Photo courtesy of purplemattfish

There are few things in life we have grown to desire more than the sense of security. In fact, this desire is so strong that most of us live of our lives in a way that we feel guarantees as much security as possible. We tell ourselves that we must "play it safe, or else." We stick with a job we hate because of the security it provides us and our family. We avoid new experiences because of the "dangers" they entail. We stay in a love-less relationship because we fear that we cannot get a better one. To our detriment, by playing it safe - we have sold our lives short. We have given away our power to create the lives of our dreams for the sake of security.

Photo courtesy of Photos8.com

My primary goal for 2010 is to experience financial prosperity.  I choose the words financial prosperity for a very specific reason.  Previously, I have used the terms financial freedom and financial abundance.  I feel like I have experienced both financial freedom and financial abundance.  Let me explain.  Financial freedom to me is to be free from the "ball and chain" of money - to no longer be a slave to money.  In the past, I felt like money controlled my decisions and therefore my reality.  I don't feel that way anymore.  The choices I make now are based on what experiences I desire to have.

Photo courtesy of lee_sie

With the beginning of a new year, come new resolutions. Many of us are once again, looking to better our lives by adding more to it.  Before you embark on your goals, I suggest you take a step-back and take stock of your current inventory.  Look at the areas in your life where you can have less, instead of more.  By removing, substituting or decreasing particular factors in your life, you will put yourself in a better position to add the new habits and goals that you desire.  Remember, a masterpiece is first started on a blank canvas.  You can't create the masterpiece of your life if your canvas is already cluttered with paint.