Are you happy with what you have? Many might say that they are not, even though they have a lot.
It’s hard to be satisfied with what we have because the world is full of images of success that make us feel as if we are failing. Here is how you can give up that mindset and celebrate what you have now.
1. Don’t compare yourself to unrealistic role models
Today, you get to see celebrities all over the place – social media is flooded with influencers who project an image of success. It might make anyone feel deficient, but don’t compare yourself to people who are in a whole other category. You do not have to look like a celebrity or live the life of an influencer to be successful.
Focus on what is realistic for you, and don’t get your motivation down by comparing yourself to someone who has millions of dollars or a team of people at their beck and call.
2. Change your perspective
The second thing you can do is to change the way of looking at things. Imagine that you do not have anyone to compare to. Would you be happy with what you have? Can you appreciate it? If you compared yourself to someone much worse off than you, could you appreciate it more? Perhaps you find yourself dissatisfied – what exactly is missing?
Do not focus on what you could have when compared to others, consider what you want in your life to be happy. You could be closer to satisfaction than you think.
3. Find things to be grateful
It’s easy to recognize everything that is going badly right now. Try to shift your focus and see everything that is fine or even outstanding. Consider at least a few things you have to be grateful for every day.
Make a habit of practicing gratitude and seeing your daily life in a positive light. Whether you feel grateful for the people around you, a particularly delicious meal, a beautiful view beyond your window, or anything else, it will surely help you feel more satisfied with your life.
4. Social media is not a good guide
Social media feeds are full of hundreds, thousands of people, apparently living their best life. When you use this as a guide to everything you should be doing, you are setting yourself at a disadvantage.
First, you are comparing yourself to many people, each focusing on a different thing – travel, fitness, family, and so on; you might be expecting that you have to have it all.
Secondly, you are not looking at the reality. People might not share their struggles or their bad days, you don’t know what it took for them to reach the high point you see. What you see is not real because you are only seeing part of the picture.
5. Would you trade your life?
Perhaps you remain unconvinced. Ask yourself this: would you trade your whole life for someone else’s whole life? Not just a part or an aspect, but all of it? Would you give up all the things you have and all the people you know, all the ups for someone else’s downs? You might see things that you would not want to give up. There are aspects of your life that are already perfect for you and that you can enjoy.
Remind yourself of the good things when you feel that you have failed. Your life has many amazing things in it, don’t lose sight of this.
6. Give yourself time to enjoy what you have
As you get more responsibilities, you might find that there is less time to sit down and just enjoy what you have. Maybe you bought that expensive console and have only played on it twice. Maybe you have all the materials for a crafting project, and they are just gathering dust. Take time to do things that are pleasant and reap the rewards of your work.
Make time for family and friends, for your hobbies, and just for relaxation. When you are not tense or working all the time, it becomes easier to enjoy life. You deserve time that is just yours and meant to be full of fun and relaxing things; make sure you have that space in your life.
“Drudgery makes it harder to enjoy life, even if it’s objectively good.”
