Working for what you want has never been an issue for me, especially when it comes to my job. I’ve always been willing to put in whatever hours were necessary to accomplish my work-related goals. However, I’ve never asked for more than what was necessary, as my primary objective was to ensure my financial needs were met, even if it meant putting in countless extra hours to achieve that.
But when it came to my health, it was an entirely different story. I never invested the time I should have in taking care of myself. My personal health and happiness always found themselves at the bottom of my priority list, while my work goals and the happiness of those around me were consistently at the top. It was almost as if I believed that I needed to earn the friendships of others or overexert my coworkers to achieve professional success because, deep down, I felt that I could never meet my personal goals.
As a result, work became my life. Despite putting in relentless hours, I never truly achieved wealth from it. If I were to calculate the hours I put into work and compare them to the income I received, it would probably amount to just $5 or $6 per hour.
However, I’ve been in the process of transitioning my thought process. I haven’t stopped working hard or ensuring my financial needs are met, but I’ve begun to look towards the future. I’ve started working not just for a paycheck but for a greater purpose.
As I’ve become healthier through weight loss and a change in mindset, my desire to help others hasn’t waned. It’s just shifted from “what can I do for them” to “how can I help them, teach them, and make their lives better.”
Financial security is more precarious than ever, and the future seems more uncertain. However, the path I’m forging towards the future is clearer than it has ever been. I am committed to working diligently to help it evolve into the future I envision for both myself and others.
Through this journey, I’ve learned that taking care of myself is essential to being able to help others effectively. Money is just one aspect of measuring success, and if it were the only measure, I would consider myself unsuccessful. Instead, I’ve come to understand that success should be measured by my ability to positively impact the lives of others.