What’s the biggest obstacle to your ability to invest successfully?

Is it the ups and downs of the financial markets? Political events? The fact that you weren’t born rich?

Actually, the chief hurdle you face is something over which you have control: your own emotions.

Your emotions can lead to a variety of ill-advised investment behaviors, such as:

Cutting losses — declines in the financial markets can lead some investors to try to “cut their losses” by selling investments whose price has declined.

Yet, when prices have dropped, it may actually be a good time to buy investments, not sell them, especially when investments are still fundamentally sound.

Chasing performance — In the investment world, the flip side of “fear” is “greed.”

Just as some investors are propelled by fear of loss, others are motivated by quick, big gains.

They may pursue “hot” investments, only to be disappointed when the sizzle quickly fizzles.

Instead of trying to score that one big winner, you may be better off spreading your investment dollars among a range of vehicles — stocks, bonds, government securities, certificates of deposit and so on.

While diversification can’t guarantee a profit or protect against loss, it may help reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio.

Focusing on the short term — When the market is down, you might get somewhat upset when you view your monthly investment statements.

But any individual statement is just a snapshot in time; if you were to chart your investment results over 10, 15 or 20 years, you’d see the true picture of how your portfolio is doing — and, in all likelihood, that picture would look better than a statement or two you received during a down market.

In any case, don’t overreact to short-term downturns by making hasty “buy” or “sell” decisions.

Instead, stick with a long-term strategy that’s appropriate for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

Heading to the investment “sidelines” — Some people get so frustrated over market volatility that they throw up their hands and head to the investment “sidelines” until “things calm down.”

And it’s certainly true that, when owning stocks, there are no guarantees; you risk losing some, or all, of your investment.

But if you jump in and out of the market to “escape“ volatility, you may take on an even bigger risk — losing some of the growth you’ll need to reach your goals.

Consider this: If you invested $10,000 in a package of stocks mimicking the S&P 500 in December 1979, your investment would have grown to more than $426,000 by December 2013.

But if you had missed just the 10 best days of the market during that time, your $10,000 would only have grown to less than $206,000 — a difference of about $220,000, according to Ned Davis Research, a leading investment research organization.

The bottom line?

Staying invested over the long term can pay off. (Keep in mind, though, that the S&P 500 is an unmanaged index and isn’t meant to depict an actual investment. Also, as you’ve no doubt heard, past performance is not a guarantee of future results.)

Our emotions are useful in guiding us through many aspects of our lives, but when you invest, you’re better off using your head — and not your heart.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: 4 emotional investment decisions to avoid

"Florida Libraries as …" is the Florida Department of State's year-long campaign to ensure Florida libraries are recognized as fulfilling vital roles in their communities. 

The Crestview Public Library was featured on the October Florida Libraries as Galleries web page.  See the whole story at http://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/services-for-libraries/florida-libraries-as/gallery/crestview/.

Our September/October art gallery wall has featured local artist Peggy Hollingshead's abstract acrylics while the lobby display cases are filled with items and information celebrating Noirmoutier, France, our sister city. 

If you have not been into the library to see either of these exhibits, you have one week left!

Our November/December featured artists will be Sarah Hawkins on the gallery wall with her abstract and realism assorted media while the Playground Gem & Mineral Society will fill lobby display cases with rocks and minerals from raw specimens to finished wire jewelry.

The library seeks artists for its 2016 lineup for the gallery wall and lobby display cases.

Exhibits run for 60 days, with preference given to North Okaloosa County artists. 

Please call me at 682-4432 if you would like your work to be considered.

Sandra Dreaden is the Crestview Public Library's reference librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DREADEN: Crestview library seeks local artists for gallery exhibitions

Never sneak into your dark house after a late-night fishing trip. 

No matter how nice you may be about not waking your wife, you never know when she has decided to move the furniture around.

Speaking from experience here: When your big toe hits one of the now moved objects, you will fall in dreadful pain, and it will seem that your whole body is hurt. You cannot walk, cannot function properly, and you suffer until the injury heals. 

This same thing happens in churches. We may take the lead on a project, or decide just to help, and we share our feelings just a little bit more than usual. 

Suddenly, we discover that someone — a pastor or other leader in the church; a friend and co-worker, or even God himself — has changed things up. 

We feel hurt and shrink away from that type of pain. 

But until you deal with that pain, and allow it to heal, the entire body of Christ will not function as it should.  If one is hurt, we all hurt, in some way or another. 

I will not attempt to tell you what to do to be healed, but forgiveness and seeking God first are the best places to begin. 

You may have to go to another person to talk, openly and honestly. They may not even be aware that they have caused you hurt.

Until we learn to recognize and assist someone else, the body of Christ cannot and will not operate to full potential. 

Granted, God does not have to have us to accomplish what He has purposed, but we need Him, and that purpose may include helping someone to heal.

Are you a "big toe" in need of a loving touch? 

Perhaps you know of someone that is. God still loves those toes, and gave them prominence and a role of protecting so many others. 

Seek the healing. Pursue the ministry of reconciliation. Let God help you to help others to rejoin the body of Christ.

My friend, God is looking for "big toes" that He can love and heal. Won't you allow Him back in today?

Be restored, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: Face pain head on, seek healing

Sometimes, the scariest thing about celebrating Halloween can be the expense of it all.

But scoring the coolest costumes doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money.

Rather than spending hard-earned money on a new costly costume, why not make one yourself?

Homemade costumes can save you money and keep items from ending up in a landfill. Repurposing and restyling old clothes for a new look is a great way to use your resources.

A little bit of imagination and creativity — and maybe some fabric paint — can turn an old T-shirt into a one-of-a-kind costume.

Don’t know where to start?

You can find great examples and directions for inexpensive, creative costuming at www.Americasaves.org.

Here are two ideas:

●Identity Thief: Write different names on a number of name tags and tape them to your body. You now have the identity of each of those people, and you are officially a — make believe — identity thief.

●Website Error: This one simply requires a white shirt, marker and a snarky attitude.

Draw the words: "Error 404: costume not found" on the shirt, and you immediately become a website error. See more at http://bit.ly/1Pxohrr.

Having children make up their costume can inspire creativity and pride. For a child, the ability to complete and show off a project can boost self-esteem. Getting the family involved is a must.

Parents can help with things like hot glue and scissors, all while spending time with each other completing a fun, memorable project, instead of sitting silently in front of the television.

For more tips or help saving money, contact me at the extension office, 689-5850 or jbreslawski@ufl.edu; take the America Saves Pledge at www.okaloosasaves.org; and follow Okaloosa Saves on Facebook and Twitter.

Jill Breslawski is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BRESLAWSKI: Save money — make your Halloween costume