Family and consumer economics, a discipline involving all features of natural and social sciences, focus on interactions among individuals, families, societies, and their locale. When we think about it, family and consumer economics actually start in the home. We can view it and work on it right where we are. In this regard, our own home economics should dictate the distinction between our needs and our wants in order to avoid unnecessary debts, the determination to pay off debts as quickly as possible, and the restraint to live within our means.
First of all, the correct management of the household can find support when we know how to manage our finances. For instance, the American families today are inundated with sales pitches as “buy now and pay later” or “consolidate your bills into one low monthly payment.” Such promotions have found many families and individuals saddled with so many small payments and growing debts. Oftentimes we find ourselves with items we normally would not have bought had a cash purchase been required. A debt consolidation then becomes seemingly a necessity, is taken advantage of, and many of us find ourselves back to where we started – so many small monthly payments to make. More often than not, the debt consolidation is attached to a home equity loan. Due to clever advertising, this type of loan has become attractive to a good number of consumers. The term “home equity loan” is really a second mortgage loan. Instead of the prime objective of owning the home as quickly as possible, it becomes an avenue for many homeowners to be further in debt. This avenue does not follow sound family and consumer economics.
Second, we can survive the siren calls of debts when we can distinguish between our “needs” and our “wants.” We can study our situation and know “whether to do it” and “when to do it.” The ideologies of family and consumer economics dictate that we take time to determine how much our credit buying actually costs and whether our intended purchases belong to the category of “needs” or of “wants.” The proverbial “when” can then become imbued with more direction because we know where we are.
Lastly, family and consumer economics also promote the idea of living within our means. We can look at our debts and make a plan to pay more than the required minimum whenever we can. This practice will help us close small accounts sooner. We can then use the freed money to pay off the next debt as soon as we can. The ability to live within our means is within our reach, if we really want to do so. We can discipline ourselves not to get swayed by persuasive advertising when we know the difference between our “wants” and our “needs.” Getting into debt is sometimes unavoidable: like the means to get an education to promote our ability to increase our earnings, a home adequate for our needs, and a reliable vehicle to help us get to where we need to go. Each family, however, has different challenges and they need to be faced. The important thing is that we know where we are, so that we can move forward knowing that the direction is correct for us.
The principles of family and consumer economics can be an anchor or a burden. When we live by them, we are stronger. We need to start at home.
What has gardening have to do with positive affirmations? Read on!
Positive Affirmations work toward generating a positive action from the subconscious. When there is repetition coupled with awareness, conviction, and want, positive affirmations can be very effectual. There is something peaceful about gardening -- when a person can be one with the wondrous processes of cultivating and growing living things. For me, such serene setting as gardening can foster a rooting for positive affirmations.
It was during planting my vegetable garden that the following thoughts came to my mind. When we make a wrong decision, we can use positive affirmations to correct our blunders. Like I read in an article once: “Why be defeated twice: once by the mistake we make, and the second time by our attitude about it?" With positive affirmations, our mistakes can give way to better understanding. We can begin by saying we believe that we can avoid the commission of the same error.
Thinking of the constant battle against the weeds, once again, the principles of positive affirmations settled in my head. The thought blossomed: claim victory over the weed war! Images of lilyturf, moss phlox and creeping thyme paraded before my mind. These are weed-blocking flowers! To crowd out the mental, emotional, and spiritual weeds of our mind, it employs the same principle as crowding out the physical weeds in our garden. We replace them with beautiful, majestic, stress-tolerant ground cover. The more groundcovers we plant, the more we can control the weeds. It is true we need to control the weeds, but we also need to replace the weeds that occupy the ground we want to clear. The more we entertain positive affirmations, replacing our negative vibrations with beautiful, heaven-reaching thoughts, the more we can get control of our destiny. That approach belongs in the realm of positive affirmations!
Choose positive affirmations that are concise and simple to remember. Repeat the words of belief and allow the awareness, conviction, and earnest desire to grow. This can be a very real concept for us, as long as there is nothing in our expression that is not factorable – like our unwillingness to put the effort required to resolve a situation, or our short timetable when we believe our desired result is unreasonably delayed.
In my 61 years of life, I discovered that I could employ the principle of positive affirmations if I could attach a spiritual concept to whatever difficulties I face. Gardening is one of those moments when ponderous thoughts find their way to my mind. What do you think will work for you?
