I can get caught up in the "what's next?" syndrome, staying so focused on the future and what's up ahead that right now starts to feel not quite good enough.
Like I have to just achieve this one thing and then I'll be totally satisfied.
But of course, the satisfaction never really comes from the achievements themselves because once we have "the thing"- whatever our goal may be- the sense of happiness and accomplishment is often cut short as a new goal quickly falls into its place.
This is much of the reason why I'm choosing to, I guess, "lay low" on the whole "goals" thing this year. I do have goals, of course, but I no longer want to focus so much on how exactly I'm going to reach them.
When I look at my goals from that long-distance perspective, the journey feels so long and arduous from here, and it makes me start to second guess myself, start to lose motivation and get all sorts of procrastinatey.When our sense of fulfillment becomes wrapped up in attainment, then the "if I just do that thing, am in that place, act this way, have this happen, then, I'll be happy" treadmill becomes miles and miles long, and we never feel quite happy with where we're presently at.
One way to hop off that treadmill of conditional happiness is to celebrate your accomplishments!
I did this recently myself, taking a cue from the so so smart Christine Kane (if you're not reading her blog yet, check it out- you'll love it) to simply list out 100 accomplishments my life.
You write down 100 things you've created, made happen, achieved, rocked at, are proud of. Think big and small, from kiddom til now, anything that comes to mind.
And then (this might be the trickiest part) you actually give yourself an opportunity to take that all in.
Take a moment to acknowledge yourself- all that you've already done and who you already are.
Yes, 100 things! It sounds like a lot, but you can take a few days to do it, adding to the list as you think of things. And when you do get to 100 (I bet you could even think of more! I did!) and let yourself actually celebrate all those things, damn if it don't feel good!
And that's what it's all about really- feeling good.
Feeling whole.
Feeling satisfied with our lives.
Feeling like we matter, like we make a difference.
Feeling like we've found our place in the world.
Feeling happy, right where we're at.
So, instead of beginning your journey from a place of lack, and "I'm not enough", imagine if you moved forward, towards those goals and big dreams from a place of "look at all I've done?"
Imagine if you moved forward fully knowing what you are indeed capable of?
I think it'd be a lot easier to create the life you truly want with that kind of powerful energy behind it!
So ultimately, I guess if I hope to achieve anything this year, it's to come away from behind the binoculars that are always focused on my goals, and instead remember to look around to see what's right in front of me- the happiness, and accomplishment, and all the reasons to celebrate that are right here, right where I'm at.
Feel inspired to list out your own accomplishments? I hope so! I'd love to hear what you think about this idea, and if you're gonna go for it, in the comments!
