You finally accomplished something, so you celebrate.
You made it.
You’re joyful for about 5 minutes, but then this achievement becomes the norm.
You start thinking about the next thing you need to achieve, and this cycle repeats itself over and over…
Some people in this world can never be content, and unfortunately, I happen to be one of those people: I live in the future.
There’s always a next step, and I feel this urge to plan everything out…But sometimes I wonder if this is a good habit or not.
On one hand, I have a trajectory to follow, and on the other, I’m always restless and dissatisfied.
It’s like a blessing and a curse at the same time, oscillating between confidence and paranoia.
According to Jordan Peterson, setting goals makes life more meaningful, as meaning is found during the climb and not at the top of the mountain.
“Our eyes are always pointing at things we are interested in approaching, or investigating, or looking for, or having. We must see, but to see, we must aim, so we are always aiming.”
Because of our very nature, having a plan makes it easier to achieve the goals we set for ourselves.
To better understand this concept, it’s analogous to sailing a boat in that it won’t get to its final destination without the captain leading the way.
With all of this in mind, the key question to focus on is: how do you plan things? Is there a correct way to plan things?
For me personally, I visualize where I want to be 10 years from now and then work down from there. I’ve come to find that, without a specific place I’m aiming to be at, it’s hard to be consistent.
It’s one thing to be motivated for a couple of days, and it’s another thing to continue going at it when that short-lived motivation fades away.
By being inspired by the future and purposefully reminding yourself of this vision, you’ll give yourself a sense of direction when it comes to your career, your relationships, your confidence, and more.
But there’s also a downside to doing this: because of this grand vision you now have, you won’t be content with your life in the present moment and this will get in the way of your happiness.
It’s definitely an inevitable tradeoff one has to make, and it’s your job to ensure that it’s worth it in the end.
Until then, you put your head down day after day, grinding for a better tomorrow…
Sooner or later, the world is your oyster.
JL