Find your life’s song
How many times have each of us uttered the phrase, “I will be happy when?” Then, if we don’t get to that magic “when” moment, we continue to be unhappy. Or, worse yet, we actually do get to that moment and our happiness is fleeting. We thought that the accomplishment of the goal would finally make us happy. But, it doesn’t.
How many people do you know who seem to have everything, yet are miserable? On paper, they check all the boxes. They have a great house, a great spouse, great cars, drink the finest Champaign and smoke the finest cigars. However, they are continuously miserable. On the other hand, how many people do you know that seem to have nothing, yet are extremely happy? They have none of the supposed trappings of success, yet have found lasting joy.
Studies have shown that people who can provide for their essentials are no less or more happy than the ultra-wealthy who seem to have everything. Basically, you are as happy as you make up your mind to be. One of the biggest indicators of happiness is not actually material success. It’s the focus on the present, the enjoyment of each moment. That isn’t to say that we shouldn’t strive for more. On the contrary. We should always strive to reach new heights. But, we can’t let our happiness be dictated by those heights. We have to find happiness each day in the steps that we take to move forward.
Think of your life like one of your favorite songs. When the song starts, you know it will eventually end. But, you don’t hope for the end. You don’t think that when the end finally comes that you can then enjoy the song. It’s the exact opposite. You don’t want the song to end. You want to listen to the whole song and enjoy each note. Imagine if you had that same attitude about your life. How amazing would each moment be?
If each of your goals is like a song in your life, then the steps to reach those goals are like notes in a song. Strive to enjoy each note along the way and find joy in the playing of your song. Yes, your song will eventually end and then you will have a new song to listen to. But, at the end of your life, it will be filled with a symphony of success that you can look back on and be proud of. Additionally, you enjoyed the music to its fullest while it played.