Wants Versus Wishes

Everything you have in life is because you wanted it. The things you own, the people you surround yourself with and the things you do each day are all your creation. Your decision to want that in your life.

You keep what you want, ignore or remove what you don’t.

You might hate your job but the truth is, you don’t want to leave because you’re afraid of the unknown. You want the comfort of knowing what comes tomorrow.

Your relationship might’ve been over a long time ago but you don’t want to leave because you don’t want to be alone. There is safety in pairs.

You’re always broke and never able to get ahead but you don’t want to work another job to make more money. You can’t afford that new purse but you want it, so you put it on your credit card.

You don’t want to leave your job. You don’t want to find someone new (or be alone.) You don’t want to have money in the bank.

You don’t want to be active. You don’t want to be skinny.

You don’t want to travel the world.

You don’t want to learn how to speak Italian.

You might think you want these things. But you don’t.

You don’t want any of it.

But you wish you did.

And there’s a difference between wanting something and wishing for something.

If you want something, you’ll make it happen. You’re willing to sacrifice whatever you need in order to have the things you want in life. If you hate your job, you’re willing to risk opening the door into the unknown to find work that’s rewarding.

If you’re not happy in your relationship, you might wish things were different. But if you want them to be different, then you’ll do whatever it takes to try to fix what’s broken or have the courage to leave and be alone.

If you don’t want to be broke anymore, you’ll find a way to get out of debt and start saving money. You’ll quit spending money on shit you don’t need. You’ll pick up extra hours at work or find another job. Maybe you’ll start a side hustle to earn extra money.

If you want to travel the world but you’re not traveling the world, you don’t really want to. You’re just wishing.

You don’t want to be fit and healthy. You’re just wishing.

It’s time for you to stop wishing and start wanting. Want it bad enough to make it happen.

Wanting without action is still wishing.

Don’t wish your life away.

Money Solves Money Problems

…and that’s all it solves.

If you’re broke, money helps.

It’ll buy you food, put a roof over your head and clothes on your back. Shoes on your feet. Gas in your car.

Money isn’t a magic potion that makes life perfect. It won’t make you happy. It won’t buy you friends … not the type of friends you want. Money won’t keep you from dying.

A lot of people think money is the answer to all of their problems. As if having money would change who they are. If they had money, then they’d do all the things they’re only  able to dream of doing.

Money isn’t the answer. And money doesn’t change who you are, it only exposes and amplifies who you are. Good or bad. If you had money, you might do some of the things you dream of doing…

Maybe.

Maybe you’d take that trip to Ireland you’ve been talking about your entire life. Or maybe you wouldn’t. Actions express priorities. If something is important to you, you’ll make it happen. If it’s not important, you’ll make an excuse.

And what better excuse than money?

It’s easy to tell yourself that [insert your dream here] is too expensive. You look at your bank account and you’re not even sure how you’re going to make it until next payday without starving.

If only you had more money … then you’d be able.

How long have you been telling yourself the same story?

What if you’d saved just $50 a month for all those years? How much could you have saved? If instead of buying that outfit that’s hanging in your closet with the tags still attached, you’d put that money towards your dream?

The truth is, your dreams don’t really matter to you. The shit you spend your money on … those things are what your care about the most. What you say you care about isn’t important.

But how you spend your money…

That’s the action that expresses your priorities.

Doubting Your Purpose

You’ve decided your life is going to be different.

Instead of a hollow, empty life like those of so many people, you want something more. Something better. You refuse to reduce yourself to another mindless cog in the machine. You have talent. You want to change the world and affect the lives of the people around you in a positive way. You want to be remembered for the wake of beauty you leave behind.

Most of the time you’re happy with your decision to shrug off the expectations for you to conform. You ignore the herd. Your work is important. What you’re doing matters. It’s your purpose. You’ve found meaning. You’ve chosen your path (or it’s chosen you) and you focus on the things that are important to you.

But even though you’re following your heart and you always put your values first, you still feel the pressure to fall in line; to follow the proven path of “success” that so many people before have taken.

Continue Reading at Pick the Brain…