Satisfaction vs. Gratefulness
picture: couple travelling the world
There is a massive difference between being satisfied and not pursuing any further goals and dreams in your life versus being grateful for what you have and wanting to achieve more in life.
This is something that is always coming back to me because of the reality that I live in. Before I go into these two very different approaches for life I want to explain which mindset I come from.
I grew up with a mindset that is called a fixed mindset nowadays, including a poor money mindset.
To get out of this kind of mindset a lot of work and patience are necessary. It took me my whole life until now and I am still working on minor details but I am happy to tell you that I reached my goal and implemented a growth mindset and positive relationship towards money.
picture: my old habits and friends
While I changed my whole circle of friends in the last years and barely have any contact with most of those who are still stuck in negative patterns reflecting my old life, my old persona. I am still in touch with my old reality a little bit and sometimes I am confronted with it.
picture: the new me
I recently turned 40 and was confronted with 2 very different approaches to life.
1. One is being satisfied with what you have but at the same time giving up on living an interesting life and sometimes (at least) going out of the comfort zone, without any growth and still being emotionally stuck, reliving old negative patterns
picture: man watching TV and drinking beer
and
2. Being very grateful for each day and everything that you have achieved but also having the urge to achieve and learn more about the world, the mind, and everything that you can find. Traveling is a big part of this life approach of mine.
picture: a man traveling the world
You might have guessed it. Yes, it also has to do with age and in which life phase you are but growth is important at every age. It keeps us healthy and fit.
Being satisfied with what you have is nothing bad, in fact, it is something really positive and I like a lot of quotes that use this topic, like:
, A satisfied life is better than a successful life. Because our success is measured by others, but our satisfaction is measured by our own soul, mind, and heart.,
Or
, The art of being happy is to be satisfied with what you have.,
Or
, Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.,
A helpful anecdote
The following anecdote might be helpful for you to understand what I mean.
picture: beautiful but closed-off pond
If you take a very peaceful lake that is not moving, not changing and is not connected to any other water, it might turn green after some time and will carry a lot of bacteria and finally die off completely.
picture: parched ground
But if you have water that is connected to other flowing water, it will clean itself, it might change over time, it might be a habitat for different fish and other animals, it might not even look like the water that you saw 10 years ago, but it will still be vital, strong and clean.
picture: river flowing into the water
Human nature is very similar. If a human stops or never starts to grow, to learn, to change for the positive, to work on negative patterns, to work out, to meditate, to get out of their comfort zone, etc. In short, to stop looking after body, mind, and soul, this human will get sick, sooner or later.
Stagnation is a big part of the formula for sickness.
picture: pills
The human design is very interesting but also very strong if treated right. Remember the gremlins movies? You were not allowed to feed them after midnight otherwise they turned into these ugly little monsters.
Change is the only constant in life.
picture: happy person
It is very similar with humans, if we don’t treat ourselves right, we turn into something that we are not supposed to be. But this is a whole different topic that I might touch on another time.
All I wanted to communicate this time is:
It is great to be satisfied with what you have achieved in your life already, but don’t let it become an excuse for why you cannot grow anymore. Keep yourself fit, be grateful for each day with your loved ones, and experience life fully. You deserve nothing less than the best life that you can live. Go and see the world and don’t let yourself get stuck by fear and anger.
Like Eckhart Tolle said:
, Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance. ,
And I agree but there is nothing wrong with having big goals that you want to achieve and you will achieve them. Stay patient, and consistent, put in the work, and work on your mindset and you will eventually reach them but never give up and get stuck.
Look for possibilities for growth, get out of your comfort zone when you have the opportunity for it, and don't become a pond without any connection to other waters in the world.
Waking up every day is a gift, never take it for granted and like Leo said in Titanic, make it count!
Namasté