Success in all its shapes and forms is founded in disbelief

For me it was disbelief about happiness, about money. At 19 I had a 45-minute commute to make $9/hour. I was unhappy, broke, and had a mini fridge for a gut. The only way I could have had a kid would have been immaculate conception because no one was laying this guy. So why were people telling me I was doing okay? I hated college, hated my job, hated my life

Had someone lied to me along the way, directing me down the wrong path? I didn't think so. My advice-givers were kind, loving people with the best intentions. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions. One day it struck me: What if they didn't know any better? What if my advice was coming from broke, unhealthy, unhappy people who had never seen life any other way? What if their perspective was formed by "normal" instead of "good"?

Things got better I stopped trusting common advice. I ignored advice about college and dropped out. I left, got happier, and made more money. I stopped trusting in my country, how it was so amazing. I left, got happier, and made more money

I think there are three keys to disbelief, more happiness, and better decisions

If they are less happy than you want to be, poorer than you want to be, or less healthy than you want to be, say "thank you" and ignore

Mix this with a healthy dose of common sense ("Don’t have a kid with a one night stand") and you're good to go

Assume nothing about the world. Don’t trust people who speak without experience. 

Find an American who has never crossed an ocean or gone south of Texas and you'll hear how great the States are, best dang country on Earth, dang it. Commie killin' and freedom livin', hallelujah.

But every American I've met in Costa Rica tells me how I'm living the dream to be here. "I wish I could do what you do," they say. (It's very easy, but that's for another day.)

In summary: perspectives change once you get your own.

Make small tests, low risk with big payoff.

Unhappy in college? Quit for a year. 

Hate your job? Change jobs, go back if you don’t like it. 

Want to travel? Leave the country, but only for 3 months. 

All these sound scary, but an ounce of quit gives a pound of perspective. And worst case scenario, how hard is it to go back to your current situation? In my experience, it is better to pursue uncertainty than remain in unhappiness. So try as many new things as you can stand without feeling depressed.

Disbelieve what people tell you, especially when they don’t know any better. You’ll have some hiccups, but you'll find your way.