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Awareness is defined as "a state or condition of having knowledge or consciousness of a situation or fact." Given this definition, it would seem clear that we are each aware of how our choices impact our life situations.

In life, the unexpected is expected. Having the appropriate financial safeguards in place can enable you to be resilient in the face of uncertainty.

It feels to many of us like a particularly uncertain period of time, doesn't it? After a long period of relative calm, market volatility has picked up. The 24/7 news flow has us all exhausted and anxious. What can we do to regain security and a sense of control over our lives? Relax. Nothing is under control. Ironically, the only way to regain a sense of equanimity towards our lives, and to the news flow that surrounds us, is to recognize that we have never been in control. Ever. Certainty is a myth we have created. It does not otherwise exist. Now, I'm not saying that there is no role for planning in our lives. I work as a financial planner after all! I structure investment portfolios to better weather market volatility, and make sure that my clients make crucial year end spending, saving and investing decisions. These are all geared toward living a meaningful life. But a financial plan is not a "one and done" event. The one certainty of a financial plan is that it will evolve and change over the years, as will the lives of the clients I created it for.

Are you concerned about money? was the question asked at a recent workshop I attended. Just about every hand in the room went up. Whether we're younger or older, single or married, professionals or stay at home moms, money is a source of anxiety for most if not all of us. It isn't surprising, given the complex relationship we have with money.

Everyone wants to save money on taxes. Period. Young or old, rich or poor, everyone is interested in keeping more of their money and paying less of it to Uncle Sam. So, what are some of the legal ways available to save money on taxes?

The trap of making productivity the end goal, instead of the means to achieve something. Our society has fetishized the concept of productivity and efficiency. For many of us, each moment has an associated "to-do", and we feel guilty if we allow ourselves to be idle. Humans are so addicted to busyness that one study found people preferred giving themselves electric shocks rather than having nothing to do.