The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style

"Once we realize that serendipity is not just about a coincidence that happens to us but is actually a process of spotting and connecting the dots do we start to see bridges where others see gaps. Only then does serendipity start happening all the time in our lives." —Christian Busch, PhD, author of The Serendipity Mindset In The Serendipity Mindset, Busch defines serendipity as something that is active, "'smart' luck that depends on our ability to spot and connect the dots." We must first see what he describes as the serendipity trigger, "be able to connect the dots and THEN, develop the tenacity necessary to focus on and influence valuable outcomes." Holding this definition in our mind, we understand that serendipity is something we can invest in to increase the chances of it happening and that, to my ears, is very good news. Today, I'd like to share with you a handful, two handfuls exactly, of ways taught by Busch in his book that we can increase the odds of serendipity happening in our life. This list is merely an introduction as he shares far more in the book. So if today's episode speaks to you, I highly recommend picking up your own copy. Let's get started. Find the Show Notes on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast431

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The month of July announces the second half of the year's beginning, and yet, it doesn't rush ahead. It is as if time stands still for about four weeks before picking up pace with August's arrival, and then September rapidly moves time along at the pace we seem to follow for ten months of the year. Because of this sensation of time slowing down, I find myself physically permitting myself to slow down as well. To linger, to rest, and then, as a result, having the space to ponder all that leaps into the forefront of my mind, asking me to entertain in some way, figure out how to bring it into my life to add to the symphony that already is. After all, any instrument that is frequently used and appreciated needs to be maintained. So, while this will involve new ideas, it will also be reminders of what is already contributing to the life we love living, so we are deepening our awareness and thus reminded to appreciate what already is going well. How we do that is by slowing down, shifting into a lower, toodling-along gear for more than a day or a weekend. Whenever you are able to begin shifting down into a slower pace, today's post/episode is an invitation to sink into your being, rest your mind and then observe where it wishes to go, what tickles the curiosity. Let July be the month that reminds you that you can refuse to live the life that the world says you should want and instead build a life that makes you infinitely content and joyously happy. Let July provide the time and space to ponder what that life consists of. Tune in to the episode to take a look at the 7-point check-in list, and find the detailed Show Notes on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast430 

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"Uncertainty will happen to us even when we try to avoid it. To reach our highest potential and live our noblest values, we need to be willing to step into uncertainty." —Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr, authors of The Upside of Uncertainty From knowing how the day will unfold to how our year will unfold, we cannot know until we live it. Uncertainty surrounds us, and to deny its existence by trying to live the same way each day, do what we've always done, we only limit the amazing possibilities that have the potential to be experienced and elevate the quality of our life. In a book published back in 2022, husband and wife team, Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr, share with oodles of research paired with examples from current and past entrepreneurs, philosophers, activists, and ordinary people, including their own life experience which found them moving their entire family to France and settling into the French culture, how embracing uncertainty instead of shunning it, pretending it doesn't exist is a primary approach to living a life you love. The Upside of Uncertainty includes detailed, concrete approaches, tools and supports for our mindset, to help us stay the course during the time that uncertainty inevitably arrives along our journey when we've decided to do something we've never done before. All that will be shared today is gleaned from the book, and is just a taste of what you will find when you pick it up. A resource I know I will return to repeatedly to be reminded of how to sustain my tenacity, how to incorporate supportive components, as well as how to course correct or make the most of outcomes undesired along the way. Let's begin by taking a look at the importance of choosing to embrace uncertainty.   Find the Show Notes for this episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast429

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Dynamicism embodies the ability to move, adjust, adapt and thus thrive in whatever environment one finds themselves. To be dynamic is to be fully alive and thus living fully the life that we are given. Whenever we talk about contentment and what lies at the heart of experiencing contentment and how I introduce the Contentment Masterclass is the idea of a vehicle that provides us a mode of transportation along our life journey. When we are content, the motor of our vehicle that creates the abiding peace during any type of driving conditions (life and world events outside of our control) is the learned skill of equanimity. "Equanimity is a state of psychological balance and stability. Evenness of mind and temper allows us to navigate the many curveballs that life may throw at us with grace and serenity." —PositivePsychology.com Notice that equanimity is described as a skill. This is awesome news. We do not come out of the womb with the ability to keep ourselves calm, yet remain loving and kind while honoring our integrity, in difficult situations. It is a skill we choose to learn, and like most skills, it takes practice. We will wobble and feel very uneasy in our first attempts at holding ourselves calmly in an agitating moment, watching our words with care before uttering them or deciding whether or not to respond. This will take extraordinary reserves of energy as we welcome this skill into our toolbox of contentment. But the more we engage in such a way, it gradually becomes our default. And as we witness the peace we feel afterward, knowing we are at ease with how we engaged, what we said, and how we spoke (our tone and our words), we are self-encouraged to continue to apply this skill moving forward. This is where we begin, knowing what the word literally means. Now, let's dive into how to we practice this skill in our lives and the many opportunities to do so. Find the Show Notes for this episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast428 

