“The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.” ― Pope John Paul II
We're bombarded with images of wealth from sexy cars to yachts to vacations on white sandy beaches. We're conditioned to believe that such things will bring us happiness and acceptance. If we fall short, we aren't doing or being enough.
As much as I love a remote sandy beach and the freedoms that wealth offers, I'm concerned that the focus on more -- more money, more status, more things -- is causing harm to families, communities, and the environment. As Pope John Paul II warns, we can't have it both ways. We can't expect more if we don't take care of what gives us more.
Stewardship
Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care according to Miriam-Webster.
If you've ever been entrusted with the care of something, you can relate to what it means. In our family's case, my four sisters and I have been entrusted with the management of our family assets now that our parents have passed. We take the job seriously in honor of their legacy and our family values.
This commitment is unquestioned and so our stewardship responsibilities are clear. We were brought up to care about the environment and community and will continue to make those a priority in our decision-making. For example, there's financial pressure from escalating property taxes to sell. If we do, we will take care to sell to those who share similar values.
Stewardship and Legacy
The more I engage others in the mission of Positive Money, the more work I do around legacy and decisions we make with purpose. As my mentor and creator of the Human Impact Framework Janna Jorgensen says, "Purpose is the difference you want to make. Impact is the difference we actually make. Legacy is the difference you are remembered for making."
If we want to be responsible and caring stewards of our assets whether we own them or not, we must be connected to a deeper purpose and commitment. Even as we gain wealth, our internal guidance system will ground us in what matters most, and we will sleep better knowing we've done what we can to further that mission.
Stewardship and Positive Money
As I work with more people on the impact they want to make in the world whether through their business or in crafting a giving plan, I'm grateful for the role of Positive Money principles and practices in guiding the conversation. For example, the second Principle is that it is generational. "When you're aware of the beliefs and behaviors you inherit and pass along, you're more intentional about your actions today."
As you can imagine, this principle alone opens up reflections on how those beliefs and behaviors are guiding current and planned actions. For example, I wrote in Positive Money - 7 Principles of Living a Rich Life about how my parent's relationship with money guided their decisions. At one point they joined with friends to buy a parcel of land to save it from developers even though the purchase was a stretch and caused many years of stress over paying the mortgage. That decision made an impact on our family and community and continues to inform how we consider future decisions.
If you're interested in learning more about legacy coaching, please reach out to schedule a free call.
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