Health, wealth and happiness are the ultimate goal, right? Health is vital for a good life – being riddled with sickness or disease can make for a miserable life in all categories. The absence of wealth can create hardships in health and even in accomplishing financial freedoms and independence. Happiness can likely be found in the easiest ways but while it is easy, it is the easiest to overlook. We get distracted by the societal norms in every single form of media with comparisons to every person on the internet or TV. So, in order to guarantee health, wealth and happiness, I’ve had the pleasure of studying hundreds of retired clients who can exhibit and attribute the habits needed to achieve success in each of these categories. In order to establish what success is, lets define what it is not.
Health, wealth, and happiness is NOT the balance of your net worth. While that may be a part of your goal, it is not the answer, nor the end of the journey. I have seen far too many “on paper” millionaires who are among the most miserable in life, sadly. You may know this to be true. Money does not equal happiness, or health, or success. I would be willing to bet these 10 items are the key.
- Goals – My favorite. In order to find success, you must define what success is to you. Define the health you want, define what exactly will make you happy, and specifically when you want that to happen. That will determine the amount of wealth goal.
- Communicate – You must be clear on your vision for your life and communicate to those in your circle. I did not say family. Family or friends may not support your goal, so find your tribe that is your support circle. Tell them. Their accountability will fuel you.
- Track – How do you know the progress if you don’t track it? How do you know your net worth if you aren’t seeing it and tracking it? Are you counting on your memory and mental gymnastics to keep that straight? You must write and track. We track our weight, our cholesterol levels, and our work hours. Why aren’t we tracking every category in our life that matters?
- Coach – Michael Jordan had a coach. If you are the absolute greatest of all time athlete, and still hired a coach, do you think you possibly could use one? Hiring a coach is scary, as it forces you to level up in the area of your choice. Get over yourself and put your money where your weaknesses are. Hire a coach. Personal trainer, life coach, business coach, speaking coach, writing coach, sales coach. There’s a coach out there for everything, so there are no excuses. If you can’t afford one, then you need to hire a financial coach.
- Exercise – You can’t enjoy anything of wealth or adventure if you feel like crap. All the money in the world will not buy you more time on earth with the ones that matter most, so you must make every effort to take care of your physical body, every single day.
- Gift – Pour your heart into others. Give of your time, money, and spirit to the passion on your heart. One of the greatest joys in life is giving for the gift of just giving, and not expecting anything in return. This will fill your heart and soul full of happiness.
- Mental Health Diet – Turn off the negativity: on TV, in your family, in your friendships. This may seem hard, and I am not saying cut people out of your life, but you cannot continue to be around negativity and drama and expect success. You can (and deserve) to limit the access to your mind. Guard it.
- Purpose – Why are you doing this goal? Why are you reaching for a new version of yourself? Tony Robbins says, “growth = happiness”, and I firmly agree. I grow because I have a son who is watching. I want him to know that he can accomplish anything he sets his mind too, so if I have a dream on my heart, what kind of example am I setting if I am not showing him how to go for it?
- Outlast the temporary – The temporary pleasures will always be there, the easy way, the short cut. You must learn that you can overcome the temptation. Another great motivational speaker, Les Brown, says “If you do what is easy, life will be hard. If you do what is hard, your life will be easy.” Every single time I face something difficult, I always find the greater version of myself on the other side. That does not mean it doesn’t come with failure, but I can assure you, I will learn.
- Set the next goal – As we age, I believe it is easy to ignore the idea of stretching and growing. Growth and goals do not stop at retirement. Continue to push for wealth, health, and happiness, as you are now beginning to leave a legacy and set an example for those around you. Once you hit a mark, move the goal post and seek out what is next. This doesn’t mean you have started a new business but maybe try planting a garden, running a mile, writing a letter to a friend, sky dive. Goals don’t have to be massive; they just have to be yours.
The big secret to health, wealth, and true happiness is; you already have everything you need to have it all. You are enough with your current life and don’t have to change. If you are aware of the gift of your one and only life then you’ll see it really doesn’t take much to be happy or have enough wealth to live the life you designed or take care of your health. If you doubt that, then let me ask you, what if this was your last month? What if you had 30 days left on earth, could you see how your life was full of wealth? Health, wealth, and happiness are not found outside of you, they are in you. You were put on this earth to share that gift, and you have everything you need already to be successful. Good luck.