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The bad habits you didn't pick up. The good habits that you did. The thoughts you chose to hold on to and explore further and the ones you let go. The priorities we set and the long-term dreams we said yes to and gradually stepped toward. Both the simple everyday choices paired with the foundational decisions that require long-range planning and commitment play a role in the quality of our life today and down the road. Generally, we understand this truth, but whether or not we put it into practice depends on how consciously we live our lives. How present we are, how clear-eyed we are (i.e., self-aware), and how brave we are. When it comes to nurturing dreams into materialization, it is first the awareness of where we point our sails of intention, and then the knowledge of which everyday choices will increase the potential for our eventual arrival. Most real, lasting change happens quietly and goes unnoticed until it suddenly seems to appear, but the truth is, it was built over time by our daily choices and big investments. Today, we'll explore 10 everyday, perhaps seemingly mundane and inconsequential choices that actually contribute significantly to a healthier daily life today and tomorrow, along with five significant investments that require serious consideration. All 15 choices will strengthen our well-being and lead us to being able to fulfill our dreams. View the complete Show Notes on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast427 

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Whether we've stepped foot on the terra firma of the British Isles or not, the time prior to an anticipated trip to do so, whether already booked or dreamed about, is a skill in patience and preparation. Yep, savoring how we've curated what we can right where we live to incorporate what we love most about the culture. Since my last trip in October 2023, the moment I returned home, I wanted to hop right back on the plane again and head back to Britain. If it weren't for my pups and my budget, I would have ☺️ But such a feeling is a gift as well. It means we have found what speaks to us, what brings us to life, and that is something to celebrate. What we do in between our trips will make the next trip all the more a treasured memory. So by exploring and pinpointing exactly what we miss, it can better inform us of what we wish to see, do, and look forward to when we return. So, today, I'd like to share with you 10 things I miss before the next opportunity arises to upload my tickets on my phone and pack my luggage. Find the Show Notes for this episode on The SImply Luxurious Life blog, https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast426 

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Chess. At first, the idea of thinking like a chess champion may sound like an impossible feat if we do not know how to play the game, but as winner of two U.S. Women's Chess Championships and the first woman to win the U.S. Junior Chess Open, Jennifer Shahade shares in her new book, it all comes down to thinking well. Or to put it more precisely, thinking sideways. In my conversation with Jennifer, who is also a two-time Global Poker Award winner and silver Olympic medalist, she will share what she means by her chosen title, and then we will dive into specific decision-making strategies that champion chess players like herself use and how they also translate into creating a life we love living. Be sure to tune in to the audio version of our conversation as we will talk about the power of embracing intermezzos, why presence is crucial to seeing and then seizing opportunity, why focusing on our strengths is far more valuable than zeroing in on our weaknesses, and many more worthwhile pieces of life advice as witnessed through the lens of the game of chess. I do hope you enjoy the episode as Jennifer was a great guest and shared freely. And her Petit Plaisir offers a new perspective on a word we may have unfairly defined negatively. Find the Show Notes for the episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast425 

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"The key is to enjoy the moment, and never stop learning along the way." —Sharon Santoni encouragement to explore France's many antique and vintage markets, fairs and shops France. The history, the ambiance, the food, ahhh, and the antiques and vintage treasures. If you've ever dreamed of traveling to France or have traveled to France and have wanted to know how to navigate the many brocantes, antique fairs and markets, a new book has been written for you. Sharon Santoni, founder of My French Country Home - the blog, the magazine, the travel tours and the seasonal boxes filled with treasures, has spent years traveling around France treasure hunting, and mostly in the wee hours of the morning. A mother of four, now a self-described empty-nester, she and her husband had their home to furnish, and so it was to the French brocantes they went to do so. Thus began an adventure and sparked a passion for French antiques. In our conversation talking about her new book - The Art of Antiquing in France, Sharon will share how her introduction into this wonderful world of treasures and French history began, who guided her through and welcomed her into the community of dealers that find themselves at various markets and fairs over the calendar year, and she generously shares insights of where to go, what to look for and how to connect with the dealers to learn more about what catches your eye. She will also share what the true test of a good buy is when it comes to purchasing antiques, and how to hone your eye, taste and judgment so you can feel confident with your choices. Listen to the episode, #424, to hear our entire conversation and find the Show Notes on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast424 

