So we have all been there (including myself), where we get stuck in a rut trying to make as much money as possible. Now, don’t get me wrong money is a fantastic resource but I am seeing a lot of people still fall into the money trap rather than what will help them be fulfilled.

Having been lucky enough to experience both wealth and poverty, I have learnt a few lessons along the way. If you can grasp the concept of making your dream come true rather than always chasing money, you will reach new levels of success.

Now this topic has been covered lots before but I want to add some points to it that you may not have considered before. If you’re at that point in your life where you feel stuck and are unfulfilled, then your beliefs about money are absolutely contributing to your unhappiness!

It’s easy to walk down the street and see so many people eating nice food, driving fancy cars, and dressing well, but what you can’t see is what they are like when they get home. Unfortunately, platforms like Instagram can easily give you the impression that everyone is living an amazing life – I hate to break it to you, but they’re not, in fact, most of us are chronically unhappy.

This is a great problem to have, though because it’s easy to work on and the solutions are straightforward. The solutions will only work though if you have an open mind and have personally developed your brain over time (fed it with quality ideas and content).

So, below are six reasons to stop chasing money and start chasing your dream.

1. Reaching your dream can give you money automatically

This first one is my favourite because it’s poorly understood. When you care about something a lot (like a dream), and you give it everything you have, you will eventually succeed. And guess what? When you succeed, you create value for other people, and that value can easily become money.

The fastest way to have money is to forget about making it, and think about how you can create it. Creating money requires a big dream (something you’re passionate about) and a set of beliefs that makes you think you can achieve it.

The skills to achieve the dream can be acquired, so they are not a necessity to begin with. Now, if you are thinking I am making it sound too simplistic, it’s because I am. I have always said success is simple but you have to start somewhere, and you must work on your mind every day.

2. Money can go as quick as it comes

Now I probably shouldn’t say this but one thing I love about money is that it shows who people really are. If you lack the beliefs and mindsets to add value, then even if you win the lottery tomorrow, you will almost certainly lose everything.

That’s because once you have made money by achieving a dream (the real way), even if you lose everything the next day, you can rebuild it by following your passion. Rebuilding from nothing is not as hard because you know what it takes to do it, and all you have to do is do what you love again to build your wealth back.

It’s a strange feeling when you see someone who is rich and then the next day they have no money. It can happen so quickly, which is why you should always focus on your dream and everything else will fall into place.

3. Achieving a goal feels much better

The sad thing is that having lots of money actually doesn’t feel that good, in fact, there is no such thing as enough money – this is why dreams are more important. Working towards a dream feels amazing, and as you hit each milestone, it makes you fulfilled beyond your wildest dreams.

All of a sudden, you are achieving success at something that has the possibility to be your life’s work. When your dream becomes your life work, it gives you a sense of meaning that no amount of money can give you.

Now, have you ever seen someone who is angry, has lots of money and became happy, spent it, and the next week they are angry again? We all have, and that’s what money can do to you if you let it. I am not saying you should forget about money and waste it, just don’t let it be your focus.

“Let money be the sign from the universe that you are creating value for other people, not the measuring stick of your success or status in society”

4. Money doesn’t necessarily give you unforgettable experiences

Having a lot of money can make you feel great in the short term, but it will never give you unforgettable experiences. Yes, you can buy holidays or experiences but what you will quickly realise is that the people you are with are far more important than the experience itself.

You can do something as simple as a dinner party, and it can be the best night of your life not because of how much it costs to host, but because of the great people and stories you share. Also, when you have experiences that are paid for, there is no sense of purpose.

“When you have an experience as part of a dream you are chasing, it becomes a critical building block to the story and meaning of your life. Suddenly, every experience has its place, and you learn to love the negative experiences at the same time” – Tim Denning

Money can’t do this and will buy you experiences that on the surface seem perfect until you realise at the end that it wasn’t that great after all, and you have done something similar before.

5. When one area thrives, other areas can die

A critical law of nature is that not all areas of your life can thrive at 100% all the time. As you watch the person walk down the street with big muscles, remember that it’s because they focused all of their time and energy into one area of their life while other areas didn’t progress,

What you can’t see is that they may have no intimate relationship, they might have no savings, they could be very unhealthy, their career might be going nowhere, their car could be broken down – there are things that you can’t see, but I can guarantee they have had to give up something.

What are you prepared to give up for your own dream?

So, when you go after a dream just remember that there may be sacrifices and areas of your life that won’t grow, and you have to be prepared to make those sacrifices.

The reason I tell you all of this is because money is just like the person with the big muscles, it’s one area of a persons life that can be going well, but that is meaningless if all other areas are failing miserably.

Focus on your dream, stimulate the areas of your life that matter, and the “money thing” can tie all of this together when you eventually achieve your goal – assuming your goal will make you money.

6. Your money status is meaningless

Don’t forget that your money status is meaningless and people don’t care about how much money you have made. When Richard Branson walks into the room people are impressed by how many dreams he has accomplished, not by his money.

It’s the impossible tasks he has done, the person he has become and the way he gives back that make him successful. The more you fulfil your purpose, the more you achieve the impossible, the more you become obsessed with creating value, the higher your social status will be.

Walk into a bar and shout out to everyone that you have a million dollars in your bank account – no one will turn around. Walk into the same bar and tell people you just walked on the moon, and people will stand on their chairs and cheer you for the rest of your life.

If you have your own stories of money to tell then, please do so in the comments section below or send them to me via timdenning.net