On your terms.

“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”  ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt; American statesman, political leader, and President of The United States.

“Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.”  ~ Kinky Friedman; American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician, and magazine columnist.

We are creative in spirit and that is our essence, and so the mere concept and use of money must not drive you, but what must drive you forward in your life is to be free to express yourself and develop yourself in whatever your heartfelt passion is; for money is just a tool and, even though it is needed to buy food and shelter, it is something created by man, and something created by man cannot bring true happiness to anyone’s life.

Your mind has to reach freedom and acceptance.  So stop thinking about money and stressing about work, and remind yourself daily that freedom is the most precious thing; and that freedom is not found in your actions or in the money you can make, but that it is found in your mind and its content.

And to listen to other people’s opinions with the aim to please them, or to expect others to guide you or even respect your direction in life is the opposite of creating your life, of living life on your terms; for it deters you from being yourself, from being unique, and it blocks you from allowing your mind to learn on its own and develop itself. 

See, success is not really a thing you get or a position in society, or achievement through the manipulation or command of others, no matter who those others are, but success is much like happiness–i.e., it is a divine condition you experience within yourself by starting with a free mind that is unique, and so let go of the mental conditioning and set rules of a society or culture.  You bring peace and clarity to your mind by accepting life as it is and then by working towards a goal you have designed yourself; and also, by emptying the same mind from the set beliefs, ideas, expectations, and control of others, then, you master yourself, you create your own destiny.