There is a key duality that dominates many feelings in the world. It’s a balance between feeling like you’re enough, and feeling like you could be better.
When we see instagram stars posing in Greece, we think we should be better and have a cooler life.
When we embrace a family member or receive genuine appreciation we feel like we’re enough.
I find this balance is one of the most challenging parts of having hopes and dreams. If you have ambition and want to build a successful venture, it’s painfully obvious that you’re not there yet. And it’s easy to feel like you’re not enough.
While some use this as fuel, I imagine this feeling becomes so unbearable for others that they forget about their dreams and start to feel like what they have is enough. Even if what they have leaves them stressed about money, unable to live a healthy life and stuck in a place they don’t want to be.
I don’t hear people discussing this paradox. We all want to be something in the world. Something bigger than what we are now. But that constant striving is a sure path to unhappiness. Feeling like you are enough, and the present moment is enough, is key on the path to contentment.
How do you strike a balance between these two poles?