This past week, I experienced a setback. I thought I was making progress, but instead—it felt like the rug was pulled out from under me.
It’s not the first time. Life has a way of surprising us, no matter how carefully we plan. Over the years, I’ve learned that having a few personal tools in place makes all the difference when things feel unsteady. Here are two that help me regain my footing—again and again:
1. Keeping a Spending Ledger
When life gets chaotic, I turn to something deceptively simple: a spending ledger. It helps me quickly get a handle on my financial position. Writing things down—everyday expenses, cash flow—gets the anxiety out of my head and frees up space for clear thinking and problem-solving.
2. The Morning Pages (Thank You, Julia Cameron)
Years ago, I picked up *The Artist’s Way* by Julia Cameron. Full disclosure: I’ve never made it past chapter three—but I got what I needed. The concept of “morning pages” stuck with me. Every morning, you write three pages by hand. No editing, no reading back. Just write and file them away. It’s amazing how, by the third page, your thoughts begin to untangle. I still do this, especially when I’m working through something difficult.
I’m still in the thick of it—but tonight I’ll jot down what I spent today at ACME, and tomorrow morning, I’ll write my three pages. These tools help me stay grounded. They don’t fix everything, but they remind me I’m not powerless.
If you’re feeling like life isn’t following a straight line either, let’s talk. Putting a financial plan in place won’t eliminate life’s curveballs—but it will give you tools to stay centered when they come.
Life Isn’t Linear—Not Even for a Financial Planner
