Success is defined in many ways. For some people, it means making a lot of money. For others, it’s about finding that special someone that makes you feel complete. A third group would define success as longevity and health.
No matter what your answer might be, there are a few tried and tested principles to bring both success and happiness into your life.
Buy a House
A house is not only four walls and a roof. It’s a place where you share wonderful moments with your spouse, raise your children, and build memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Of course, you can decide on renting one instead of buying. But it is not the same thing, is it?
If you can’t afford one right now, then save up for a down payment and inquire about a mortgage. And when you do get one, make it your own by adding a piece of your personality. If you like being outside, invest in a few sunshades for your patio or build an outdoor kitchen. If the inside is where you would rather be, then fix it, decorate it well, and keep it clean.
A nice home is synonymous with a happy family. And a happy family is a better life.
Take Risks
Most of the biggest regrets in life are associated with the things you didn’t do, not with the ones you did. I should have asked that girl out. After all, what did I have to lose? I should have studied another language and taken the chance of living abroad for at least a year. If I could do it all over again, I would have quit my job and focused on the things that I was truly passionate about.
The true beauty of life is the fact that it is not forever. No matter what we do, how we live, and what we eat, we will all perish at some point in time. As such, wouldn’t we want this temporary journey on earth to account for something valuable? Wouldn’t we all like to be remembered for doing something meaningful and important?
Pay it Forward
Lieutenant General Robert Stephenson Baden-Powell, the founder of the global Scout Movement, once said, “Try to leave this world a little better than you found it.”
Having a positive impact on someone or something while you are still alive is one of the most rewarding feelings you can ever have. And it doesn’t have to be earth-shattering. Paying it forward is not measured in size or sphere of influence.
If you are a parent, it means doing your best to provide your children with an education that will help them succeed and the moral values to become people of honesty and integrity. If you aren’t, it entails doing what you can for others and being compassionate and kind.
Learn About Money
Whether we like it or not, money is a vital part of everybody’s life. Skeptics will say money cannot buy you happiness and ask what good money is if you don’t have your health. But wouldn’t you rather be sick and wealthy than sick and poor? Given a chance, would you exchange your current high-paying job for one that gives you half as much?
Money isn’t everything. Still, all things being equal, the more you have, the better. So get up-to-date on your financial literacy, start saving, and look into long-term, low-risk investments.
And do the same for your kids. Teach them the importance of financial security. Help them understand how difficult it is to make money and how easy it is to splurge it, make the wrong decisions, and have it all go away.
Stay Healthy
Everyone wants to be healthy. Nobody likes spending hours upon hours at the doctor, in physical therapy, or bed-ridden at home. Yet, what many people don’t understand is that being healthy is amatter of choice. Even if your parents and grandparents suffer from hypertension, hypoglycemia, or diabetes, this doesn’t mean you should accept the fact that you will get it too.
Being healthy is also an issue of routine. If you wake up early every day, eat a nutritious breakfast, spend half an hour walking, swimming, or on the bike, and visit your doctor regularly, chances are your body will respond accordingly. The same is true if you don’t. Your body will always give you back what you have given it.
If you want to be happy, get a property, take risks, leave a long-lasting, meaningful legacy, learn about money, and stay healthy. You are definitely worth it.
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