Make Your Own Reality and Create Happiness

When I was a kid the internet did not exist. If you wanted to hear a song you either had to get a ride to the record store or wait until it was played on the radio. Somedays I would sit by the radio all day waiting, a blank tape in the stereo. You’d hear a song ending and you’d run over, index finger hovering over the record button. All these songs I recorded off the radio were always missing the first second or two. That was my reality as a child. It was fixed, not mallable, as the internet didn’t exist, no internet, no mobile phones with data so we could listen to YouTube Music. It was a barbaric time I'm quite surprised we survived.

Unlike the reality of acquiring music when I was a kid, your reality is changeable. With the internet all the knowledge in the world is a few keystones away. Do you feel dissatisfied with your life? Your job? The country you live in? You can go online and research what new careers suit your interests and strengths. You can look into countries more in line with your outlook on life and concepts of justice and equality. Like I always say, I believe you change anything in five years.

Too many of us—when we are growing up and when we are adults—have all these expectations stacked on us: Get good grades in high school to get a scholarship. Get a college education. Get a solid, good paying career. Build your credit and 401k. It never stops. Even after you retire and elect to travel you’re supposed to have the right massive RV with a platinum bidet and all the gadgets or your wrinkle buddies will judge you with tight smiles.

Why do we go along?

We do we accept the sacrifice of our own happiness to make other people happy?

In the United States we work so hard and still end up in debt and stressed out...

What would happen if they built a civilization and no one came?

That was a pithy line I tossed out in the first American Outback book but I think about it a lot.

Personally, I have very little in the way of “possessions”: Everything I own fits in a minivan and a closet. I make minimum wage. I live in company housing so I do not have a rental. My home is a two hundred square foot travel trailer that I do not own.

And yet, more than anytime in my life I feel I am on the right track and leading the life I am meant to lead.

It can be same for you; it really can.

I am researching life in a different country, top of the list is probably Mexico. I have many issues with the United States, many concerns about the future of the county. However, there are many beautiful places I will miss. People? I will see my family the same amount wherever I am (about once a year). I still contemplate having a little place in the states or just building a camper and traveling around—it all depends on what opportunities come up and what opportunities I thought I had fall through. I lead my life on my own terms, but there is a price for that as there will be a price if you change your reality. I am more alone than I have ever been; November was the last time I hung out with family and friends. My living situation is spartan. But, I accept these downsides. If you change your reality, there will be downsides, things you will struggle to accept and work with. I do believe, however, the costs are well worth living a life that makes sense and feels right.

Am I living or simply existing?

That was the question I suggested you ask yourself last week. Unless you believe in reincarnation this is the only life you have—why settle for being miserable? Why lead a life where you’re focused on your days off like a drowning person clutching at a buoy? That’s no way to live and I know because I lived that way for a long time. Your reality is mallable, it can change, it just takes focus and a lot of work. Do that visualization exercise I suggested, write out where you see yourself living in five years. Don’t think too much, just sit down and write it out, don’t worry about grammar. Check out mine if you need a reminder of how to do it. Write a visualization exercise every few days and you will see constants emerge: Features of your dwelling. The town you are in. What you do day to day. Ideally, these exercises are like a dream, your subconscious telling you what is really going on in your mind, what you really want and need. Well…what do you need to do to acquire the life you lead in those visualizations? Break it down into small, manageable pieces and give yourself time. Five years ago I was living in a city, I was married and had a career and a mortgage. Now my life, my reality, is completely different. It can happen for you, as well.

Here's where you can find more information about me and my books:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Izaak-Diggs/author/B00EG7OKUY?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true