Becoming Mentally Wealthy

After a year and a half of working our way through a global pandemic, a lot of concerns and insecurities have come to the surface. With so many people thrown out of work, through no fault of their own, personal financial worries have taken up a lot of mental space. Seeing light at the end of the tunnel, it’s time to give some thought to how we want to recover. Here is a true story that could provide some food for thought.

Some time ago, a random sample of 1500 graduating college seniors were surveyed to find out what they would base their career choice on. 83 percent said that financial gain was the first thing they would base their career choice on and following their dream, or their passion, would come second. Seven percent said that following their dream would be first and financial gain second.

In a follow-up study on actual net worth 20 years later, what do you think they found? Well, 101 of the 1,500 had become millionaires. But only one of those millionaires had come from the group that put financial gain first, while one hundred of them came from the group that followed their dreams.

Of course, this study doesn’t “prove” anything. Its objective was simply to give us information about ourselves. The point is that a path with heart, and a goal with passion driving it, is incredibly powerful. People who do great things have, above everything else, a purpose that stirs their soul, that gives life meaning. How does that saying go? “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.” If it’s something you love, it’s not work. It is a life-fulfilling joy!

So, follow your dream as much as you are able. Do what you love and what gives you joy. Do it with your whole heart. And if what you love and dream is also a contribution to the betterment of the world around you, so much the better!

If this survey is any indication, this might be the way to become a millionaire, if that is what we truly want. But even more so, it is also the way to become mentally wealthy, because following our passions will make us happy, the very essence of our personal well-being.

So, how will you mix your goals and your passions?