What Will Matter Most When Your Best Years Are Behind You

I often ask myself what I value most in life.

What truly makes me happy? What am I most proud of?

I thought about this for quite some time and I will answer in three parts:

Our Most Valuable Possessions.

We live in a materialistic world, and sometimes it’s hard to stay focused on what truly matters.

It’s human nature to want to live comfortable lives with our needs satisfied. But contrary to popular belief, I don’t think possessions make you happiest.

When you work hard, it’s good to reward yourself with the things that make your life a little easier, like living in a nice home in a “safe” neighborhood, or a comfortable car to get around.

The risk of losing yourself comes when you get caught up in trying to keep up with the Joneses for the sake of outdoing and impressing those around you.

Truly genuine people would not care where you live or what car you drive. They would love you for you, even if you were flat broke, homeless or ill.

They would stand by your side even if you disagree from time to time.

Most of all, they’d support your dreams even if you had doubts. So, I would say I value genuine connections with those whom I share an unconditional love.

These are the people you want around for the next few decades when looks and possessions have all faded.

I also value my talents, abilities and strength to persevere and accomplish my dreams, since this is a big part of my life and who I am. It’s what fuels my spirit and keeps me afloat in a crazy and sometimes unkind world.

It’s what I would want to remember at the end of my life, to know my time spent here had meaning and helped others accomplish their own dreams or improve their lives in some way.

The Key To Happiness.

When you are able to identify your talents and gifts, the sky is the limit for creation.

Everyone is born with it, but it is up to us to listen to the signs and discover what we were placed on this earth to do.

It takes courage, nurturing and determination. I am happy to be alive and have the ability to tell my story through words. I like to witness what I have created and see the reaction from others who tell me they can identify, or that my work has helped them in some way. It’s a natural high.

Sometimes people (even those close to you) may try to deter you from your vision and almost brainwash you into thinking that it’s not worthwhile.

It’s important to stay true to yourself and believe. Nothing is worse than having a gift and living your whole life without expressing it and sharing it with others.

When you let it die inside of you, part of yourself also dies, as you withhold your purpose on this earth.

Nurturing the relationships and identifying the ones that are genuine are an important part of your journey to happiness.

This can make or break you, since negativity and insincerity can be toxic to your progress and health.

The relationship you have with yourself is also of utmost importance in order to discover the people and things that matter most and to find peace within to transcend your limitations and heal your past.

Pride: What’s In A word?

I've thought about this one a lot. What is my proudest moment? Was it the publication of my first book and the completion of the second one?

Was it the time when Elite Daily published one of my articles within 24 hours?

Was it having the courage to become an entrepreneur? Or, was it the moment when my dad told me he would be proud of me no matter what?

I think that was it. That was when I realized it does not matter what you do, but how others respond to you.

Once you do things for the right reasons, to make a difference in other lives, the rest will come. You are not doing it for yourself.

Once you get carried away with your ego, you miss the point of doing it in the first place.

The feel-good sensation and reward comes from the benefit derived from the “doing.”

It doesn't come from the fame, fortune, glitz, glamour or wealth. It’s normal for us to enjoy these things in moderation; after all, we are human. But, it should not be our driving force and reason for being.

So, to answer the question: What am I most proud of? The answer is simple: I am proud of my growth and desire for change and what’s behind the metamorphosis.

Most of all, my unending faith is what keeps me going.

It is my belief that if I continue to live in this way, I will have no regrets when I am at the end of my life.