How to avoid being miserable

Toussaint Gilbert
October 15, 2024

Every time I find myself hanging out, spending time with friends, or doing something relatively fun

I end up thinking about the work I haven’t finished, goals I haven’t hit, and things I haven’t done.

I find myself in this exact position every time, without fail.

But the thing is, my life is exactly how I want it to be considering where I’ve come from two and a half years ago.

I no longer have to worry about my mom stressing about money,

I don’t have to worry about setting a budget on what I do daily

I can do whatever I want, I have great friends, I drive the beautiful fast car I’ve wanted and i’m making and impact.

Yet I STILL find myself in my head thinking, “am I doing enough?”

Not appreciating the current moment because of a task or a goal I haven’t already hit.

I often read a lot of books about people such as J.D. Rockefeller, Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill.

Now I don’t do this because I’m some sort of history geek,

but rather because I find it is the best way to get myself closer to people who have the characteristic traits that I want.

We’ve all heard “you’re the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with” right?

One thing I learned from J.D. Rockefeller is that your life can either be heaven or hell, depending on how you view it.

As humans, life is supposed to be hard. Somewhat of a never ending struggle.

But this is what gives us purpose.

I learned from Rockefeller that it is often described to us that we need to
“sacrifice” , “push ourselves” , “destroy ourselves”

Just to become successful…

But if we look at the most successful people, this doesn’t seem to be the case at all.

The most successful people get their enjoyment from the work they do.

So what did I do?

There are truly only a few key tasks you need to do every single day that will move the needle forward.

So I identified these tasks, found true enjoyment and love within the tasks and do them every single day.

It’s nearly impossible to experience true happiness without accomplishments.

“Wealth and happiness come from work” - J.D. Rockefeller

Some of these accomplishments may have nothing to with money at all.

But accomplishments give you true joy out of life.

The only other option is to live a life trapped in a world of

“could’ve”

“would’ve”

“should’ve”

So identify the few things you need to do each day that will truly move the needle forward

And you’ll never let your mind get in the way of the true joy of life.

Much love,

Toussaint