What matters most to you? Work, possessions or People: It’s all three for me, but many people think you can’t have it all. I learned early on that you can have everything in life you want, but I didn’t know how to achieve it. Most people don’t do the one thing to accomplish having it all, and that is to choose all the things that matter most to them.
The choice between work possessions, people, or a million other things doesn’t have to be limited. Make your list and decide what you’re willing to pay to obtain them and why they are relevant.
Age is no barrier; if you have nothing now, the younger you are, the better it is. Once you have made your list, start working on it immediately before anyone talks you out, and it’s always better not to show your list to anyone other than people who want you to succeed.
When I started life with Marilyn, my girlfriend, in 1966, the factors influencing our choices, such as income, lifestyle, culture, personality, etc., were very limited, which was good, actually making our most wanted list very small, buy a house, get married and have children simple choices but were we willing to pay the price to get those things?
Once we had chosen those things, the only thing that stood in the way of getting them was us, and whether we achieved them or not would affect our happiness and well-being, probably forever.
Relationships can get very strained; each person has their wants, needs, hopes and dreams, which can get in the way of the other person’s list; getting a balance between work, possessions, people, and happiness can quickly get derailed. But, being in a muddle can indicate what you must do to obtain the desired results of having it all, which is what everyone wants, but only if both parties want the same outcome.
Too many options can lead to stress, regret, dissatisfaction and stagnation with your list. However, we accomplished our first list fairly quickly, it was simply because we were both on the same page. Then, many other things were added to the list and after 8 years, we decided to get everything that we wanted in life; we needed to work together, which was the best thing ever as we shared every aspect of creating an ongoing list that we both wanted and understood how to achieve the outcome easier.
So, where are you right now? Everyone needs to regularly update their list of what matters the most. Are you on a treadmill doing more to have more, or are you happily progressing to the next item on your list even though you know you’re on a treadmill?
Maybe you want simplicity: living with less will increase your well-being, freedom, and meaning. Is this sustainable? Sometimes, a minimalist with few possessions feels happy and content with what they have.
We are all passing through, so there is no point in being a successful professional who works hard to afford a luxurious lifestyle but feels unhappy and unfulfilled.
Many people seek a balanced life and work enough to meet their needs and wants, as well as value other aspects of life, such as relationships, hobbies, health, etc. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as different people have different goals and priorities.
The best choice is the one that aligns with your wants, needs, hopes, and dreams and that makes you happy and fulfilled. The key is to be aware of our options and evaluate them regularly to ensure they serve our best interests.