If you can’t already tell by the recent blogs, well I’ve been tormented lately with deep thoughts. I was on a writing cusp. In the search for the “right” decision I came across many wondering thoughts about my entire life and life in general.
One was my earlier blog on the crazy dichotomy of trying to find the balance between Living Life Like It’s Your Last Day and Living Life Like It’s NOT.
The other was the ironic insanity of two other life-coach-type sayings that seem to contradict each other.
“Strive to Pursue Your Dreams” AND “Be happy with What You have”
Is it me or don’t those two cancel each other out? If I’m happy with what I have then I won’t be striving for any dreams, ’cause I’m happy with what I got. If I’m striving for dreams it’s because I want something in my life I don’t have… i.e., I’m not happy with what I got.
Is my logic Off?
Oh, I know the “be happy” saying is used to help those who are unsatisfied with life but can’t change it to learn to accept what they DO like about their life and not dwell on what they don’t like. But to me it sounds like giving up. When my kids whine at me about something they don’t like I often say, “Well, how can you fix that?”
If you don’t like something about your life… How are you going to fix it? Because usually only you can fix it. I know you can get “help” here and there but really… when it comes down to it only YOU know how to fix any situation you’re involved in.
Most people want a “better” life but don’t know how to achieve it. They assume “better” somehow equals “money”. Wrong. Money is a means to buy things you think you want. I’m not denying that advantage. Nothing can make me happier than to go shopping for something for myself or to have the car you want or the living space you want.
Its the “how” to achieve those things you want. And if you want something different in your life, its really up to you to make it happen. But to do that, of course, you have to be dissatisfied with what you have… not happy with it. I can only imagine “Happy With It” works if you are completely powerless and cannot change it.
But wait… are we truly completely powerless? Cannot we change it even if the changes are small? Perhaps that is the key to the balance. Plan out what we want changed. Figure out how to achieve our dreams and see the steps to doing it. Then begin to make strides toward the Dream no matter how small the dream nor how small the strides.
I don’t know about anyone else.. but I need forward motion in my life. If I’m not going anywhere I get despondent. Yes, I can enjoy the ride but I’m still a pessimist, I need to see where I’m going. Yea the view is pretty… but is that a cliff? Or worse, is THAT the entire road and this little side car the entire ride? Hell, I’m outta here!
So where is your ride taking you?