Strive to achieve balance.
You might be asking, "Balance what, exactly?"
Good question.
Happy people strike a healthy balance between setting goals and appreciating what they already possess or have achieved.
Look, there's nothing wrong with being ambitious. Some of us already have the next goal in mind even before we've achieved the present one. Whether we aim to lose weight, start a business, get a master's degree, or climb Mount Everest, setting goals keeps us motivated. Many people feel that if they have no goals in mind, they're just settling, thereby inhibiting their own growth.
But it's important not to lose sight of how far you've come. Unfortunately, some individuals are never content. They view everything (and everyone) in their lives as disposable, and they find themselves unable satiate their hunger for a more challenging job, a bigger house, a prettier partner. And once they reach the point where "upgrading" isn't as easy as it used to be, they become totally down on themselves.
While ambition is the fuel that drives us, it's our humility and gratitude that keep us in check. Rather than become upset whenever we can't acquire or achieve something, we should remind ourselves that there are many people in the world who would do anything to be in our shoes and wish they could accomplish many of the things we have.
Being appreciative doesn't mean you're settling for less. It means that even as you work hard to realize a new dream, you remain mindful of those you've already achieved.
If you're focused only on the next best thing or goal, guess what? You're perpetually living in the future rather than making the most of the present!
As with everything else in life, moderation matters. Too much of something is never good. What you see in your mind as the next best thing may not turn out that way at all.
If you're never satisfied, you'll never be happy. But if you're too satisfied with the status quo, you might not have the impetus to progress in your life.
Again, striking the right balance between both is the best way to go. Who says you can't be goal-oriented and grateful at the same time?
Don't forget -- Goals and gratitude can in fact go hand in hand!
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