A man once asked a gardener: “Why do your plants grow so well?” The gardener smiled and said: “I don’t force them to grow. I simply remove what’s holding them back.” It’s a gentle reminder that growth, in life, in relationships, and in our finances, doesn’t come from pushing harder and harder, as though sheer force of will is enough to make everything bloom.
When markets get choppy, it’s natural to feel nervous. Everyone with a heart (and subsequent blood pressure…) will have a tinge of fear when volatility hits. You might see headlines shouting about “billions wiped off the market” or watch your portfolio dip and wonder if you should pull back until things settle.
Have you ever thought: “I just feel better when I know every cent is accounted for,” or “If things are chaotic at home or at work, at least I can control my spending.” At first glance, that sounds healthy, being on top of your finances is a good thing, right? Yes… and no. There’s a subtle line between being intentional with your money and using money to soothe deeper feelings of fear, stress, or loss of control.
When you look at your investment portfolio, it’s tempting to focus on what’s “winning” right now. You might notice one fund doing well and another lagging behind, and think: “Why am I holding on to this underperformer?” That’s a natural reaction, but it misses the point of diversification.
When we talk about money, we often slip into the language of control: budgets, targets, forecasts, plans. It’s comforting to believe that if we just work hard enough at managing things, we can shape life exactly as we want it. And to some extent, that’s true. Being intentional and disciplined with money does create opportunities and stability. But what if part of a healthy relationship with money, and life, also involves letting go?
When markets are stormy, it’s easy to question whether diversification still works. You might look at your portfolio and think, “Everything seems down; what was the point of spreading my money around?” Or during a market rally, you might wonder, “Wouldn’t I have been better off just putting everything in the top-performing stock or fund?” These are reasonable questions, and they get to the heart of why diversification is both essential and, at times, uncomfortable.