Deep dive into Intentional Life Design, why wealth can be a trap, and how to avoid contingent gratification

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Building Blocks: Actionable insights to build an Intentional Life

Hey everybody,

Here’s another batch of actionable insights to start your week off right, so you can be more intentional with how you live, work, and create.

Let’s get started.

Insight 1: How to build an Intentional Life

Looking for a podcast to dive into?

In this conversation with Josh Gonsalves, we talk about:

  • Transitioning from doing therapy into coaching and entrepreneurship
  • How to build an Intentional Life
  • How to overcome the four horsemen of fear
  • Using mortality as a motivator to live fully
  • And much more

Check it out, if you’re curious:

Insight 2: Wealth can be a trap

Money can free you or imprison you.

The trick is learning where the line is so you never cross it.

In this article, Jack Raines breaks down where most people go wrong when it comes to building wealth.

Money affects the dynamics of one’s interpersonal relationships as well. When you are rich, new “friends” that seem genuine pitch you investment ideas four months into the “friendship”. Your dating life is compromised by bad actors that are more concerned with your wallet than your personality. Family members come out of the woodwork asking for financial help.

It’s an interesting perspective on what “fuck you” money means and how to achieve it.

Insight 3: Cut out contingencies

Delayed gratification is great.

Contingent gratification is a trap.

Fun Fact: A large majority of people think they’ll be happier when their net worth doubles—regardless of how high it currently is.

Entrepreneur and Rad dude, Khe Hy calls this the When-Then Trap:

  • WHEN I get a new laptop, THEN I’ll be more productive.
  • WHEN I hit [monthly revenue goal], THEN I’ll be happy.
  • WHEN I make more free time, THEN I’ll enjoy my life.

But this never happens.

Contingent gratification is a moving target—and it’s always one step ahead of you.

Question for the Week

Are you optimizing for freedom and fulfillment, or slowly building your way to misery?

Share Your Insights

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My goal is to help entrepreneurs be more intentional with how they live, work, and create.

So if you enjoy Building Blocks, I’ll be forever grateful if you help me spread these insights by sharing this issue with other entrepreneurs.

And if someone forwarded you this issue, you can check out past issues and subscribe here:

Let me know what you think and what you’d like to see in future issues. I’m always working to making Building Blocks more valuable for you.

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Until next time—memento mori,​
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Corey Wilks, Psy.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Executive Coach

Website: https://coreywilkspsyd.com/​

Course: Intentional Life Design