Life
5 Reasons Why Not Having It All Is Actually a Good Thing
We live in a world where people are always striving for more, even though they haven’t achieved anything yet. Society has taught us to focus too much on what we don’t have and to wish for things to be different. That’s why too many people end up living in regrets and are miserable.
But at the end of the day, you and anyone else, don’t have it all. And that’s completely alright. What’s more, it’s actually a good thing.
Here’s 5 reasons why not having it all can be a good thing:
1. You don’t need it all
There may be many desires, goals and dreams in your mind, but if each comes true, you won’t be happy. Most of the things you’re after in life aren’t what you truly want, you just don’t know it yet.
Most millionaires and celebrities are quite lonely. Those who reach the top of a career ruin their health and peace of mind, and quitting your job and moving to a tropical island won’t necessarily help you be a better version of yourself or motivate you to start a business.
Setting just a few goals is completely alright. Our brain can’t focus on too many things, anyways. So stick to the stuff you’re sure will change who you are and your future in a positive way, and stop wanting it all.
“Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.” – David Frost
2. You already live in abundance
You have more than you think, you’re just distracted by living in the past or future and asking for more, instead of focusing on what’s already in your life.
Practice gratitude to open your eyes for the people around you that love you. For the opportunities that lie in store. For how beautiful life is in the present moment. For your practical skills and all the knowledge and experience you’ve gained over the years.
That’s a lot to be thankful for. If you begin each day appreciating this, instead of wishing for what you don’t have, you won’t feel a void in your life but will be happy without the need to change anything on the outside. That’s another proof that you don’t need it all.
3. Big things take time
If you did have it all, you’d go crazy. 24 hours in a day aren’t enough to master many skills. Your limited focus isn’t going to help you have the perfect balance between family, work and social life. There’s only so much motivation you can find on the inside weekly and at some point you’ll experience burnout. You’ll then need a long period of time to recover, and once you get back on track, you’ll be left behind and feeling disappointed.
So don’t even take the first step on such a big journey to conquering every area of life. You won’t succeed. Instead of focusing on failures, enjoy your free time now. Keep your focus for the important things, and get 1% better daily at 1-3 big things.
4. Never being satisfied is a blessing
If you think about it, having it all will take something really important from us; the ability to dream and aim higher, the strive for perfection, the chance to imagine a better reality even if it’s far away.
And that’s something we all like to do. Even if we’re stuck in an ordinary life and aren’t really happy with our current one, we always have the freedom to be positive about the future, to expect wonderful things and big changes to start happening. That gives us comfort and can prevent us from losing hope and becoming depressed.
“Do your duty and a little more and the future will take care of itself.” – Andrew Carnegie
5. The element of surprise
Another reason why not having it all is awesome, is that your future is still a blank page. It’s in your hands, but also at any moment something unexpected and great can happen, or a fantastic opportunity may be presented to you, that can turn the rest of your life around.
That thought helps you build momentum and keep taking action today for a better tomorrow. If you did have it all, though, there won’t be room for anything new and better in your life. And you don’t want that.
Now that you’re reminded of these reasons, you shouldn’t waste any precious time feeling upset about what’s missing in your life, comparing yourself to others, blaming life for not being fair and giving you enough of everything, or else.
You have enough and it’s the best you can have at this stage. In the near future, there will be more. And when it’s achieved through focused and consistent work, you’ll feel proud and confident about yourself, will be able to find meaning and contentment, and will actually enjoy the fruits of your labor.