“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough”
― Oprah Winfrey
That quote is intense, right? When I first read this, I immediately began thinking about my own experiences and related it to my personal life. Am I really one of those people who constantly focuses on what I don’t have? Is this why I always feel like I still don’t have enough (ugh)?
The Downfall of Wishful Thinking
Like many of you, I have always believed that it is important to appreciate where I am in life. This position that we’re in today, right now, is not a mistake. The daily struggles of our lives, the uncertainties, the frustrations, the question marks of life…are all vital components of making us who we are. With that being said, it’s still difficult to appreciate these experiences as they unfold in our lives. Many of us still think about where we wish we were, what we wish we could do, what we wish had, where we wish we could go, where we wish we could work, what we wish we owned and what we wish we did differently (I could keep going but I think you get the point). While these thoughts are natural, they can also become extremely unhealthy. We go from wishing to regretting. We begin questioning everything and appreciating all that’s great even less.
“Be thankful for what you have…”
Such a simple statement that so many people struggle with. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting more. In fact, that’s awesome! If you want more, than you’re destined for just that. But let’s not get so wrapped up in our feelings that we lose appreciation for where we are right now. You are where you’re supposed to be…right now. Does that mean that this is where you’ll be in a week, month year or decade from now? Of course not (I have to keep reminding myself of this so I won’t lose my mind). But the only way to get more is to be grateful for all that you have and all that you’ve accomplished…today. That saying “you win more flies with honey than you do with vinegar” couldn’t be any more accurate. Vinegar is not going to get you what you want. Vinegar is not going to attract all of the wonderful things that belong to YOU. Shake off that spirit of doubt and frustration and truly enjoy and TRUST your journey (My goodness! This seems so simple but has definitely has been a struggle of mine for what seems like forever).
Set a Goal. Demolish it. Repeat.
I always want more. I set a goal, I accomplish it, and I immediately want more. I have always had a difficult time appreciating “the now”. Pushing forward is great, but I have to remind myself that where I am now, was nothing but a goal not too long ago. It’s important to acknowledge that, appreciate it for what it is, and avoid thinking about all that I don’t have (why is this so hard?).
As we all know, our thoughts are extremely powerful. Putting energy towards anything negative drains us and prolongs our road to greatness (or completely reroutes us into a different direction).
“If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
Let the Magic Happen
All that you have right now was at some point nothing but a mere desire…something you wanted. Then you got it, you were happy for a short while, then you went right back focusing on what you don’t have (at least this is the case for most of us goal oriented folks). You may not be where you want to be but you’ve definitely done some amazing things that helped you land where you are. Relish in that alone. You should be proud! Keep pushing, but don’t forget about the art of appreciation. Something magical happens when we mix gratitude with desire and strong determination. It’s a beautiful thing that you refuse to become complacent. Let’s just make sure that our lack of complacency isn’t wrapped up in a lack of appreciation (again…this is a reminder to myself).
Remember, wishing doesn’t accomplish anything. It’s wasted energy that could be better used on actually working towards what we want. The same is true when we’re talking about regrets. Use that energy on something more productive and enjoy yourself throughout the process. Your future self depends on your current self to get it right. Don’t mess this up…
So ask yourself, are you wishing or are you working? Do you tend to focus on what you don’t have? What are some things you’re pushing towards?
Having something to look forward to is important. I agree that once you have achieved your current goal ( meaning most people ) there seems to be a void, like ” what am I supposed to do now?” Now, you can take a dance class, learn to fish, buy that puppy or even a quilting class. I believe that in the midst of a of that achieving that you should also remember to do things that has value to no one but yourself. I believe that I it keeps you balanced. I have a tendency to jump off the band wagon once and awhile to regroup and once I return it’s full speed ahead? You know the saying ” Don’t forget to smell the roses “. #glasshalffullalways
I agree! You can’t get anywhere without putting the effort into it. So True! Luv it!