...doesn't by itself make you happy...
BUT:
- it can remind you of where you come from, the dreams you had as a kid - it keeps you humble no matter what amount of success you continue to achieve
- it reminds you of the feelings and dreams you once had when you DIDN'T have those things - this makes you extremely grateful and allows you to appreciate the new finer things
- it reminds you of who you've become in order to be a person that can have those material things or experiences
Through personal experience, money and material things will only amplify someone's character - is it used to inspire others or used to only elevate your own status?
I've seen both examples, and probably unfortunately more of the latter on social media and the corporate world more than the first.
The latter I was for sure guilty of at first thinking of ALL the people who laughed at my dreams, made fun of me for pursuing network marketing for a time, the people in college who heavily criticized my decision to walk away from a distinguished academic program at Marquette.
Most of them wouldn't have much to say today. Not because of the success and proof they see, but because they made the comments back then and stopped caring YEARS ago. That's how critics are. They come with bullets in a moment, and years later forget they even fired the gun.
The bullets really only leave mental wounds in the one criticized. It's your responsibility to recover from those wounds. It's called personal development and having coaching/mentors in your corner.
Again, the material doesn't make you happy, but it can serve as a great constant reminder of physical evidence that you are not where you once used to be. You overcame a lot to achieve what you have.
You ever bought that dope pair of shoes or finally took that trip or had that incredible life experience?
Other than some phenomenal memories, the “feeling” of having the material is fleeting and goes away in a couple days to a week at most. What's left is the person you've become and the changes you've made in your life. All the material can be taken away in a second, but the character is here to stay.
When I post what we've accomplished so far, I’m very realistic with where I’m at. I’m NOWHERE close to my dream car, nowhere close to my dream home, nowhere close to my dream physique. Nowhere close to the size of business, sales career, or income I see for my wife and I. We’re always stretching, we keep growing, and we never stop. Because when you have a lot of choices, options, and freedom in your life, it’s your RESPONSIBILITY to keep growing.
If you squander and loathe in the success, it will disappear faster than a blink of an eye.
More so, it's a personal belief of mine that it’s absolutely DISRESPECTFUL not to keep growing for all those people counting on you.
I believe if you feel like you’re accomplishing everything you believe you’re meant to in this life, your goals and dreams aren’t big enough. Most days I feel like I'm failing, that I have so much room for improvement, that there's so much higher levels of living, thinking, and experiencing. The higher you climb the mountain, the more of the surroundings and life that you can see.
No matter how much “success” you have, you should always be chasing more to move forward. I’m not referring necessarily to the material, but to who you are becoming, the expansion of your soul and physical being.
Proud of you. Go be great. Move Forward. Happy Holidays.
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