Try not to become a man of success. Rather, become a man of value.

Albert Einstein

There’s a reason why I have clients who come to see me after years of self-help and self-development.

After multiple attempts of trying to better themselves, they think that there must be something wrong with them, because they can never stick it out. Or they can’t find the “one thing” that makes their lives easier or better.

When we focus on an end goal like amassing wealth, friends, or better lifestyle, life can seem become a chore. Little things frustrate us, trivial things seem like big things, and the high we get from others recognizing our successes last for a very transient period of time.

I don’t want you to spend the next 20 years of trial and error to figure this out. In fact, I really don’t want you to slave over the unimportant things in the next few years only to have life hit you upside the head to show you how to really live your life so you’re fulfilling your part of why you decided to come onto this planet this time around.

So here are two things to keep in mind:

  1. You can find that you’re right exactly where you need to be when you let go of all expectations of what you think life should look like. That’s why when you create mantras or asks of the Universe, you add, “or better” at the end. Because our limited ego-ic ways of looking at the world is seriously short-sighted.
  2. Find the things that make you smile – the things that really make you forget that you exist in a Universe of human experience that is governed by time. When you’re doing things that make you smile, laugh, and light up your heart, time all but disappears. So find more moments to do more of that, and get to it.

Eventually, when you stick to the above two things consistently enough, you’ll find that you’re aligning with exactly the things you need to – to be on your merry way to life purpose or destiny.

It’s not about chasing after the end result – whether you think it’s financial abundance, freedom, love, or all of the above. If you do, you’re dangling the wrong carrot and you’ll find that you always fall off the wagon.

Instead, take your blinders off and see that life is all around you… right now. You’ll always be on the right path because of your compass (what makes you smile), but enjoy where you are now. Because you won’t want to circle back. It’s about the person you are now, and who you’re becoming every step of the way. Not the person who will be on their deathbed (who wants to fast forward all the way there?).

Live with intention. Lead with inspiration.