Resources That Money Can’t Buy

“We are stronger than we think. We have emotional, spiritual, and even physical resources at our disposal. We may get knocked down, but we don't have to stay down.” – Steve Goodier, author of One Minute Can Change a Life.

Since last week we focused on tangible financial assets, this week I thought it would be good to talk about intangible resources – those mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives that support us, probably more than we know.
 
Everyone has a different set of intangibles, and we use them in different ways. I believe positivity is my most precious intangible resource. It allows me to have a growth mindset and the flexibility to adapt to just about anything that comes my way. Seeing a way forward in almost any challenge or problem allows me to reframe life’s difficulties as opportunities.
 
Another intangible is hope. Did you know there’s a Hope Theory? “According to (this) theory, hope consists of agency and pathways. The person who has hope has the will and determination that goals will be achieved, and a set of different strategies at their disposal to reach their goals. Put simply: hope involves the will to get there, and different ways to get there.”
 
If that’s not a valuable resource, I don’t know what is!
 
Finally, here’s a great list of intangibles that one caregiver has found essential to her survival. The most important, not surprisingly to us at Courage to Caregivers, is taking ME Time. Other intangibles on her list are also very familiar to us. They include having a routine, but also being flexible; mindfulness; knowledge; a strong support system; a plan; and a vision. She notes that certain people in our lives can provide intangible value as well. These can include a close friend that your loved one trusts; a “love substitute” who can provide affection and care to your loved one when you need a break; and a “safe person” who will listen to you non-judgmentally.
 
We all have intangible resources that can help us be successful. It’s what we do with them – or how we allocate them – that counts. Take some time to think of the intangibles you have in your life. Are you allocating them in the best way possible?