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My niece is graduating from high school this year, and as an aunt, it is a practice in letting go and trusting the amazing person that she is that she will find her way in life. If I were her parent, it would be different, as there is more direct support involved. This has been a great practice in exemplifying what is talked about here on TSLL: Living with intention, having clarity, being loving and kind while honoring our integrity in all interactions, but not clinging, controlling or manipulating. Our life is our own, and every other person has their own life journey to travel.  Often, when a younger generation is reaching a milestone we too have passed through, we project our experience onto them, errantly making assumptions that we know what they are going through, what they will want and need. But the truth is, while the fundamentals may largely be the same, just as the fundamentals for surviving as a human being are the same for each of us – fresh air, water, sleep, food, shelter, etc., the details of how life will be lived to be fulfilling and enriching for each individual will be unique to them.  Now, let's flip the script and examine the journey as the journeyperson trying to figure out their path forward. How do we find ease with where we are going and how we are living? It often can be easier to tell others how to live their life than to examine whether or not we are living well our own. So the question then becomes, How do we know, without knowing, that we are heading in the best direction for our life journey? Let's explore the four approaches to incorporate into our daily life to ensure we are living in sync with our inner compass. Find the detailed Show Notes on The Simply Luxurious Life blog https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast423 

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"We might think that security is everything. But to secure something is to bind it. To keep it still. In contrast, in embracing uncertainty, we discover an ever-changing freedom and flow." —Andy Puddicombe   An unexpected event. From startling good news that seems to come out of the blue or devastating loss, these events and anything in between that occur outside of what we imagine or have forgotten could happen or believed wouldn't happen for some time, provide a powerful medicine to bring out a deeply fulfilling life. These events that shake us awake to the reality that we cannot know how life will unfold from day to day are what American psychiatrist Irvin Yalom describes as 'awakening experiences'. And this awakening is an awesome opportunity, should we choose to see it as such. "Uncertainty has so much to teach us." —Anne-Laure Le Cunff, author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World  As a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and now author, Anne-Laure Le Cunff shares how embracing uncertainty is ironically the "antidote to burnout and boredom alike—a counterforce to the fear, overwhelm, confusion, and loneliness", many people she knows and observes "try to apply old notions of success to the world we're living in today." Paired with befriending our curiosity, practicing mindfulness in our work around our approach to productivity, and keeping an open mind, when we welcome all four into our daily approach to live, that is when our life begins to sing – in the daily rhythm that deepens our contentment and in the outcome of wherever we have set our intentions to extend towards. "When you lean into your curiosity, uncertainty can be a state of expanded possibility, a space for metamorphosis. It's a way to turn challenges into triggers for self-discovery and doubt into a source of opportunity." —Anne-Laure Le Cunff Tune in to the episode to listen to the full episode and find the Show Notes on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast422 

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"Art—alongside diet, sleep, exercise, and nature, is the forgotten fifth pillar of health." —Daisy Fancourt, author Art Cure: How the Arts Save Lives Pleasure reading – mandatory. Listening to your favorite music – a have-to, not a want. Dancing – required participation. Viewing something of beauty – a daily must-stop and do. Each of these and so many more examples of the various forms of art that we may enjoy, often are presented as discretionary, or if we have time, or if we have money. But the truth is, just as professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London Daisy Fancourt writes, we would be best advised to view them as necessities for living well.  In Art Cure, Fancourt writes to underscore how important the arts are, and reveals how varied and different forms of art can be. We're talking about how they improve our health, something we seem to be obsessed with as a culture, but as a culture often overlook the most enjoyable forms of becoming and maintaining good health. In today's episode, we'll explore what the arts consist of so you can find your choice of art, the many health and life benefits, and explore in detail how you can incorporate art daily into your life.  Let's get started.    Find the Show Notes for today's episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast421 

