Imam Ahmad bin Harb رحمه الله said:
I worshipped Allah for fifty years but I did not taste the sweetness of that worship until I abandoned three things –
1 – I abandoned trying to please people which allowed me to speak the truth
2 – I abandoned associating with the Zalemeen (transgressors) which allowed me to mix with the righteous
3 – I abandoned the sweetness of this world which allowed me to taste the sweetness of the Hereafter
( Siyar A’lam An-Nubalaa – 11:34)
May Allah guide me to the sweetness and make me among the Mukhlaseen