Remember your New Year’s Resolutions? Dust them off today!
January 1st wasn’t that long ago. We were all united in celebration and euphoria that 2026 would bring peace, health, and prosperity. We resolved to get fit, spend more time with family, reconnect with nature, or be better people.
March is the last month of the first quarter, so it’s a good time to check our navigation systems and mark our progress.
The day that became a mantra
When I was in high school, my two best friends and I went to a live presentation by Jimmy Swaggart. It was before his fall from public grace. Out of the clear blue sky, one friend asked us, “What does March Fourth mean?”
We looked at each other and shrugged. “It’s a day on the calendar?”
“It’s right before the start of spring?”
“No,” he said. “March fourth is to march forth, to march forward. I believe today is a day for commitment.”
I never forgot that. In my 40s, I made March 4th my own personal holiday, a day to recommit to my dreams. To assess my progress and figure out what my next steps would be. I invite you to do the same. Consider this your official, gentle nudge from the universe to check your coordinates.
On this Joyful Rising Money IQ journey, we’re climbing out of debt, we’re paying ourselves first. Once our cash cushions are plump and padded, we’ll begin setting aside funds for investing activities with purpose. We’re putting ourselves in positions of growing strength, so we can count on ourselves, and so can our dependents.
Today, mark your scorecard.
Check your bank statements. Are the balances growing? How does that feel?
If you answered no and it doesn’t feel good, remember you’re intact. The point of power is the present moment, and you can always make a choice to get back on the wagon. You don’t have to stay stuck. Just forgive the bump and extend grace to yourself. As Les Brown says, “It’s OK to stumble toward success.”
Check credit card statements. Are the balances shrinking? How does that feel?
Check your debt-to-asset ratio spreadsheets. Are the ratios shifting in the right direction?
That IRA or Roth IRA you might have opened, have you been faithful to your future, elderly self? How does that balance look to you? Have the investments grown, declined, or held steady? Does the reason you entered the position still hold true?
As you keep checking your dashboard and navigation systems, you’ll see that a multi-year journey isn’t a straight line. As the captain of our ship, we often have to course correct along the way. So long as we’re headed in the right direction, we can do this. We are doing this!
Is there something you’re still putting off before getting started? If the thought of facing it makes you squirm, read my post “What if that fear is actually…” It just might be the encouragement you need to hear so you can take the next step.
Your Marching Orders
What will you March Forth toward this week?
Mark Your Scorecard: Answer the check-in questions above with clear, honest numbers.
Identify Your Next Step: Based on that answer, define the single, smallest action that moves you forward. Is it scheduling a transfer, making one call, or reading one chapter of a helpful book?
Execute and Celebrate: Do it. Then acknowledge your courage. That step, no matter how small, is you marching forth.
You have your orders. The year is waiting. March forth.
To rising joyfully,
April
📚 APRIL'S ESSENTIAL READ OF THE MONTH
A quick note on one book that changed my thinking...
This Month: Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki
In One Line: Kiyosaki describes the how and why to change from earning income as an employee or self-employed to becoming an investor or business owner.
Why It Fits: Anyone who has an unsettling feeling that “The Matrix” was a documentary. If you suspect the whole economic system is smoke and mirrors that prevent the masses from discovering the real truth on how to get rich, Cash Flow Quadrant is the hammer chipping away at the wall of secrecy.
Read my full take here: [CashFlow Quadrant essential reading]
Disclosures & Disclaimers
I am not a licensed financial advisor, attorney, accountant, or credit counselor. The content provided in Joyful Rising Money IQ is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice.
The information presented is based on my personal experience and research and may not be suitable for your specific situation. You should consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions or changes to your strategy.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.
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