I opened the newspaper, and the headline said, “Will there be a recession and downturn in stock market in 2023?” But my mind immediately asked me a better question, “Will there be recession and downturn in your life in 2023?”

I did not have answer to either of these questions — but I guess its okay. We don’t need to have all the answers all the times. Life goes on nevertheless.

Matters of life and money often do not follow the same philosophy. While the former follow the rules of the heart, the latter always go by what the brain says. While there are numerous life coaches and financial experts who would strongly advise you not to mix these two, there is this stupid monk who cannot help but wonder that success in life and financial markets often follow the same blueprint!

I. There are cycles of ups and downs — both in life and stock markets.

There is happiness, and then there is sadness; there is a high tide, and then there is a low tide, there is a recession, and then there is a booming market. There will be times when anything you touch will turn into gold, and there will be times when your best research will fall apart — both in matters of life and the stock market.

The moment we are born in this world, we have subjected ourselves to the cycle of ups and down — and there has not been a single human being who has been able to avert that.

To succeed in life or in financial markets, we need to learn to traverse the highs and lows with equal humility and thoughtfulness.

II. You can only earn once you invest in it!

We cannot expect world-beating stock market returns before we put our hard-earned money into it. Sometimes we invest in stocks, sometimes in skills, and sometimes in relationships — but success comes only after significant upfront investment from our side!

Similarly, if we wish to be a world-class musician or a Medium writing superstar, a lot of hard work will go unnoticed before the magic happens. Life always offers you returns in plenty, but only after we have invested significant efforts and time into it.

Life shall treats us like kings and demigods but only after we earn the right to be treated as such.

III. You have to be in it for the long game!

If you want to put in money today and expect to get rich by tomorrow — there is a casino nearby. We have to be continuously invested in the stock market or towards acquiring any skill set before “The Magic of Compounding” kicks in.

Investing in life or stock market is a long term effort — that demands consistency, patience and hard work. No Rome is ever built in a day.

IV. Risk reward ratio applies!

The higher the risk, the lower the possibility of success, but the greater the returns. Investing in penny stocks is a highly risky proposition, but if successful, the returns often overshadow all the other investments.

Similar is the situation in our lives when traversing the path less travelled. The probability of success is less but with a higher reward percentage. Hence, decisions with high-risk elements should be well thought off, appropriately researched, and with a backup plan for the worst-case scenario.

V. Hang in there during the tough times.

All the billionaire investors have this one trait in common — they have managed to hang in there amidst the worst possible financial turmoil and economic recessions. And they have been doing that over and over again!

Similarly, we all know how to traverse the path of life when everything is great, but the moment we face hardships, we run away. The ones who manage to stand strong even when the storm is against them — emerge as true winners in life.

The investments made during the worst possible times will offer maximum returns in long term — both in the matters of life and the stock markets.

Hence, when facing adversities, we must ensure that we put our best foot forward and not play a waiting game.

VI. Luck may or may not help you, but hard work will.

Financial decisions relying purely upon luck will eventually fail at some point in time, but a well-researched investment hypothesis will offer you consistent and sustainable long-term returns.

Similarly, we may or may not have luck by our side, but we must ensure that we always put our hard work, commitment, and determination into all our life endeavors. That is the sweet recipe for success!

As my mind continues to wander between life and financial markets, the newspaper article is coming to an end. But I am convinced that these two are not entirely different anymore! And I move on to read other articles in the newspaper.

P.S. This article is neither financial advice nor life advice 😃. I am not competent to give either of these. There are numerous life coaches and financial experts online for the same.

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