When I was younger, I was very focused on goal-setting.
Go to college.
Land my first job.
Buy a new car.
Find a romantic partner.
Rent my first apartment.
My goals gave me a sense of purpose, motivation, and focus. So, I continued to set more.
Land my next job.
Buy a better car.
Get married.
Purchase my first home.
This pattern of goal setting served me very well for most of my life. It made me productive and achievement-oriented. So, I kept making new goals.
Get promoted.
Adopt a pet.
Have children.
Buy a bigger home.
And the goals never stopped.
I thought achieving these goals would make me FEEL differently.
I thought if I can just get that NEXT great thing, THEN I will be happy.
This is known as Grass is Always Greener Syndrome aka GIGS.
I made the assumption that external things (achievements) would make me feel validated. But, my mistake was always looking ahead to the next goal instead of enjoying the ones I already achieved.
Eventually, I learned while goal-setting and achievements are important, I needed to look inwards to create a greater sense of fulfillment.
Happiness is an inside job and it starts with gratitude for what we already have.
Developing a daily practice of gratitude can be done in many ways, but this is one of my favorites:
First thing in the morning, before I roll over to check my phone for texts, emails, and scroll through social media, I think about 10 things I am grateful for. Sometimes I focus on the ones I often take for granted.
-I am breathing
-I can hear (Sometimes a bird chirping. Sometimes a garbage truck clanging)
-I have a roof over my head
-I have a bed to sleep in
-I have running water
-I have something to do today
-I have food in my refrigerator
-I am safe
-My family is healthy
-I have someone who loves me (Pets count and so does a loved one who has passed)
Feel free to substitute whatever YOU are grateful for. Take each one slowly and really let it resonate.
Gratitude keeps you in the present rather than worrying about the past or obsessing about the future.
We think the grass is always greener on the other side, but the grass is greener where we water it. Gratitude is that water.
If you would like more help learning how to feel a greater sense of happiness from within, feel free to DM me and set up a free consultation.
