When I say ‘investments’, what are the first words that come to your mind?
Money, assets, visible returns, etc. That’s what we’ve been taught since we cared to remember.
It’s about security, about something that leads to impressive titles at work, more property, more validation that you’re doing okay.
But life has a way of quietly dismantling this fragile illusion.
The Fragility of External Investments
These external investments are fickle and disappear even before you realise.
Titles, status, possessions, social approval, these can change anytime. Market dips, health can shift, relationships can alter, public opinion can change overnight.
The things that you took for granted while building your life are not as permanent as you assumed them to be.
There’s nothing wrong with thinking like this and investing in a material future. It’s human. It’s what has been taught to each of us for aeons.
The Quiet Strength of Internal Investments
You’re more than that title or those possessions.
Your knowledge, skills, experiences, mindset, are things that not just belong to you but define you. They can never be taken away.
And these are investments in you. They become the quiet strength that keeps you moving.
The material things can be lost damaged replaced but these assets – never.
A skill acquired, the knowledge gained, your lived experiences are all exclusively yours, and they become the foundation of your personality, mindset and attitude.
No one talks much about these investments in yourself. Simply because they’re boring and less glamorous.
Knowledge doesn’t disappear with changes in circumstances.
Your experience remains a part of you, doesn’t matter where you’re in life.
You cannot unlearn something.
Your mindset and attitudes are forged in your experiences. They stay with you forever. They keep you grounded to even in the bleakest of hours.
Often these investments in yourself are done quietly, with no applause or validation or even visible milestones.
Quietly they compound and you noticed them only during disruptions, as they build your confidence and keep you tethered to reality.
What “Right” Investments Can Look Like (Practical, Human)
Now do you think investing in yourself is not worth your time or effort? They teach you so much more than you asked for.
When you’re investing in yourself, you’re also building your patience, resilience, confidence, and self-worth.
The occasional moments of discomfort allow you to reflect and steer back on course.
Most importantly, you grow without judgement, without witness, without scrutiny.
So what are the right things to invest in for lifelong benefits?
- Learning skills that sharpen your thinking, making you uncomfortable
- Experiences rich with learning while entertaining you
- Ability to regulate your emotion and to pause instead of reacting
- Broadening your perspective so you know what deserves your energy and what doesn’t
- Building relationships based on honesty, not convenience
Each one of these investments adds value to your life and you, as a person.
A Gentle Self-Audit
Investments are commitments for a long term, be it material or in yourself. It’s about striking a balance where you don’t have to abandon your ambitions or material comforts.
The present world is chaotic and unpredictable.
The only one you can rely on is you. Your investments that truly matter are those that stand by you even when the world has rearranged itself.
I got thinking about this when I read something by Mark Manson. And it stuck with me for a long time.
Now it’s your turn to think. What do you need to ask yourself is – how much faith do you’ve in yourself to make these investments?
Don’t overthink lest it gets too late.
