“You cannot live a lie and have peace. You cannot live a lie and have joy.”

I once had the pleasure of meeting author and healer Deborah King and reading her book “Truth Heals”, where the preceding quote caught my eye. I’ve been pondering that quote because it goes to the root of so many of our frustrations and tribulations. My own story makes a great example.

My roots are humble. I grew up in a poor family and was the kid who dressed funny in school. How times change! Today I own a home, a collector’s motorcycle, an arcade game, and other neat toys. Speaking of toys, my seven year old son already has more toys that I ever had. I’m a success!

Not so fast.

When I was six, I really wanted a toy microscope. My mother agreed to buy it but later withdrew the offer because we needed food. Man was I angry over that broken promise! I kept hounding (I was six, remember) and she kept insisting that she couldn’t afford it. I gave up… and that’s when I got the microscope. Was I happy? No! I was guilty because my parents were going hungry to buy that toy.

No way was I ever going to feel that kind of guilt again. I went on a decades-long spending spree, buying myself all the toys I’d wanted but never gotten. Eventually, I forgot all about the microscope.

My mother was stunned when I shared this story. Turns out she did want to buy it but groceries took priority. Then she got a little bonus in her paycheck and immediately bought the microscope. My six year old brain interpreted that simple act of love as betrayal. Result? A good part of my life revolved around coping with fear of scarcity and denying my guilt for the better part of three decades. A huge weight lifted from my shoulders the moment I understood what I’d been doing and why and was replaced by the weight of realizing that I am now paying principal plus interest for my 30-year bender, all over a simple childhood misunderstanding.

I spent a good portion of my finite life energy attempting to right a wrong that never existed in the first place. On and on the pattern went, buying things to both overwrite the guilt of previous purchases and prove that I could have my cake and eat it too.

My question to you today is simple: What is your ultimate purpose in this life and is your home-based business serving that purpose? If you are serving your home-based business, then you are in the wrong business. I will go so far as to venture the guess that a good deal of any chronic problems or difficulty you may be facing could stem from some fundamental disconnect between what you’re doing and what you’re on this planet to do. In other words, your troubles may exist because of a gap between who you are and who you’re supposed to be. All that glitters is not gold. Spraying gold paint on lead is nothing more than an illusion that adds neither value nor substance.

Your home-based business must serve you; you must not serve your home-based business. My coaching clients and my downline know this is my mantra. I question everything because little is ever as it seems. Your home-based business aside, you are on this planet to fulfill a mission… and you don’t have forever.

I am not accusing you of living a lie or walking the wrong path in life. That said, it’s a good idea to check in with yourself form time to time to make sure you’re on the right path for the right reasons. This is very important because we live in a society that encourages us to hide our “dirty laundry” and avoid dealing with what was by always seeking the latest and greatest. By contrast, an aboriginal tribe gathers around its sick to let them share whatever truths that person has bottled up within them. They know what we’ve forgotten and what Deborah reminds us: truth can and will set you free.

If your home-based business is serving your mission in this life, then you are already wealthy no matter how small your bank account it. If not, then you are dirt poor no matter how big your bank account is.

Anthony Hernandez

Anthony Hernandez is a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Business Association Coach and author of Guerrilla Marketing Success Secrets with over 20 years of successful self-employment experience. He is proud to be a co-founding member of the MOXXOR WORKS Team. Visit the MOXXOR WORKS Team web site to learn more about the MOXXOR WORKS Team and our home-based opportunity.