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"The goal, here, is options—the power to choose the life you want. And this life is not going to happen without investing."—Amanda Holden, author of How to Be a Rich Old Lady The key to learning anything we don't know is to choose to learn. Then, we need to find people who not only know what we want to acquire as knowledge, but also know how to teach it. Not only do they know how to teach it, but they sincerely want us to learn.  As this episode/post finds you, we are all at different points along our life journey regarding our age, but we also, regardless of age, are at different points regarding our knowledge of investing. Wherever you are is exactly where you need to be to begin deepening your knowledge of what will set you free once you apply the skills and language of investing that Amanda Holden teaches in her book.  Holden founded Invested Development after beginning her career in investment management. With degrees from UCLA in economics and communications, which make her a helpful guide as a teacher for the economics we want to learn, she transitioned into becoming one of the leading voices on women and money. Teaching in-person and online classes on money, her primary objective is to equip us with the tools and know-how so that finances don't prompt fear, but instead eradicate it and give us freedom.  "To be a Rich Old Lady is to be rich in life, options, experiences, and especially love." —Amanda Holden In today's episode, I'm going to share with you seven guiding truths as a way to lay the foundation of where to begin and how to maintain steady progress to becoming rich. So that you aren't looking into your older years and fearing or wondering how you will survive, but instead are eager (but not rushing) for them to arrive because you know you will be thriving.   ~Find the Show Notes for this episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast420 

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"My Four Tenets of Good Design are not rules to follow, as much as they are a framework to help you think about design, not just as something pretty to look at but as something that inspires you to be the best version of yourself in the moments when no one is watching." —Nate Berkus, Foundations A feeling of immediate release of any tension, letting the day wash away, and a trust that the comforts and reminders of love and bounty of a beautiful life lived surround you is what a thoughtfully decorated sanctuary gives us each time we cross the threshold.  The truth is a sanctuary can be found anywhere, and in fact doesn't need to be a place, but as we talked about in Monday's Motivational post, can be people or even ineffable things – concepts, ideas where we rest our mind. However, most definitely, our home can be a sanctuary, and today, we're going to explore 7 ways to transform your home into just that.  Because a home isn't always a sanctuary. It may have four walls that keep us warm and shelter us, but the definition of a sanctuary is that it is a reliable place of refuge to rejuvenate ourselves. As defined in Buddha's Brain, a book written by Rick Hanson and the inspiration behind episode #327, a sanctuary is anyone or anything that provides reliable protection, so that you can let down your guard and gather strength and wisdom." So with that definition in mind, when American interior designer Nate Berkus' new book, Foundations, was released this past November, I found a helpful companion resource to help each of us identify what would make our home a sanctuary and where to start the journey of gradually decorating a nest that feels far more than just a home, but most definitely a sanctuary.  The guiding premise of Foundations is Berkus' four tenets of good design: make it personal, embrace history, introduce character, and develop your vision. These will guide us through today's episode/post. Let's begin exploring how to lay the foundation of our decorating journey so that as we progress, adding pieces, making decisions along the way, we have clarity and trust what we choose. 

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"There's a sense of comfort and safety that can come with knowing [our neighbors] — and building a safe and caring community is a valuable way to stay connected to the place you live." —Diana Opong and Janet W. Lee, in their article "How to be a good neighbor" Being a good neighbor is a daily practice in awareness. Both in what and who surrounds us, as well as how our own choices might affect others. Tune in to episode to discover 7 ways to strengthen your neighboring skills and also discover three significant life benefits when we put them to practice. Find the Show Notes for the episode on The SImply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast418 

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"The relationship we have with ourselves is the most important relationship we will ever have, and we will have to continuously work on that relationship to break through the barriers that prevent us from true emotional intimacy with another person." —Jillian Turecki With a new year's beginning, the idea of love may be dancing about on our intentions list. But in order to successfully experience real love, we need to build a foundation to be able to identify it, choose it, and then nurture it. Jillian Turecki's successful podcast Jillian On Love shares advice on how to build healthy and fulfilling relationships, and in January of last year, her book It Begins With You was released quickly becoming a New York Times Bestseller. Along with her IG account, she continues to share tips and insights based on her relationship coaching sessions with clients and her own relationship experience. In today's episode, I'll be share nine insights I walked away with, rest assured, not the nine overarching points mentioned in her subtitle, that provide specific reminders of how we play a role in being able to successfully find the love (hint, hint, it involves being loving to ourselves) we want to experience in our life. Let's get started.   Find the Show Notes for this episode on The SImply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast417 

