Thursday, June 19, 2008

Next

They say the true key to happiness is not in having what you want, but rather in wanting what you have. The concept is true on almost every level, but I say almost because most of us want something other or perhaps more than what we already have but been trained to believe that its the result of a lack of maturity.

This is not about changing something in our lives that isn't working and by default not bringing out the best in us, this is about bringing in another layer to enhance where we are now.

If you are a Type A personality, which I have been accused of, (I know, I know you're shocked) the the issue isn't really wanting something else, its more like..."OK, been there, done that. What's next?" It is not necessarily a situation where there is a loss of interest in the current set of circumstances or feeling that there is lack of some sort. After all, there is a huge difference between wanting to experience something more and feeling like you are missing out. One gives you the incentive to try the unknown and the other depletes your energy. This is more like wanting the excitement you get when you are experiencing something new. The thrill of the hunt and the hunted, if you will.

What is wrong with that? Nothing.

Almost all of us have those moments where we are about to embark on something that gives us that little, almost undetectable boost in attitude. At least undetectable to us. Everyone else could feel it before we even enter a room. There is something in our energy level which changes and not only is it contagious, it is addictive. Who doesn't want to feel like that all the time?

There will be people who will scoff at the idea that it is OK to continuously want something more or different. They will accuse us of never being content. Those of us who spend time focusing on what else we want to have or do, can be made to feel guilty and really believe there might be something wrong because we are not conforming to the expectations of the majority because we are craving the next experience.

What if we come to accept that part of us which does want more? How liberating would it be to not deal with that underlying guilt? This is not about moral issues, we do have a responsibility to the people we care about, but we also have a responsibility not to be made to suffer because we are afraid to come face to face with what really drives us at our core.

Perhaps the true key to happiness is giving ourselves the permission to be accepting of the fact that we are not willing to be content with things as they are. It is perfectly OK to take steps to add another dimension into our lives. But in this regard, in order to fully experience the excitement of getting what we want , we must be content with what we already have.

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