Financial wellness from a Jacaranda blossom

One of the most beautiful seasonal treats in South Africa is the annual blooming of the Jacaranda trees. From late September to middle November, there is a purple shower of Jacaranda blossoms in many streets, parks and gardens of Pretoria and Johannesburg. Jacaranda trees are not indigenous to South Africa. It is originally from Brazil and the name Jacaranda means fragrant. It was declared an alien species in 2001, but thankfully the almost 70?000 existing Jacarandas trees in Pretoria alone, are protected.

?The purple blossoms have different meanings to different people. Some believe that it is a symbol of wisdom, rebirth and wealth. For students it is a reminder that exams are approaching and some even believe that if you study for an exam and blossoms fall onto your head, you will pass your exam. It goes without saying that without studying, you can have all the luck in the world, but it will not necessarily change the outcome of the exam. We create our own luck and as Gary Player remarked on his successful golfing career over several decades, the harder I practice, the luckier I get. The same rules apply to achieving health and financial wellness. Most people become anxious when they start thinking about their personal finances. Worrying about your financial affairs creates an unsafe environment for your mental health. Therefore, if you don’t practice, luck may never be on your side.

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To kickstart the journey of increasing your financial luck, consider the following:

1.????? Set financial goals

2.????? Develop a plan to achieve these goals

3.????? Execute ruthlessly

4.????? Monitor your achievements and adjust your plan (if necessary)

Financial goals can include saving for that dream holiday or funding your children’s education. Longer term goals may be saving towards financial independence at a certain age, or planning for your retirement, or even starting your own business. If you are already retired you may want to save every month to ensure that you do not outlive your money. Take the time to identify your specific goals over the short, medium, and long term. By aligning your personal goals, ambitions, and dreams with your financial goals, you take control of your financial and mental wellness.

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It is not easy to commit to a plan. It is almost like starting a new exercise plan. Initially you have stiff muscles and fatigue and the temptation to give up, is real. Sometimes you need a little encouragement, someone objective to help you stay with the plan, keeping you motivated, even when the going gets tough. A skilled financial adviser can provide you with objective advice.

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May the purple shower of blooming Jacarandas be your call to action to improve your financial wellness. You may just be lucky enough for a Jacaranda blossom to fall on your head.