Don’t Risk What You Have With What You Don’t Have And Don’t Need

There is a beautiful piece of wisdom by Warren Buffet, “Never risk what you have and need for what you don’t have and don’t need.”

I recall a time in my early 30s when my happiness was solely attached to my professional growth. I convinced myself that if I only got a promotion, I would be happy. However, promotions came and went, and none of them made me happier. In fact, they only left me wanting more. I was never happy because I was working longer hours, taking on more stress, and doing nothing else in life apart from my job.

This phenomenon plays out in most areas of our lives. While we tell ourselves that reaching the next level is enough, it never is. The next promotion won’t make you a different person. The fancy car or dream house won’t make you as happy as you think it would. The bigger bank account won’t make you feel more secure and won’t satisfy you any more than you are now.

We all need to pay attention to what we are chasing because eventually, we may end up getting it, and in the process, the cost of our success may be the more important things in our life that truly matter.

Sometimes, in pursuit of our goals, we compromise on things that we should not. We sleep less, we eat unhealthy, we don’t take care of our health, or we don’t spend time with our family or friends.

Striking a balance between our true priorities and ego-driven ambitions is key to living a meaningful life. Let’s not allow our quest for ‘success’ to overshadow the essence of who we aspire to become.