Happiness, Health & Wealth Are States of Mind
To begin, let me remind all of you that wealth is so much more than net worth, assets in your bank or a balance sheet.
True wealth to me is a balancing act of both happiness and health.
After working out I feel a sense of worth, pride in the fact that I challenged my body, discipline, and strength that is difficult to put into words.
After a very big smile by connecting and helping others, or giving my time and energy to causes I’m passionate about, are the moments where I feel wealthy.
The ability to occasionally go on a trip domestically or even internationally, or to buy a nice gift for someone for the holidays, or to go out to dinner…these are small examples where I truly feel wealthy.
I may make less money than most of my friends but as I grow older this isn’t the differentiating factor. I do have plans to make much more but more patience and hard work must first be deployed.
I am enjoying the grind in pursuit of my dreams. It’s almost 9:00 pm EST as I finish up this blog and I’ll be reading multiple pages of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team after this. I give credit to the glass of cold brew coffee I had earlier!
Nonetheless, I’ve come to love the thrill of the unknown variables of life and the path less taken during these past five years living in Philadelphia.
And, despite making less money than many of my friends, I often still feel wealthy. I believe this is because true wealth, health and happiness are states of mind. Guess what? You can’t adopt these same mindsets.
It is positivity. It is having an abundance mindset. It is believing that your potential happiness, health and earning abilities are completely independent of those around you.
There is no finite amount of health supplements, gyms, parks, tracks or money in this world. The good news is this is always changing and evolving. The question is, have you changed in this new decade?
Wealth is the satisfaction of having the essentials to thrive, while simultaneously knowing you have additional possibilities of growth.
For those of you reading this, you likely live in extreme abundance you just might not always be aware of it.
You have all the food, shelter, water and basics you’ll ever need according to Abraham Maslow. With access to nearly all of the human knowledge and learnable skills that can be instantly delivered to you anywhere in the world. The time to strike and capitalize on these opportunities are now!
Not to mention all of the marketplaces around the world to monetize, connect and share your ideas, knowledge, skills and God-given abilities today.
Health and wealth are being able to be indifferent about what you don’t (YET) have while being tremendously grateful for what you do have.
Wealth is not feeling attached to every dime and every dollar. I sincerely hope you’ll have enough to pay the bills and live regardless of the fact that 76% of people in America live paycheck to paycheck.
Wealth is ordering a salad and steak and not having to check your bank's mobile app to make sure your card will be accepted whenever you have to pay.
Wealth is getting the dessert menu, ordering whatever you want, and eating it too.
Wealth is seeing that you’re developing your skillsets and income potential because at the end of the day no one can take that away from you.
Wealth is seeing that you’re slowly growing your retirement portfolio, but you’re in no immediate rush to the top.
Wealth is about freedom, not cars, boats, houses or vacation trips.
I’ve found from testimonials and personal experiences that you have to enjoy the process and be patient. I wasn’t always this self-aware…
Wealth is accepting that while others have much more, most have infinitely less.
Wealth is understanding that having more things, and keeping up with the Jones’s who are already broke at a higher level, probably won’t lead to more meaning, satisfaction or fulfillment long-term. But hey, who knows?
Health, happiness and wealth are the comforts of truly knowing that in the end, you’ll be alright.
We live in America. Open up your eyes, open up your heart, and recognize that it could be worse…
Travel, visit other countries, get out a map (and not just on Google Maps), give back and realize how fortunate you are to live in America where millions of immigrants would die for the same opportunities that you have in your palms.
I wish you all nothing but the best in this new decade and 2020.
Feel free to comment because I’m curious…when do you truly feel happy, healthy and wealthy?
My Very Best,
Donovan E. Vogel
