In today’s society; it feels the idea of satisfaction does not exist, further, we do not aspire to be satisfied. We are constantly looking to improve, always looking at the next best thing. We forget to notice the triumphs we attain. We do not spend time being content, being happy.
There is always a balance, we never want too much or too little of anything. I would never say that ambition is bad, however, ambition can easily become longing, this deep sense of unhappiness. We have over looked the daily simple joys; the wonders of just being happy with ourselves.
How I see this manifest mostly is through how every person needs a side hustle. The idea is romanticized and embedded into our society. It’s the idea that our day job cannot provide us enough happiness or enough financial security to support us. It is believed we all should be working towards and have a side hustle to achieve these other goals. Now you might say that is not the case but purely how one wishes to look at in negative light. We live in a time where living expenses have increased and the pressure to have material objects, provide for a family and for ourselves is ever increasing. It is through these pressures, these definitions of success that the side hustle was born. We believe that it will fill gaps of our life, to link us to happiness. We created a world that romanticizes the entrepreneur, we created a longing, a belief that a side hustle is the key to our success and happiness. We forget that we are the key to our happiness. It is not what we do, it’s the outlook we have while doing it that makes us happy.
In a society that is driven by other people’s happiness, we are constantly in a state of comparison. Happiness and success is being broadcasted world-wide. We rarely see the struggle, and when the struggle is present it is glorified We glance over the details and say it’s all worth it, everyone struggles if they want to be successful, we underestimate the struggle, we focus on the destination instead of the journey/the process of success. Furthermore, this constant state of comparisons, the flood of success stories and overwhelming highlights with the idea that is everything is possible we have unknowingly contributed to the idealizing of the entrepreneur. We created a longing within us, a desire to always have more and be more. A state where nothing truly seems good enough. Now that idea when spoken aloud is easy to object to. That easy of objection allows us to easily defend those romantic thoughts we created: we should live our best lives, we should have fiery passion in everything we do, why should we settle for anything. These are easily defendable statements, things I do believe are important in our lives, passion, self-love, and ambition, however, we also need to value contentment, it does not need to be dirty word, it can be something we aspire to, a personal peace with yourself and your life.
On the chance of sounding like a complete downer I want to express the opinion that not everything is possible. People have limits, weather its emotional, or physical there are limits. That behind every success story there are thousands that are not. Survivorship bias is very real. Now back to something more positive, having limits is NOT A BAD THING. In fact, I believe it what makes human connection desirable, it allows us to create communities. Yes, some of us are great entrepreneurs: with vast creative ideas and the ability to market them. Others are in successful in other ways, some quieter than others but nevertheless still happy and successful.
Without realizing it we tend to believe that being satisfied is wrong. If we are not looking for ways to improve than we are lazy or if we are not constantly seeking more than why are we living this life. Neither of these things are in nature bad. They are some of the most wonderful things in life. Using the lens of balance I want to look at the drive for more, the hunt for a true passion. Happiness is not a destination it is simply part of everything we do and experience. Happiness happens while we look for the next adventure, or seek what creates passion within us. We are not born to have one great passion that will satisfy us. We have multiple passions, joys, hobbies, and ways to impact others around us. There is no one thing, no single drive that creates us, we create us though living. We are simply born to be us, to discover and to be happy.
We crave individuality and connection. It is vastly important that we are express our differences, we challenge one another and through our connection with others we create worlds we have not yet imagined. Our ability to connect with others even though we have magnitudes of differences is such a tremendous gift. I am saying that we need to remember to not get caught in the idea of this goal, finding our life passion will fix everything. Success is defined by you, you are successful if you think you are successful. It is perfectly okay to be happy with where you are in life, with what you are doing now. You do not always need to be looking for something more. Let things naturally unfolded, just give yourself and the people around you a little a push every now than 😉 and you will live a full life and better yet a happy one.
In a world constantly moving, constantly pressing down ambition, making highlight reels’ reality, and overriding pressures to stand out; I crave something else. I crave a life that satisfies me, that makes me feel content, one of peace. 
Yes, I want more, yes, I am ambitious, yes, I hope the world can be better place and I want to do my part in it. I crave success, to be better than I was yesterday to me that means being at peace with where I am today and loving this thing we call life. Remember along the way to be happy and appreciate the smaller gifts in life, the ones truly make our life special. I no longer want to be caught in the idea that what I have right now is not enough. What I have now is enough, but it will also continue to grow as I grow. It will be enough always because I am enough and I have peace with myself. It is continual project, a continual choice to be happy.
