Have you stopped to ask yourself recently when you will have reached the point where you will be satisfied with what you have achieved?
I ask this because our society appears to be stuck in a state of relentless striving. We are encouraged to be dissatisfied with what we have, regardless of what that might be. To keep pushing, driving, obtaining…
Good is never good enough.
The problem with this is that until we are content with what we have we will never be satisfied… no matter what we’ve achieved. On paper you could be ticking every box (and beyond) and still feel your life is lacking. And if that’s the case is the striving actually worthwhile?
If you have lost sight of what good looks like for you, it’s time to go back to the why? Why do you do the work you do? Why do you want to to buy X? Why do you spend your time on the activities you do? Why is Y a priority?
The trouble with “relentless” striving is that we don’t often stop to consider the why. We just keep forging forward imagining that this is the only option. That more is better. That bigger is greater. That stopping means failure.
Yet as with all things in life more often actually means less. Buying more, doing more, eating more, being more starts to exact a toll on your life. You have less peace of mind, less contentment, less relaxation. Satisfaction eludes you. Ill-health plagues you. Life feels out of balance.
If you were to stop right now what would you have? What boxes would it tick? Would you be able to carve out a happy life? Could you live in line with your values? If not, what else do you genuinely need so you could achieve these things?
And if yes, what are you continuing to strive for?