Good Mornin’

Well we are into February and the weather here in southern Ontario feels like we are skipping ski season and heading right into beach season. It’s certainly been an interesting start to the year. North American equity markets have continued to push higher through the first month of the year. Given the anticipation for lower interest rates, all eyes remain focused on the world's central banks, while also staying well-informed with all the geopolitics having an impact around the globe, including disruptions in two of the world's most important shipping channels. The Suez Canal in the Red Sea and the Panama Canal have faced major disruptions in recent months. The Suez Canal is estimated to account for more than 10% of global trade and is especially crucial for trade between Europe and Asia. These routes are obviously extremely important, and we will be closely monitoring the length and intensity of these disruptions. The longer they last, the more they may lead to challenges across a broader swath of the global economy. Between the volatility on geopolitical front, or the uncertainly around interest rates globally, it’s no surprise that we are all paying more attention to how we are personally, professionally, and financially positioned, ensuring that we are always ready for our own disruptions and detours on the road ahead.

Roadblocks and Detours

I was listening to a podcast this weekend, athlete and author Rich Roll was joined by Dr. Gervais, a leading expert in human performance psychology. Dr Gervais is aligned with our philosophy here at Henderson Family Wealth, the role our Values and our Vision play in the direction of our lives. Gervais was discussing how we need to shine our headlights inward to understand your purpose and values, and create a structure that aligns with them, while muting the extraneous noise of the outside world. “When you cultivate your inner world, you can achieve extraordinary outcomes.”

This advice serves us well today, as it’s our self-awareness leads to our wealth awareness. Developing an understanding and intension around where we are investing our time, our energy, and our capital… will not only enable us to maintain our focus on Vision, our path forward, but will enable you to maintain the mindset that offers complete flexibility. The ability to not only overcome obstacles, but to uncover opportunities that detours we are forced to take though our lives become changes in direction that enhance life’s journey of exploration, discovery, and growth.

On our journey we encounter a variety of what we perceive, at the time, to be obstacles or ‘roadblocks. These roadblocks appear to distract us, halt our progress, or completely slow us down. If we are aware of these impediments to our path, we are able make the informed decisions to correct our course or take a detour. My suggestion today is that detours may not be planned, but if we approach them with an open mind, they can provide us with important learnings and even present opportunities as we navigate the journey of life. The heightened mind views these detours, not as failures, but as necessary inflection points or guidance beacons. They present us with new perspectives and new opportunities for growth and development. Life continually presents us with a series of options. If we persistently continue to ignore them and continue along the same path, we begin to lose sight of new possibilities.

Strengthening Habits

Now, for us to be able to embrace life’s detours, we must develop our habits that align with our Values and our Vision. It’s our habits that form resilience or resistance. One of the most powerful abilities of our minds is our ability to go on “autopilot”. You know when you have those mornings when you drive somewhere, perhaps to work, and you have no recollection of the path that took you there. When we perform a task frequently enough, our brains reinforce the neutral pathway so many times that it becomes easier to access, creating a second nature situation. It’s this that makes habits one of the strongest forces of control. If we build good habits, they will continue to reinforce themselves. If you build bad rituals, they will continue to get stronger still. For this reason, we find habits and our patterns so difficult to change, and we all know it’s challenging to implement new rhythms into our lives. Even the most dedicated, disciplined and intellectually self-aware people can act against their own best interests, their own growth, as our evolved brain go on auto-piolet and can hijack our good intensions with these more easily accessible roads and pathways. Strengthening our habits will ensure we are able to navigate through roadblocks and enjoy the detours along the way.

“When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you”

Lolly Daskal

I’m sure all of us can sit back and identify specific routines or habits that are impeding your progression, working against you in your quest towards your best self. Breaking through these habits is one of the most effective ways to completely transform your life. As you head into the week, as yourself these questions……

• What bad habits can I break?
• What positive routines can I develop?
• What are the biggest barriers to implementing these changes?
• What is life like a year from now if I find success in these life changes?

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started”

Mark Twain

Be a Trailblazer

I always say that you are an investor or your energy, innovator with your time, inventor of your future. As you look inward and reflect on how prepared you are for the journey in front of you, tap into creativity, and free yourself from conformity and convention. It is this awareness that often illuminates the path worth taking. And, through preparation, patience, and persistence you will be empowered to embrace the detours.

I opened this Monday morning musing with a Zappa quote, so why not wrap up the day with some thoughts from a few of my other favorite musicians as you prepare for your journey.

It was Willy Nelson who suggested that we should look forward to the journey, he couldn’t wait to “get on the road again”. The Doors front man Jim Morrison reminds us to maintain focus, to “keep your eyes on the road and your hands up on the wheel” and, most importantly as the Eagles suggested…….take your time and be patient with yourself. “Take it easy…..don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy”

Remember, sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.

“Because the greatest part of a road trip isn't arriving at your destination. It's all the wild stuff that happens along the way.”

Emma Chase

Be well and enjoy the moments.

Derek Henderson