This is the Problem With Green Grass
There are two friends. One friends needs to continually achieve in order to feel fulfilled. The work is never done to an extent. Once one goal is achieved the next one is set and the friend keeps moving. It’s part of the reason they succeed. Because dissatisfaction is a constant state of being, the itch for progress is never fully eradicated. It’s not a mindset that’s conducive with happiness but it is one that is necessary for ambition. This friend excels but the hunger for achievement is never truly satiated.
The second friend sees what he has in life already and is grateful for it. His contentment comes from knowing that what he already has is enough. His happiness comes from seeing his people thrive and be happy. There may not be an ambition to achieve extraordinarily, but there needn’t be this drive. Finding meaning and enjoyment with what you have already means you don’t ned to look elsewhere for it.
Unfortunately, I find myself in the first camp more often that I find myself in the second. I say ‘unfortunately’ because, although it lines us up to perform above the average, it doesn’t really set us up for happiness. Although one might look in from the outside and think that Friend One has it all going for them, in reality that person might struggle with being happy.
The issue with the grass always being greener is that, whilst you toil and obsesses about grass in different places, you fail to recognise your own garden. If you focus too heavily on what’s outside of your own life, you lose a sense of appreciation for the things already in your own.
The grass looks greener to me whenever I see people are travelling, or in the job they love, or are generally enjoying their lives. Their grass looks greener because they’re doing the things that I wish I was doing, at least sometimes. However, these goalposts always change. As soon as I’m doing what I want to do, there is always more I wish I could do. The dissatisfaction continues because I’m looking outside of what I already have for happiness. It’s an equation that never works out.
Lately, I’ve been trying to be more like that second friend. I’m trying to take stock of what I already have in my life and be grateful. Being somewhat ambitious means I’ll always be looking up for the next thing and that’s just a part of life I need to learn to live with. Allowing myself to appreciate what I already have should help with that, and so, that’s the plan.
Drink water,
