It’s never too late to become a treasure hunter. Treasures are all around you; you just have to train your eye to be able to see them.
A treasure is whatever makes you feel rich and luxurious.
Some people simply love how sunshine feels on their skin; others feel content when everyone’s at the dinner table about to enjoy a homemade meal. Maybe your thing is rewarding yourself by sipping your favorite cocktail after a hard day, doing a full spa session, or throwing a particularly fluffy blanket on your bed on a chilly night.
Everyone who’s lived a little can attest that luxury is not always about gold, five-star hotels, or fat wallets.
Luxury is a treat and we all have the ability to enjoy life’s many treats, no matter what our finances. This article is about how important it is not to take them for granted. A life of luxury is a life well-lived.
Hunting for treasures in the form of experiences and achievements can leave you with a sense of fulfillment that no material possession could compete with.
Learning to appreciate the “little things” – which, as it turns out, aren’t so little after all – gives us the opportunity to find treasures every day.
Learning how to appreciate the things, opportunities, and people around us is one of the keys to a healthy mind and heart. Plus, it gives us a new perspective on another hot topic: money and literal wealth.
Money is considered a sensitive subject. In many different cultures, it’s rude to simply talk about it. We have developed many negative beliefs around money because we treat it like a secret… and thinking that it’s something evil, shameful, or vain (like most secrets are) can cause us to act in unhealthy ways.
There are those who work themselves to exhaustion in order to get more and more of it, without a purpose or vision other than to hoard more money. On the other hand, there are those who avoid it because the mere mention of a salary raise or a glance at their bank account makes them feel queasy. Needless to say, neither is a healthy option.
We’ve talked about limiting beliefs related to money before. Most of the time we aren’t even aware we have them. To fully become a proper treasure hunter and discover all the abundance that surrounds you, make sure to identify why the topic of money makes you feel uncomfortable.
Here we’re talking about money, but this also applies to life in general, really.
One of the ultimate things you can do is to find a balance. Things aren’t black or white. You don’t have to be the richest person on the planet nor the poorest. The same goes for love. In fact, think of someone you love right now: Have there been any moments when that very same person made you feel upset?
… Of course there have!
Because the bonds we form with others, whether they’re people or things, are meant to flow and run their course. Follow the same logic with money matters, wealth and our very special definition of life’s treasures, and you’ll find the balance sooner or later.
Are you ready to go treasure hunting right now? Here’s a 5-step challenge for you:
1. Make amends with money.
To leave limiting money beliefs behind, it’s important that you deeply consider what money really means. Like everything, it has a deeper, more transcendent meaning if you’re open to finding it.
Money helps us to express value. When you buy something or pay for it in exchange for a service, you’re contributing to the economy and indirectly supporting and encouraging the flow of resources, creativity and work. The same applies when you receive money in exchange for your honest and valuable work.
Money isn’t a shameful secret or a guilty pleasure; it’s a way, amongst many others, to express value.
2. Create your own mantra.
Mantras are great reminders and they can help you get into the right mind frame when you’re stressed out. Create or find a quote that’s meaningful to you. It will act as an affirmation of the many treasures around you.
3. List all the things that feel like a treasure to you.
It’s not enough to read an article about life’s many treasures… you have to see it for yourself. Make a physical list of everything you consider a treasure or a luxury that is currently in your life. Family members, close friends, a job, food and clean water, financial stability, your favorite book, those gorgeous shoes, time for yourself… the list will be long. Don’t forget to include experiences that have enriched your life, such as a memorable trip.
Once you’re done, take a deep breath and be thankful for all your treasures.
4. What treasure would you like to discover?
You can think about some other treasures yet to be discovered. What is it you’d like to have now? How would you like to feel? Set your goal and focus on your actions. If you feel insecure, go back to your treasure list and see how much you’ve been able to accomplish so far.
Once you know that you have enough and that your life is already filled with luxuries, which sadly not everyone in the world can afford, you’ll proceed to reach for your goals from a thoughtful, whole-hearted place.
5. Give.
To end this little challenge on a high note, it’s time to give back. We’ve agreed that things are meant to be shared and to flow amongst people. Now, let’s put our theory into practice.
Choose something to give: donate clothes, give something to charity, offer to walk your neighbor’s dog, leave a really generous tip… it’s your call. Give and contribute to the generosity in our world.
How do you feel?
Hopefully you feel a difference in your mood. Describe it and don’t be afraid to come back and repeat this challenge. You are now a treasure hunter!