Welcome to the first mini-episode of TSLL's new limited series, Un Moment de Méditation/Moment of Meditation. Find the complete text on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/moment1 

A new limited series begins in 2026, offering guided meditation to help listeners deepen their mindfulness practice. Learn more by listening to this trailer.  Un Moment du Méditation is a weekly limited series that will run for one year, sharing one mini-episode each Sunday afternoon, about 5 minutes in length.  This new mini series is in addition to the regular episodes of The Simple Sophisticate podcast that will continue to be available on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.  I invite you to enjoy me when we begin on Sunday, January 4th, both here, where you enjoy your favorite podcasts, as well as on The Simply Luxurious Life blog. Find all episodes of the new series here https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/category/meditation/ 

"The moment being alone stops bothering you, your whole life levels up." —Uriel Maksumov With the holidays upon us, I have come to discover an unexpected gift of enjoying my own company during this time of year - the realization of what I most enjoy about the holidays. And here's the catch: when it is chosen, it is liberating. It's clarifying, and as the quote above acknowledges, it is life-elevating. This doesn't mean we are alone 24 hours a day, or even live alone. What solitude, regularly savored, gives us is the life we say we want, but either haven't yet realized or haven't yet trusted to be dependable in what it gives us. As we'll talk about further along in our post today, part of the reason those of us who already do enjoy our solitude, however much or little we have, may doubt the nourishment is because our culture doesn't value it or speak about it in as praising terms as it does social activities and living situations. Words are powerful. Propaganda, persuasive marketing, it all involves words, and how we speak about what is valued, when heard often enough, will influence our trust in what is possible, what we are willing to be brave enough to explore, even with all of the unknowns. "Solitude, which is one of the most agreeable sensations of the natural man, and it is one of the most painful and alarming sensations of the civilised man." ― William J. Dawson, The Quest of the Simple Life The value of solitude, regularly experienced, has the capacity to bring peace not only into our lives but also, consequently, expand more widely into a community of peaceful people. And what better time of year to talk about peace on earth, non? How can we bring about more peace? By finding true peace within ourselves. Where do we find what we have so far been unable to locate to experience this peace - in the companionship of ourselves. No, I am not saying you have to be single, but you can be. No, I am not saying you have to spend all day, all week alone, but you can. As you will discover below, the amount of solitude is as unique as each individual. The key lies in the ingredients of the solitude we partake in. Let's take a look at how to embrace solitude, what we gain from it, and how to change the narrative around solitude in our culture. "All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone." —Blaise Pascal, a seventeenth-century French mathematician, inventor and philosopher Find the Show Notes for episode #416 on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast416 

"Art is a language without words." —Kate Bryan, author of How to Art: Bringing a Fancy Subject Down to Earth Why art? Why bring it into our lives? Why spend our hard-earned money on it? We often hear about the skyrocketing headline-making prices of paintings being sold at auction, but what's the point of purchasing something if the entire reason is to accrue value to sell later? The primary objective, Bryan shares, in writing this book, is to remove the assumed 'closed doors' or air of snobbery about art that she admits the art world itself has constructed. But, and she makes a strong argument, art, seeing it, appreciating it, making it, is part of being human. And to cordon it off, to claim that it is only a pastime for those with oodles of money or interest to acquire art of the upper echelons is preposterous. You may be wondering, Why is Shannon talking about this subject? What does art have to do with living simply luxuriously? With living a life of true contentment? It is precisely because true contentment is grounded in presence, seeing, clearing, and appreciating the everyday that the choice to bring art into our homes helps us savor each and every moment even more. When we bring works of art into our homes, we bring in a moment in the artist's life as they saw it. Their capturing of this ordinary moment in time, however they depict it, is a reminder that there is "beauty and marvels in the everyday". Even if we cannot or do not want to even try to be a literal artist, by gazing at their art, having it be present in our daily lives, we are continually reminded to see the gift in each day - to consciously look for it, take note of it without taking it for granted, and to savor it. Today, I would like to encourage you to consider, if you haven't already, acquiring an art collection to display in your home. Of course, how and where you display it, most likely throughout your home, will be up to you. Conveying your tastes, interests, and values in what each work depicts reflects a collector who engages with life in the present and brings their self-knowledge and quiet confidence to what captures their eye.   Find the Show Notes on The Simply Luxurious Life blog https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast415 

