You Are Allowed to Be Happy and Still Strive for More
Yesterday I was writing a new article when I received a very profound question from Brenda. In response to my article about “being happy in the moment”, she asked, “If we should be content and happy with our life’s lot, why bother setting any goals for a better life?”Great question! Indeed, if you are already happy with what you have, why strive for more?
Here is how I see it. Right now I am sitting on the balcony with my laptop, enjoying the morning sun on my face and listening to the birds sing. The sweet peas and hyacinths that I planted two weeks ago have finally started sprouting and you can already see the first two leaves (which makes me very excited, because it is a first time I have planted anything).
As you can see things are going pretty good. I am the happiest I can be. But it does not mean that I should not want to improve myself and my life.
For me achievements and happiness are not mutually exclusive concepts, but rather complementary. Answering your question, Brenda, I believe that we should have goals and strive to achieve them, because goals are what keeps us moving forward and gives direction to our life. But as we do it, we should not forget to enjoy and appreciate what we have already been given. For me goals are “preferences”, not “absolute musts”.
If I was asked which ice-cream flavor I like I would say “white chocolate.” But it does not mean that if I was given strawberry flavor I would feel cheated, dissatisfied and upset. That I would demonstratively throw it away, tell my friends how unhappy I was and bear a grudge against the person who gave it to me. I would say “thank you!” and enjoy it just as much.
It is very similar with goals. If you prefer to live in a four-bedroom house, you should voice your desire to the Universe and work towards this goal. But if for now you can only afford a two-bedroom apartment, it does not mean that you should feel disappointed and unhappy with your own life.
Because the house or any other goal has nothing to do with you being happy or being miserable. Happiness is a state of mind, not a state of your affairs or your relationship status.
