There are times in life when everything seems to be upside down. There are times that seem all uphill with no end or relief in sight. You might be struggling to get a job, get a better job, combat an illness, find a place to live, improve your credit, pay off debt or save for an important item. You may be struggling with many issues at once.
During these times it is very easy to get discourage and feel like the journey is not worth the effort. Modern day life and financial terrains are extremely complicated and challenging. More and more, the landscape is becoming filled with traps: intricate contracts, predatory loans, high costs of necessities, and increasing number of items and products required to keep up with society.
An old fable tells the story of two frogs who were leaping away from a snake and fell into a pail of cream. One frog shouted that they were way to far down to ever get out. And if they did get out, they would be eaten by the snake. He continued with negativity and hopelessness stating his legs were too short, it was getting hot out, he was too tired and it was useless to try. So, he drowned. The other frog said hey, it’s pretty nice in here; the cream is warm and it’s fun swimming around. So, that frog swam around and around until the cream turned into butter and he was able to hop out. The snake was gone and he safely hopped to the pond in time for some evening insect snacks. The moral of the story is: “If you can’t get out, keep swimming around.”
That tale has been one of my favorite financial analogies for several reasons.
- YOU CAN’T ALWAYS SEE OUT OF THE PAIL – When setting financial goals, it’s fine to project what might be on the other side of the pail or what might be waiting for you after you complete short-term goals. It’s a great idea to plan and be prepared for the future. For example, the frog might have planned to avoid the snake, but he couldn’t hop to the pond until he got out of the pail.
- THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PAIL ISN’T YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS – Regardless of what is on the other side of the pail, the frogs were facing imminent death if they could not get out of the pail. You can’t accomplish future goals if you don’t handle the tasks at-hand first.
- ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING – Pessimism breads more pessimism; likewise optimism opens up the door for more optimism and success.
- NEVER GIVE UP – You may need a break, a change of scenery or a new perspective. Quitting should never be an option.
- YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING – Sometimes the end goal is too far out-of-of sight to be able to make a comprehensive plan to achieve it. Sometimes trying to understand exactly how to get something accomplished looks more like a murky pail of stagnant cream than a clear flowing river. Sometimes it is necessary to roll up your sleeves and dig into the mess in front of you.
- CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE – It would have been a reasonable assumption that the snake that chased them into the cream would have been waiting for them when they got out. There could have been numerous dangerous scenarios waiting for the frogs once they escaped. As the time passed, the circumstances changed.
- JUST KEEP SWIMMING AROUND – When your situation seems unbearable and impossible, keep on moving. When facing your finances is excruciating and depressing, keep re-approaching the issues. Write a list of small tasks and set a schedule for accomplishing them. For example call one creditor per week and ask for a lower interest rate, work on your household budget for one hour per week, work on financial goals and objectives one hour per week or work on seeking and applying for jobs four hours every day. As you accomplish the tasks, recognize your work and know you are getting closer to a better financial place.
When times are tough and you can’t see your way out, focus on the present and what you can do to survive the current situation. Better days will come if you put in the work.
Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash