Three Tips for Staying Positive About Your Financial Future

Even if you are a natural optimist, there may be times when your financial future will seem dim to you. The cause could be as dramatic as a job loss or a medical emergency that completely upends your financial plans.

It may be the sudden realization of a long-brewing problem — a career (and salary) that has stagnated or a debt load that only grows.

Or it may be a persistent, gnawing feeling that while nothing is critically “wrong” per se, nothing is quite right either.

You’re just not feeling on track to meet your long-range goals. Whether a new-found issue or an old sore, your gaze into the crystal ball is met with fog.

Let’s clear things up, shall we?

Step One — Determining the Root Cause

Our opening move is to answer the obvious question: “ Why do you doubt your potential to achieve your financial goals?” But we need to get down to the root cause.

For example, if you have turned pessimistic because you lost your job or your business failed (and who wouldn’t be in that circumstance!), we need to understand why this happened.

Be honest with yourself and record your responses to the following questions: