This is the most important thing if you want to be happy and successful

Brandon D. Wilson
Aug 8, 2017 · 3 min read

I am not going to wait until the end of this post to tell you the one thing. It is so important you need to know right now.

If you want to become happy and successful, you need to find your why.

Your why is the motivation that drives you every day.

Your why is the difference between “I have to” and “I want to.”

Your why is the compass that tells you the way forward to the amazing life that you will have.

You do not have to settle for a life that is ordinary, comfortable, or average.

The first step is changing your mindset.

How to find your why

“Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job you can make a living, but if you work hard on yourself you’ll make a fortune.” — Jim Rohn

You have to go beyond the superficial. Your why is more than “make more money” or “provide for your family.” Your why should be at the core of who you are.

Finding your why will not be easy. You are going to question many of your assumptions and beliefs. You will realize that your why is going to be outside your comfort zone.

It was easier to find my why when I started asking, “Why not?”

— Why should you go to college? Why not explore other alternatives?

— Why should you stay at a job that is unfulfilling? Why not look for a better opportunity?

— Why is the reward for doing a good job more work? Why not look for a job with better rewards?

— Why should you always have a car payment? Why not talk to someone whose car is paid off and ask how he/she did it?

— Why should you trust “professionals” to manage your money? Why not learn to manage your own finances? The person who cares the most about your money is you.

Any assumption is fair game for questioning.

This is my why

Credo — A creed; a set of fundamental beliefs or guiding principles

This is my credo. It is very personal to me, but I share it with you in the hope that it will inspire you to find your why.

I want to wake up every day when I want to wake up not when someone tells me I have to wake up.

I want to travel when and where I want to travel not because someone tells me I have to travel.

I refuse to sit at a computer 8 or 10 or 12 hours a day, 5 days a week until something called “retirement.”

I want what I do every day to make a positive difference in other people’s lives.

I will resist the negativity from others and from within and focus on positive thoughts and actions.

I will be a constant learner who is open to any new facts and ideas.

I will value personal relationships and seek out people who motivate me to be a better person.

I want my money to work for me instead of working for my money.

I want to stop trading hours for dollars.

I want freedom in all forms — time freedom, place freedom, financial freedom, and mind freedom.

Thank you for your time. If you liked this article, click the hand to clap as many times as you want so other people will see it here on Medium.

The Ascent

A community of storytellers documenting the journey to happiness & fulfillment.

Brandon D. Wilson

Written by

IT Consultant, teacher, trainer, Apple fanatic

The Ascent

A community of storytellers documenting the journey to happiness & fulfillment.

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