"The more you practice reflection and appreciation, the more you build a reservoir of evidence that you can draw from in difficult times. You start ot see patterns. You start to recognize that while life has its ups and downs, you have consistently found a way to navigate them. You start to trust yourself more deeply. And that trust—that bone-deep knowing that you can handle whatever comes—is the foundation of true inner peace." —Daniel Chidiac, author of Stop Letting Everything Affect You What if I told you that your inner compass knows the way to your most fulfilling way of living is as certain as the sun rising tomorrow? Your immediate reaction to that truth reveals the strength of your self-trust muscle. Since we will each never be able to live without unknowns, what we have to bring along with us on our life journey as companions are tools, each of which we must choose to learn, that will help us constructively navigate whatever may cross our path. For example, suppose we're taking a road trip that leads over a mountain pass during winter. In that case, we will want to ensure the vehicle's tires are suitable for the conditions we may encounter, that the car's supplies are stocked for safety should we need them, and that the shoes we are wearing are sufficient should we need to step outside, among other things. You get the idea. We may never use all of them, but we will need to utilize some of them as preventative measures for success: a full tank of gas/a full electric charge, all-wheel drive, headlights, and windshield wipers. We are the ones who choose the skills we carry with us on our journey. And if we choose to journey toward cultivating contentment so that we can enjoy the everydays and discover what ignites us, while also contributing to the world, self-trust is a must-have skill. Today, we're going to explore how to tap into this perhaps unawakened skill, understand how it communicates with us, and how to strengthen it. Let's get started. ~View the full Show Notes for this episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast414 

"The best use of money is a tool to leverage who you are, but never to define who you are."—Morgan Housel, author of The Art of Spending Money If you ever want to know what a culture values, what a country values, look at their tax laws. I will never forget the wisdom shared by Martin Ginsberg, a tax attorney and the husband of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, on how a country's subsidies reveal the guiding values of its populace through tax breaks or credits. I share this because, simply because it is the law, but that doesn't mean it needs to be the law that guides your life principles. Similarly, we see titles for the Richest person under 30, or a list of the world's billionaires on the cover of countless magazines each year, and again, they wouldn't create the list and place it on the cover if it didn't sell. Yet again, the bustling culture projected in the media supports the culture they need to stay in business or to remain in office. This doesn't answer the question of what it means to live a fulfilling life—a life of contentment. I start with this point because it would be understandable to mistakenly think that having more money, having the latest trend of décor, clothing, [fill in the blank for the latest trend of anything seen or discussed on social media, television, publications, etc.] is the path to a better life. But the truth is, there is no concrete formula, and your most successful approach to financial freedom, once you have learned the basics of money management, will be unique to your life journey and the lifestyle that nourishes you. And there in lies the art of spending money. As we know there are countless books on financial guidance, and having read many of them over the decades, there are constant contradictions, alongside worthwhile bits of wisdom and expertise. Often in the same book. In today's episode/post, I am going to be pulling quotes from a recent book that was published, The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel, however, this books falls into that category I just mentioned. And my approach to extrapolating useful insights follows his own advice, have a strong filter. We'll talk about that more later the final point on this list, but essentially, apply critical thinking skills to any book you read, bringing to the table your previous experience and knowledge, so you can know with clarity what is worth grabbing and applying to your life and what is not. Overarchingly, Housel offers an abundance of wisdom, much of which aligns with living a life of contentment, and that is why I wanted to bring you this list of how to finesse the art of spending. "Money itself doesn't buy happiness, but it can help you find independence and purpose—both key ingredients for a happier life if you cultivate them." —Morgan Housel How we choose to spend our money is personal, it is something we must make with an independent mind that is wise in knowing when we don't know something about our finances and to find experts in the fields we need to better understand. With sound money management skills – budgeting, savings, retirement – topics that have each been discussed at length in the many posts found in TSLL's Money Archived posts, we can now explore how to best spend our money to live the life that supports, nourishes and brings us peace of mind. Let's explore 13 ways to do just that.   ~Find the Show Notes for this episode on The Simply Luxurious Life blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast413