This Substack celebrated its first birthday a few months back, but I didn't make a big deal of it at the time. Perhaps part of me worried that marking the birthday would somehow jinx the whole thing and The Buddh-ish Investor would join the ever-growing garbage heap of abandoned blogs.
But, in my heart of hearts, I envision a bright, long future for The Buddh-ish Investor. I want to keep pumping out material for years to come.
Fortunately, there's no shortage of ideas I want to explore on these pages. Ideas constantly come to mind—from the content I consume, the people I talk to, and my own investing and spiritual life. I genuinely don't worry about the well of ideas ever running dry.
However, transforming these ideas into a 3- or 4-minute read can be challenging. I've struggled with some posts for weeks before they're ready to be shared with you, dear reader. I'm not sure if this will get easier, but I'm committed to continuing to work on it.
The creative process is deeply gratifying. Nothing excites me more than seeing a random, half-formed thought come to life as a finished Substack post. It has been a significant source of happiness in my life, reaffirming my belief that creating is absolutely essential to human happiness1.
This Substack has also been instrumental in my personal growth on the Buddhist and investing paths.
A year ago, my investment accounts were a jumbled mix of stocks and bonds that lacked a clear vision. Today, my portfolio is much more aligned with my financial goals. I believe this transformation wouldn't have occurred without this Substack. Writing here compelled me to clarify my investing objectives and question whether I was merely talking the talk rather than walking the walk of passive investing.
Writing about Buddhism on this Substack has clarified my thinking, making me more inclined to interpret life's events through a Buddhist perspective. I see more clearly the truth of suffering in my life, how I contribute to my own suffering and, most importantly, how I can reduce suffering for myself and others.
Investing has been a helpful testing ground for applying Buddhist principles in the rest of my life. The decision to simplify my portfolio to an all-in-one fund like VGRO, for instance, paved the way for streamlining other parts of my life toward dedicating more time for self-care.
The Buddh-ish Investor has impacted other people too. A dear friend and faithful reader recently took the plunge and started investing after reading about passive investing on these pages. He would've gotten around to it eventually, but I'm happy to take credit for giving him a little nudge2.
I never conceived of such an outcome when I first started this blog. This has been a great lesson in karma—our words and actions send reverberations throughout our lives and the broader interconnected web of the universe.
As The Buddh-ish Investor enters its second year, I'm excited to see what other surprises lie in store. What twists and turns will we encounter as we continue down the path to financial enlightenment together? Maybe you’ll start your own Substack! [Let me know if you do!]
- The Buddh-i$h Investor
I’d love to hear from you! Email at Sangha@TheBuddhishInvestor.com or drop a comment below!
Take home points:
Creating, in whatever form floats your boat, is key to human happiness.
Writing, whether Substacks or a daily journal, helps crystallize our thoughts and knowledge, which can lead to direct impacts on how we live our lives and affect those around us.
If you’re looking for more:
There’s solid research linking writing with happiness. Check out this great episode of Dan Harris’ podcast on the topic:
If you want to tap into the happiness effects of writing, Suleika Jaouad’s new book The Book of Alchemy is a great place to start. It’s full of inspiring writing prompts like: “What would you write if you weren’t afraid? Set a timer for ten minutes. Don’t worry. No one’s going to read a word…“
To the point that I’m nagging my wife to start her own Substack! You should start one too!
Maybe this Substack has had some impact on you. If so, please reach out—directly (Sangha@TheBuddhistInvestor.com) or through the comments sections of the po