For those who think that they are owed a living, a better job, or a bigger home or a flashy new vehicle, I have some bad news. That bad news is that you are not owed any in life. And, for those who think that they are not lucky and that is the reason others are getting ahead, I also have some bad news.

The real facts are these: luck is what you make yourself, and that luck comes from being prepared to take advantage of any opportunity that is available. 

Don't Catch This

Unfortunately, there is something that is going around and you must ensure that you inoculate yourself from it - it's called the 'poor me syndrome'. Now, for some, they already have build up an adequate immune system that fights or wards off this syndrome but even the best prepared can fall victim to its trap from time to time. Even those who, at first glance, have enough, that is, a great home, car, family, health and so on, may be its' victim. 

Let Me Explain 

Several years ago, there were two friends who had attended the same high school and graduated at the same time. One decided that the best way to success was to go on to university and then onto graduate school to obtain their degrees that would allow the to obtain a well paying position within the government.

 

The other decided that the way to success was not to work for somebody else but to go into business. He decided that short course as a barber would get him started so that any money he could save would be invested into real estate. 

Fifteen Years Later

The one who decided to go onto university had a successful career in government, owned his own home fully, had a growing family, had his health and was considered by many of his friends as very fortunate and well off. 

The other who decided to go into business had a constantly growing barber business, and instead of investing time and money into a university education, had invested in real estate. He now owned several apartment buildings, had his own home and was considered very well off. 

Who Was More Successful? 

Who made the right choice? The person who went to university had everything a lot of others would really be happy to have but he wasn't. Every time he spoke to his friends, he would complain that the other person was much more successful, had several apartment buildings and was worth several hundreds of thousands of dollars. His possessions, in his mind, were much less than his high school friend who hadn't wasted his time going to university, and was always caught in the 'poor me syndrome'. 

The other person who went into the barber business and now owned several apartment buildings was very happy with his life and what he had accomplished feeling very fortunate that his strategy had been successful. 

One could argue that they were both successful but the one who complained constantly was never satisfied with his life; was always comparing himself to someone else who had more monetary worth, and chastised himself for spending far too much time in school. 

Dollars and Cents 

If you determine your success through dollars and cents, then you will never be happy. The more you have, the more you want because there is always someone who has more, who has a bigger house, a fancy car, a cottage, or can avoid the daily grind of going to work in a nine to five job. Is happiness simply a dollar equation then? Well, for one person it was but this type of person will never know the real happiness in life. 

There is never enough in their mind and where health, family and peace within are never counted as the biggest kind of wealth there is, nor where being happy with where you are in life, being grateful for what you have in non-monetary terms.

 

The really sad part of this story is that the person who went on to university is still unhappy, still caught in the 'poor me syndrome'. 

Ask Yourself This Question 

What really makes you happy in life? Is happiness equated to wealth, money, possessions, or is it value you find in doing your job well, having a loving family, your health, and an inner peace?