No, not your dream house, the luxury car you want, or the promotion you’re chasing. Those things might make life comfortable, but they don’t define happiness.
If you strip everything down to its core, what truly matters?
For me, the answer has been the same for years. Two out of three might match yours. Maybe all three.
And if they don’t, maybe it’s time to look at life differently.
1. The Simple Gift of Being Alive
Every morning, you wake up, breathe fresh air, stretch your body, and go about your day. It sounds ordinary. But imagine, just for a second, not having this luxury.
Good health, a functioning body, and a sound mind—these are privileges we take for granted until they’re taken away.
You only realise the value of movement when you can’t move. You only appreciate mental clarity when it begins to fade. You are already winning if you can wake up each day, get out of bed, and live without severe health concerns.
Most of us don’t recognise this until we see someone struggling—someone fighting illness, confined to a hospital bed, or wishing for just one pain-free day.
So before anything else, before worrying about work, money, or ambitions, be grateful for the ability to live, move, and experience life.
2. The People Who Love You
Family. Friends. Those who genuinely care.
We assume they’ll always be there. But life has a way of reminding us that time is fleeting.
How many of us regret not spending enough time with our loved ones? Not telling them how much we value them while we still could? How often have we put work, stress, or ego before meaningful relationships?
We only realise what we had when it’s gone. The empty chair at the dinner table, the phone that no longer rings, the laughter that becomes just a memory.
If there’s one thing you take away from this, let it be this: Tell them now. Don’t wait for a ‘perfect’ time. Call your parents. Hug your child. Show up for your friends because the people in your life are irreplaceable.
Everything else—money, promotions, material success—is secondary.
3. The Freedom to Be Yourself
The ultimate freedom is the ability to be unapologetically you—without pretenses, masks, or attempts to be someone else.
We live in a world that constantly pressures us to be more successful, wealthy, and accomplished.
But here’s a thought: What if you are already enough?
Your worth isn’t tied to your title, bank balance, or social media following. It’s in your kindness, integrity, and how you treat people when no one’s watching.
Pretending to be something you’re not is exhausting. Seeking validation from others is a never-ending chase. The moment you stop needing external approval is the moment you indeed start living.
Let go of comparison. Let go of the idea that you must “arrive” at some imaginary milestone before you’re happy. The real win is finding peace in being exactly who you are.
What Steals Our Happiness?
Look around, and you’ll see people chasing things they believe will make them happy—power, money, status. And yet, many of them are restless, discontent, always searching for “more.”
They want recognition. Respect. Validation.
Here’s what worked for me: I stopped caring.
Not in a cynical way, but in a liberating one. I stopped measuring my worth by titles or possessions. I focused on what I already had rather than what I didn’t.
The truth is that wealth fluctuates, careers shift, and external success is temporary. But the person you are? That’s lasting.
If people respect you, let it be for your character, not your bank account. Let it be for how you treat others, not your number of followers.
Change Your Focus, Change Your Life
If you constantly seek “more,” pause for a moment.
Ask yourself: Am I overlooking the three greatest gifts I already have?
1️⃣ Ability to live and experience the world
2️⃣ People who love and care for you
3️⃣ The freedom to be your true self
No amount of money can buy these. But if you recognise their worth, you’ll never feel lacking.
Focus on what truly matters; you’ll find you already have everything you need.
About Me
I am a thinker at all times. I see, I think. I hear, I think. I read, I think. Every weekend I write. I would love to know what you think.