Are You Chasing After What Makes for a Rich Life?

You’ve no doubt heard the many various quotes about the ladder of success. The point being, what if you climbed the ladder of success only to find it leaning against the wrong wall? While the whole thing has become something of a cliché, still and yet it’s true that many people are chasing after what they don’t really want. And don’t know what they would do if they actually caught what it is they are chasing.
I learn this first hand when I was in my early twenties. I was pretty confident that real estate was the way to make a fortune, so I set about to chase after real estate deals. To be honest, I not only wanted the wealth, but I wanted to look good. I wanted to impress people.
I did quite well in my pursuit. Eventually, I had accumulated thirteen properties. I was proud of my efforts. On the surface this appeared to be a great success for one so young. However, it didn’t take long before I realized that I was miserable! I had never been so stressed out in my entire life.
There was always something going on that I had to tend to. Tenants were in an endless process of coming and going. I was doomed to be involved in damage control nearly every day. I had no life.
I had spent a great deal of time and energy amassing my thirteen properties. I thought that’s what I wanted. It wasn’t long before I was totally sick of all of it.
Even when I was on vacation, I was unable to relax. I couldn’t leave town without being stressed out. I had all this “stuff.” And it was “stuff” that I pursued for many years. I thought that was the answer for me. I was chasing after real estate thinking that was where my wealth would come from. Instead I had accumulated for myself one big headache that wouldn’t go away.
Things turned for the worst when I got into a couple of bad deals; then in the midst of it all the real estate market took a plunge.
That’s when I had to stop and re-evaluate my life. I changed direction. Rather than chasing after wealth (or trying to look impressive) I began to discover and live out my own personal life purpose. And to my surprise, it had nothing to do with real estate.
Today I have two properties. I got rid of all the rest. I no longer chase after wealth, but rather I live each day to fulfill my own life purpose. And when I do, the wealth follows. My ladder of success has a strong foundation and I know where it is leading me.
You can do the same thing in your life. What have you been chasing after? Is it something you really want? Or something the world has made you think you want? Take the time to re-evaluate your goals and your direction in life.
Once you discover, and then begin to live out, your life purpose, you will stop chasing and begin living a rich life to its fullest.