When you learn to carry your provisions and stock your reserves, you’ll find yourself better prepared for life’s journeys, whether short day trips or longer treks. And you’ll discover the joy of walking in life with confidence, abundance, and freedom.
[Title Photo by Guduru Ajay bhargav]
A Hiker’s Simple Lesson
Years ago, when I first began hiking seriously, I learned a lesson the hard way. On one outing, I set off on a warm afternoon with just a bottle of water in my pack. No rain jacket, no snacks, no first-aid kit. “It’s just a short hike,” I thought. “No need to carry all that stuff.”
Boy, was I mistaken! Halfway up the trail, clouds rolled in and the sky opened. My water bottle slipped from my pack and rolled away down the mountain. By the time I made it back to the trailhead, I was soaked, hungry, and more than a little miserable.
That day taught me an important truth: a wise hiker always packs provisions—the things you need to keep you safe and fueled for the day’s journey. Over time, I learned that provisions weren’t enough on their own. I also needed reserves waiting back home: a stocked pantry, extra gear, money for emergencies. Those reserves meant I could keep hiking week after week without fear of running out.
Life, I’ve realized, works in much the same way. To flourish, you need both provisions and reserves.
Why Provisions and Reserves Matter
In the Excelerated Life™, provisions and reserves are more than just practical supplies. They’re a way of moving from scarcity thinking, always worried about not having enough, toward abundance thinking, where you know you are prepared, supported, and free to serve others.
- Without provisions, you stumble through your days unprepared. You miss deadlines, skip meals, arrive late, or find yourself stressed because you didn’t plan ahead.
- Without reserves, you live under a constant shadow of anxiety. One unexpected bill, one illness, one broken appliance feels like a crisis because there’s nothing stored up to draw from.
When you have both, life feels spacious. You can meet today’s demands with confidence, knowing you also have a cushion for tomorrow.
Redefining the Terms for the Excelerated Life™
In accounting, provisions and reserves have narrow technical meanings. But in the Excelerated Life™, we use them differently — more practically, more personally.
Provisions are your day-to-day readiness. Think of them as your “trail mix and water bottle”, the resources that keep you fueled for today’s journey. They’re the margin in your calendar, the gas in your car, the groceries in your fridge, the energy you save by going to bed on time.
Reserves are your deeper stores. They’re the well-stocked pantry, the extra money in savings, the relational and emotional capital that sustain you over time. Reserves are what let you recover from setbacks and still keep going.
Both are vital. Provisions make today possible. Reserves make tomorrow secure.
Let’s look at how provisions and reserves show up in different areas of life.
Time
Provisions: Building in a 10-minute margin before meetings to arrive calm, not rushed.
Reserves: Having a weekly planning ritual and a simplified schedule so your time isn’t constantly overbooked.
Money
Provisions: Setting aside enough cash to cover today’s bills and expenses.
Reserves: Building an emergency fund, saving for retirement, and investing for long-term security.
Health
Provisions: Eating a balanced meal, taking a walk, and getting a good night’s sleep.
Reserves: Cultivating healthy habits, exercising consistently, and building stamina so you can face challenges with strength.
Relationships
Provisions: Sending a note of encouragement, having a meaningful conversation, or showing up for a friend today.
Reserves: Years of trust, love, and shared experiences that create bonds strong enough to weather storms.
Emotional Energy
Provisions: Pausing to breathe deeply before a stressful meeting.
Reserves: A cultivated mindset of gratitude, mindfulness, and hope that replenishes you in hard times.
In each area, provisions are supplies for today, reserves for tomorrow.
Building Provisions and Reserves: Five Practical Steps
How do you begin? Just as on the trail, start small. You don’t have to carry a 50-pound pack on your back, but you do need to prepare.
- Audit your provisions.
Ask yourself each morning: “Do I have what I need for today’s journey?”
Examples: healthy breakfast ready, fuel in the car, time blocked for priorities, space to breathe. - Check your reserves.
Once a week, ask: “Do I have a cushion for tomorrow and beyond?”
Examples: savings account balance, stocked pantry, strong relationships, simplified schedule. - Build in layers.
Just like you’d first pack a daypack and then add base camp supplies, build provisions before reserves. Provisions protect you now. Reserves sustain you later. - Start with one small action.
Provisions: Lay out clothes for tomorrow, prep lunch, block 15 minutes for quiet.
Reserves: Open a savings account, clear one shelf of clutter, set a regular check-in with a loved one. - Give from abundance.
When both provisions and reserves are in place, you’re free to give, serve, and extend yourself. Abundance does not come from hoarding; it’s a mindset (and a practice) of having more than enough. We can “give back more than we take” when we give from a position of abundance.
The Deeper Payoff
When you walk through life with provisions and reserves, several things happen:
- Less stress. You know you’re prepared for both today and tomorrow.
- Greater freedom. You can say yes to opportunities because you’re not constantly scrambling.
- Capacity to serve. With reserves in place, you can give generously without fear of running dry.
- Abundance mindset. You stop clinging to every resource and start trusting that more is possible.
In short, you live an Excelerated Life™, a life of flourishing, well-being, meaning, purpose, and service.
A Story to Remember
I sometimes think back to that hike when the rain soaked me through and my water bottle disappeared down the mountainside. I had no provisions for the day and no reserves to fall back on.
Since then, I’ve never gone out without packing wisely. And I’ve never lived without building reserves for the future.
Provisions get you through the trail you’re on. Reserves give you the freedom to hike again tomorrow. Together, they move you from surviving to flourishing.
Call to Action
So, over to you. This week, take two simple steps:
- Pack your provisions. Before bed tonight, prepare one thing that will make tomorrow easier: a healthy breakfast, clothes laid out, a note of encouragement for someone you love.
- Build one reserve. Choose one area — money, time, health, or relationships — and begin laying a foundation. Start your savings account, clear one small drawer, or schedule an hour of unstructured “me” time this week.
As you learn to carry your provisions and stock your reserves, you’ll find yourself better prepared for life’s hikes, whether short day trips or longer treks. More than that, you’ll discover the joy of walking with confidence, abundance, and freedom. It’s another step on the path to embracing your Excelerated Life™!
What is a provision that helps you feel most prepared for your current journey?
What reserve do you need to keep that provision filled?
What step could you take today to begin building that reserve?
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
Excelerated Reserves™ — moving from scarcity to abundance — is one practice for creating your Excelerated Life™, a life of flourishing and well-being, and a life of meaning, purpose, and service.
Read more about the Excelerated Life™.
Resources:
Leonard, Thomas. The 28 Laws Of Attraction. New York: Scribner, 1998.
Miedaner, Talane. Coach Yourself To Success. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary Books, 2000.
This blog post includes research information provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. The content was generated with AI assistance and is intended to provide information and guidance. Please note that the suggestions are not official statements from OpenAI. To learn more about ChatGPT and its capabilities, you can visit the OpenAI website.