How To Avoid The Biggest Mistake You Can Make In Your Life

I’m sure you have come across people in your life who have been outright mean and cold to you.

Starting from an early age, and to varying degrees, we all have received poor treatment at times.

Sure, in some cases – maybe you needed a bit of a stick that day. However, it should only be a reminder of change, not the creation of guilt or depression or worse, anxiety.

One might say that it is not fair, and that the folks who treat you that way should receive a long house-arrest themselves.

Truth be told, it’s life. We all have our ups and downs. It’s why the airplanes fly – without gravity, we’d all be really bad off.

However, if you let it affect you, and in worse ways than the next one, you are setting yourself up for disaster. You need to learn how to balance it, and see it as the cycle of everybody’s life.

It’s how you deal with these things that counts.

And, as you grow and acquire more things (physically & spiritually) – here’s what you must do for a truly wealthy life.

You must learn to give and receive alike – and not feel bad about it.

I felt shame in the strangest way possible…

I remember a time, a while back – when I had worked hard and invested some money that afforded me a classic Mercedes 450SL convertible. I was living in Santa Monica, California at the time, and I felt truly blessed. However, because of my earlier programming, input from friends, family, teachers and the environment – I didn’t actually drive it for about 2 weeks! I parked it in the garage, and drove my normal truck instead.

Sure, I had struggled and and worked hard to get the Mercedes, felt like I deserved it – but something just held me back. I remembered a friend back in the home country who had a nice car, and I wished someday I could have one too. And, when I did — I “hid” it. I didn’t even tell my closest friends. I would join them and eat food, drink and laugh inside the condo, knowing that the gorgeous car sat in the garage – and me just itchin’ to tell them about my new acquisition. Again, no – didn’t want them to think that I was “above” them.

Don’t judge me

Even though they were friends, I didn’t want them to get jealous, or to judge me poorly. I felt like I might be seen as a “show off”.  Plus, neighbors might see me pull out of the garage with the top down, music blaring – and I didn’t want them to talk badly about me either.  It might be better if I showed a bit of humility – and act as if I was broke, defeated and depressed. At least then, I would be like them – and we could all feel a little sadder together…

The above sounds both serious, stupid and sad. Yes, it kinda’ was at the time, but there’s good news in my story…

A new female person abruptly entered my life. I fell in love (she did too – who wouldn’t with a car like that ;-)) – and I sure wanted to show her. We drove around Los Angeles, from Beverly Hills to the sea, sun shining, big smiles on our faces, and I was literally beaming! It set me free of this (ignorant) “guilt” pain. And, as I exposed my “secret” – it turned out that my friends thought it was awesome. How did you do it, they said. I was in shock and awe of the situation.  (But, the neighbors never did change – and they still live at that same apartment complex, very much cautiously peering out from behind their curtains when anything ‘new’ is happening).

That was a long time ago – but it has served me as a great lesson over the years.

Don’t apologize for success

In your life, as you work hard to reach goals and receive rewards for your contribution, don’t hide or hold back. Others will see you as winner too (even if not at first) – and they’ll want to have what you have.

So…

• Don’t apologize for the goodness you have and strive for
• It’s infectious – show them what you have, and that they can get/have it too – you are the coach!
• Quit and break out the poverty mindset. If you think poor, you sure will be exactly that. Don’t be the victim, be the victor!
• Enlarge your vision, and shake off any guilt by getting busy
• Make a declaration that this year will be the best year ever – and then take action to make it so

Shooting for the stars