WELLNESS

Can you believe the holiday season is right around the corner? In the spirit of giving, I was hoping that we could start by giving something to each other! If you’ve seen me in the magazine and read through some of my articles, first of all - thank you! I hope that you’ve been able to get something out of any of the articles I’ve written. What I would like to give you is content that you would really find useful. My approach has always been to look at things from many different perspectives and find new ways of understanding old things.

The idea of wellness is so broad that throughout the year, my focus drifts from one thing to another. I always considered myself a “jack of all trades, master of none” and as such my drifting reflects a personal state of constant change. I’ve learned to accept this fact of constant change and that point of view has been useful in finding forward momentum in my life.

Being associated with the idea of “jack of all trades” has seemed like a bit of a negative thing, but interestingly, I learned that the full saying goes: “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one” - a new way of understanding old things. That expanded perspective really changes the meaning of something that is commonly understood in a different way.

The idea of constant change can seem daunting and uncomfortable to many people. When faced with new change, the sentiment of wanting to go back to the way things used to be can crop up. But once things have changed, going back to the way things used to be is a change again, and would require another period of adjustment - how uncomfortable! That discomfort is often a good sign though, as it indicates growth and expansion. We often do not grow in situations where we are completely comfortable.

Speaking of changing trades, in the last three years, I’ve gone on a journey of learning and discovery which ultimately resulted in a change in what I spend my time doing on a daily basis. Three years ago, I was a pharmacist who owned a retail pharmacy business. Full stop. In the intervening time, I have been certified as a hypnotist and left a thriving business to follow a passion to teach and mentor about what I know. Some of the most rewarding work that I have done in my career is helping others move past their own limiting beliefs to achieve the success and change that they want in their life.

What I would like to give you is value-packed content to help you move past any limiting beliefs that you might hold. The context of limiting beliefs can apply very broadly and have real consequences on our personal health and wellness. Many issues related to our personal wellness can be tied back to one or more beliefs that we hold about ourselves. Beliefs like “I’ll never lose weight”, “I’m just a bad sleeper”, “ I am an anxious person”, or “I can’t…” are all beliefs that one may hold, even if they don’t need to.

JONATHAN NHAN

To better understand the best value that I can deliver to you, I would appreciate it if you could take a couple minutes to fill out the survey at the link below. I would be so grateful for you to share some of the topics that you might get the most benefit from.

And the first question to ask yourself the next time you catch yourself voicing a limiting belief is “how does that belief serve you?”. I’m looking forward to delivering you a year full of articles to help you feel truly well. As a thank you for filling out the survey, I will share with you one of my favourite techniques for reducing stress and anxiety. Happy Holidays!

Find the survey at https://jnthn.ca/survey2021/

Jonathan Nhan Co-Founder, Curate and Upgrade

For some people, holiday spending can be hard to control. Whether it’s piles of gifts, plenty of food and drinks, pricey travel costs, or maybe a few new outfits, there are always lots of ways to rack up a big holiday tab in a hurry.

Still, celebrating the holidays doesn’t have to mean blowing massive amounts of money. If you’re looking for ways to rein in your holiday spending, whether this year or anytime, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Budget before you buy The most important part of any effort to control your holiday spending is a well-planned budget. Start by figuring out how much you can afford to spend this holiday season. Next, make a list of all the people on your gift list, and all the things you’ll need, such as food and decorations. Then, add up how much each gift or item is likely to cost. Now you know whether you need to start trimming some expenses, or whether you’ve still got some wiggle room.

Get gifts online Chances are most of us won’t be masking up to mingle with crowds of holiday shoppers at the local mall this year. As far as controlling your spending goes, that might not be such a bad thing. Shopping at online retailers tends to help us control the urge to over-buy, avoiding the kind of impulse purchases we might make when browsing at a brick-and-mortar store.

When you do shop online, be sure to compare prices between retailers to find the best deal, and remember to account for shipping costs, if necessary. Also, it’s often helpful to download and install apps that automatically search out coupon and discount codes to save you extra cash on your online shopping.

Save costs by redeeming rewards points One great way to save some money on your holiday budget is by cashing in points you’ve earned on credit card spending throughout the year and redeeming them for ‘free’ gifts. Points can be turned into flights and hotels, merchandise, even gift cards for leading retailers. Remember, of course, that lots of people are placing orders at this time of year, so don’t delay and run the risk of an item being unavailable, or unable to be delivered in time for your holiday celebration.

Don’t shop when stressed Holiday shopping isn’t for everyone. Some of us love it, while others find it fills them with dread. But putting off the inevitable isn’t going to make the process any easier, nor any cheaper. Last-minute purchases are likely to cost more as choice dwindles. That’s why it’s best to get an early start on holiday shopping, allowing you to avoid stress and scarcity as the holidays draw near.

Remember what’s important The holidays tend to be hectic but try to remember that there are lots of ways to share seasonal spirit without spending a lot of money. Whether it’s homemade gifts, volunteering, charitable donations, or something else, there are many different cost-effective ways to warm the hearts of our loved ones. An afternoon baking cookies or decorating the house is often worth as much or more than any gift money can buy.

Finally, remember that it’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s holiday season. If you can start the New Year off by putting a little bit of money aside each month, you’ll soon build up a healthy holiday fund.

This article is not intended to provide financial or financial planning advice, please call or email Moya Financial and they will be more than happy to chat with you!

MOYA FINANCIAL

747 Brown’s Line, Toronto, ON M8W 3V7 Call: 416.255.1742 Email: main@moyafinancial.ca

CELEBRATING RURAL LIFE IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO