If they love and respect themselves it will translate in their words and actions, and if they don’t, then that too will translate. Why do you believe that poor women who marry rich men and vice versa are abused so much? Because they have left their most important priority – their finances, up to someone else. Remember, our finances allow us to care for ourselves, and live the lifestyle we design. If we value ourselves we will not leave that most essential part of our livelihood to someone else. And so people with money know and understand that, and have devalued you based on the way you have devalued yourself. There is no way that those rich partners would allow themselves to be broke and resort to depending on someone else finances – long-term. Not gonna happen! So this is huge to think about when planning on marrying someone wealthy or financially secure. If you are not bringing anything to the table, nine out of ten, you will be taken advantage of. Having your finances in order is the highest form of self-love, a love that cannot help but command respect.
Too many people are committing financial suicide by entering into marriages without first checking their partners financial pedigree, or lack thereof. Make sure your financial situations are all in check before you move to attach someone else to it. And after you work at getting your financial T’s crossed and I’s dotted, make sure the partner you are planning on merging with, have their T’s crossed and I’s dotted as well. Do this one thing right – from the get go, and you can expect to: avoid financial suicide, experience financial prosperity, and have a more stable, happy, and transparent marriage.
Xo,
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by Eugénie | Sep 18, 2017 | Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle & Fun, Self Empowerment, Self-Care & Self-Love
Well the first thing I’m going to say – which you already know, is that life is precious, its end unpredictable, and sure. But pending that, life will be what we make it. We have a choice in what we do with our lives, how we spend our time here on earth, and who we spend our time with. At least most of us do!
Life by Design: Living My Best Life “NOW”
When my aunt passed away while I was barely a teen I realized at that early age how delicate life was, the surety of its end, and how little control we have over when that end comes. I also realized that there were people living on this earth who were controlled – limiting their freedom of self expression, livelihood, and ability to design and live life the way they want to. And so I decided at a very young age that with all the things I cannot control being highly significant, I would do everything in my power to control the things I can control – to ensure I live the best way possible – doing what I want to do and having a fulfilling life. And thankfully, I am living in a part of the world where a great degree of personal freedom is allowed. And so now I can truly say that the only thing that can stop me from living my best life, is me.
No-one is coming to hand me my dream lifestyle! I have to design it the way I want it, strategize on the tools I need and the path I will take to get to it, set goals to help me accomplish it, and follow through. In all eight key areas of my lifestyle design – health & fitness, love & romance, career & business, personal growth & development, family & friends, money & finance, housing & accommodation, geographic location & community, it is important that I take advantage of every day I am present and actually live and maximize the experiences I know I can have, and I have made that my priority.
Like me, you have visions of a better tomorrow; for yourself, and your family. Perhaps those visions consist of a you losing weight, getting into shape, quitting smoking, finding a career that you actually love, becoming your own boss, making more money, reading more books, writing a book, mastering your favorite musical instrument, purchasing your dream home, relocating to that country/state/city etc., all while making quality time to spend with your family, and keep up with friends. But whatever your vision, ask yourself, “what are you waiting for?“
What it Means to Live Your Best Life
Living your best life means living up to your fullest potential. And living up to your fullest potential means you decide what that looks like for you in all eight key areas – craft your unique design, devise a plan to bring it to life, then execute and actually do those things according to your life design. #DesignYourDreamLifestyle. Practicing self care – externally as well as internally, is another huge part of living your best life. This includes taking time out to smell the roses, eat right, stay in shape, and letting go of past hurt, limiting beliefs, and forgiving those who have wronged us. #LetInVivaciousEnergy. Living your best life also means that you continue to set the bar even higher for yourself, and committing to personal growth. You must be willing to change, to grow, and to do what it takes in order for you to continue being the best person you can be and living the best life you can live. And of course, you cannot live your best life without balance, and so you need to ensure that balance is taken into consideration when crafting your lifestyle design.
What It Takes to Live Your Best Life
Strength & Tenacity
Accomplishing our biggest goals and living our best life often means doing things that are difficult and challenging. It is so much easier to settle for mediocrity than to reach for exemplary. Exemplary takes work! Breaking bad habits and developing good habits takes discipline and strength of character, and living our best life will demand nothing less. We can build strength of character by first stepping out of our comfort zone, then challenging ourselves to do things that other people might consider difficult, improving at every level. We can then use that strength and tenacity to make more positive changes in all areas of our life. This inner strength is vital to staying the course, especially when the going gets tough. Also, we cannot live our best life with unresolved, emotional baggages weighing us down, and so in order to free ourselves of those baggages, we need to forgive our perpetrators. This is not an easy feat! And so you will need all the strength you can muster to get you through the forgiveness process. But remember: In order to fly you have to be light.
Courage & Determination
It takes courage and a great deal of determination to create the life you desire. As you explore and honor what you ultimately want for yourself, you’ll find that means breaking some old habits and forming new ones. Those changes may include walking away from friendships and other relationships that no longer support your growth and your goals. You may encounter resistance from friends and family as they see you take your future into your own hands. Often times the people who are not supportive of you are the same ones making zero effort to improve their own lives, and so they would prefer that others remain stuck along with them. It takes courage and determination to push forward in pursuit of your desired dream lifestyle, in spite of obstacles, lack of support, and criticisms aimed at thwarting your efforts.
Commitment & Self-Respect
Living your best life begins with appreciating the fact that you are alive. Realizing that life is a gift and every single day is a blessing is the foundation on which you build the life you desire. Appreciating life means respecting yourself and your body. Your body is your vehicle for this journey; give it the fuel and maintenance it needs, and it will perform at its best whenever you need it to. Choosing actions that nurture self-respect also builds confidence, and confidence is vital to achieving your goals. By taking excellent care of yourself, you send a message that you are important and valuable. Building your sense of self-worth is also inspiring and motivating. Likewise, commitment is a form of self-respect; you respecting yourself enough to set goals, and accomplish them. Following through with commitments you have made to yourself is the number one way you honor yourself.
Planning & Organization
Being able to live your best life takes planning and organization. Setting goals and living a balanced life is much easier when you take the time to plan things out and write them down. From daily to-do lists to 5-year plans, getting organized has a huge impact on our ability to achieve our goals.
Key People, Institutions, Things
Regardless of what living your best life looks like – for you, you will need either a) key people, b) institutions, c) specific things or a combination of these to play a role in you accomplishing your goals. Whether you need a partner in order for you to realize your dream of having a family and children, a degree in order for you to pursue your career or acquire the skills to start your own business, or money in order to materialize your vision you will not be able to live your best life without having the things and/or people you need in place.
Living our best life is totally possible! And because I only have one shot at traveling on this journey called life, the odds of me leaving my experiences and the way I live to chances, are zero. If you live in a country where your liberties are not hampered, take advantage of that freedom and make it count for you. Design your dream lifestyle, and live your life by your design.
Xo,
UPPPP YOUR GENIUS SYSTEM OF PROGRAMS
by Eugénie | Aug 20, 2017 | Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle & Fun, Self Empowerment, Self-Care & Self-Love
Throughout my life, many events have happened that reminded me just how incredibly short and uncertain our time here on this earth can be. But nothing compared to what I experienced two years ago.
Two years ago I lost a very good friend of mine and like many of us who have lost loved ones know, it can be a hard, brick-size hit. At the age of 48 Kelly was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and within a mere week, my Kelly was gone! There was no time to get use to the fact that she may be fighting a losing battle, she did not get any time to fight! In the twinkling of an eye she was just gone! You see Kelly was young, and vibrant, and full of hope and dreams. She epitomizes the perfect daughter, sister, mother, auntie, cousin, friend, wife anyone would dream of having. And I was blessed to be a part of her life. But her death changed me. Her death has placed an urgency in me to not waste a minute on frivolous things! To not remain focused on the things I cannot control! To be slow to anger and swift to forgive! To spread love wherever I go and make a difference in other’s lives! To stop and smell as many roses as I can possibly smell! To get out there and live out so loud that my very being becomes prolific! To live every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every moment, as if it’s my very last moment. Her life was a gift that I expected to have for a long, long time, but it was taken.
But you know what I can tell you! I can tell you that Kelly lived her dream. She wanted to be a doctor, she did that! She wanted to travel the world, she did that! She wanted a huge white house with a picket fence, she got that! She wanted a caring, compassionate, loving husband, she got that too! She wanted beautiful, healthy children, she got that too! She wanted to swim everyday, she had a pool in her own yard! She wanted to play tennis everyday, she had her very own tennis court on her property! She wanted great friends, she so had that! She has lived! She lived her life just the way she wanted, on her own terms. And so in mourning Kelly, I remind myself of what Kelly would want me to do now, which is live today like there is no tomorrow which was her actual motto. And that’s what I do every day, and I encourage you to do the same.
All our life designs are different! Everyone’s life design ain’t gon’ look the same way. We may have the same desires to love and be loved, to appreciate and be appreciated, to respect and be respected, to give and be given, to forgive and be forgiven, to teach and be taught, to listen and be listened to, to value and be valued…and the list goes on and on; however, when it comes to tangibles we all have varying likes, dislikes, preferences for different things and may also go about getting them using varying methods. But whatever you want your lifestyle to be, design it, actualize it, and live it. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month and not next year. Design it now! Now is what you have! Now is what is sure! Don’t leave your lifestyle to chances, it’s too important for that. Design it and live it just the way you want it. And let no-one hinder you or tell you you can’t, because YOU CAN.
Believe in yourself more than anybody else. Shut down those negative thoughts of you being crazy for thinking you can actually accomplish that feat! Of you being out of your league for dreaming so big! Shut them down with positive opposing views and refocus on what you want to accomplish. Start affirming that you are worth it. You are capable. You got this! Design Your Dream Lifestyle, create a plan of attack, and start executing.
Allow yourself the privilege of being one of the few who can look back on their life later and say I’ve lived. I did the damn thing!
So go ahead and get started on designing and actualizing your desired lifestyle, but please bookmark this page and come back here to let me know how you are progressing and how this information may have helped you. Also, please like/follow/share/comment on our social media platforms and blog. There may be someone just like you who needs to hear this message today. And finally, feel free to get your copy of this FREE workbook I’ve created to help with designing and actualizing your dream lifestyle.
Until then!
Xo,
