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Plato, Money, and the Ideal Life

August 10, 2015|By David Lester

This is Socrates but I don't care

A great way to focus your money and efforts is to set solid goals for yourself.  This time, instead of just writing down the same old stuff like going to the gym and reading more — blow out your ideal life.  Plato wrote about his theory on True Forms and I’ve applied it to people’s lives.  Live the “Ideal Form” of your own life.  In Plato’s philosophy, he wrote that only a true philosopher (like you) can see the ideal.  This is a perfect base for a money philosophy! Only you can create the vision of your perfect life.  And only you can get it for yourself.  Think about what you truly want in each area of your life to be. Imagine each area in great detail. Dream your reality and then live it!

You know those things that you have always wanted but were afraid to ask for?  Add them.  Do you want better food, a better body, more fun, or more adventure? List the things that will make the hair on your arm stand up because you’re so excited by the thought of them in your life.  What do you want from these categories: Education, Money, Health and Fitness, Spirituality, Family, Relationships, and Sex.  For Plato’s sake, don’t forget sex.

The best way to motivate ourselves in life is to design our ideal reality.  Don’t try to change one or two things that you think you can easily accomplish; go after every single thing that you can dream.  Spend an evening with a bottle of wine or beverage of choice in a quiet place and let your mind go free.  Don’t censor anything.  If it comes to you, write it down.

For example, you may want a million dollars.  But instead of writing “a million dollars in the bank,” write what that million dollars would allow you to do.  You could travel 6 months of the year, spoil your family, save it for a comfortable old age, or buy the dream car that you have always wanted.  There is nothing more powerful than dreaming our ultimate reality, confirming why it is important to us, and then achieving it.  What is happiness if not that?

Take three pieces of paper and write at the top of each one “Personal Goals”, “Professional Goals”, and “Material Goals.”  Take the time with each piece of paper and fill both sides with everything that you want.  This is your life so dig deep for inspiration. Personal Goals could be classes you want to take, creative expressions through music, dance or art, or to spend more time with your dad. Professional Goals could be getting your MBA or writing a book to share the skills you have learned through business.  Material Goals are every thing you want to buy.  If it costs $5 or $1.5M, it goes down on the page.  This is my favourite one because I love cars so much. 🙂

After you have filled a page front and back for all three areas, write beside them a priority–“1” if it is super important, “2” if it is less important, and “3” if it is the least important to you.  We’re going to do everything so don’t feel bad about the “3”s you softy!  Write down all of the items that you have a “1” beside and commit to yourself the EXACT date when they will be achieved.  These will be your top goals to accomplish this year.  Keep them close to you. When you feel less motivated, take them out and re-energize by thinking about how amazing you felt when crafting the list.

Have an amazing week and be sure to set and achieve your goals like an ancient Greek would want you to!

XOXO,

Dave and Plato

David Lester
About David Lester

David Lester is a best selling author and professional Financial Coach, helping people be better with their money. David has written a personal finance book that breaks with traditional attitudes towards finance and describes his own philosophy to money that he has gained through his personal and professional experiences. His philosophy on money applies to many areas of everyday life, including banking, investing, goal setting, shopping and entertainment.