I went through binge reading LinkedIn articles on this lazy Saturday. Needless to say they're always a value add. While I was appreciating different thoughts and perspectives, I also made an observation. Almost all the posts were about goal-setting, enhancing your skills for the next job, future of hiring, etc. The comments told me that most people aren't happy with the current state of things. That made wonder ... are we lacking in the art of appreciation?
Very often we're so busy making ourselves anxious about what next, that we forget to appreciate what is. It's extremely important to set goals to reach the next high, yet where you are standing today was yesterday's goal. Did you pause to celebrate your current role? Did you realise that your hard work paid off for you to be where you stand today? The very fact that you're craving for the next role means you have a job in the world of high unemployment. Have taken a few seconds out to express your gratitude to the universe that you're among the lucky few to have a job that brings hot meals on your table everyday? Maybe it's time to stop and smell the roses.
We keep talking about the increasing stress levels but not many of us own up to the fact that perhaps we contribute to our own stress levels. We're constantly in the competition mode, be it in school, college or professional lives. Remember how we used to get annoyed with our parents because they would refer to the neighbor's son or a brighter cousin? Today, thanks to the brag posts on social media, we ourselves are constantly comparing our lives with hundreds of people we're connected with. We all want the holidays others are taking, the jobs others seem to be enjoying, the more attractive partners they're with ... there's no end to the cravings. What we overlook is that somewhere we're dimming our own lights, which in turn is causing us dissatisfaction with our own lives. With rising dissatisfaction comes a fall in enthusiasm which in turn makes us worry about things that perhaps aren't a cause of concern at that moment and all it does is lead us to the viscous cycle of ever rising stress levels which make us chase what we think we need to achieve.
Hold on before you start running again. Take a few minutes to introspect. Maybe you already have what should make you happy. Prepare for your next goal by all means but not at the expense of today. Appreciate what you have and how much more you add to your happiness and suddenly life isn't so stressful anymore.
Very often we're so busy making ourselves anxious about what next, that we forget to appreciate what is. It's extremely important to set goals to reach the next high, yet where you are standing today was yesterday's goal. Did you pause to celebrate your current role? Did you realise that your hard work paid off for you to be where you stand today? The very fact that you're craving for the next role means you have a job in the world of high unemployment. Have taken a few seconds out to express your gratitude to the universe that you're among the lucky few to have a job that brings hot meals on your table everyday? Maybe it's time to stop and smell the roses.
We keep talking about the increasing stress levels but not many of us own up to the fact that perhaps we contribute to our own stress levels. We're constantly in the competition mode, be it in school, college or professional lives. Remember how we used to get annoyed with our parents because they would refer to the neighbor's son or a brighter cousin? Today, thanks to the brag posts on social media, we ourselves are constantly comparing our lives with hundreds of people we're connected with. We all want the holidays others are taking, the jobs others seem to be enjoying, the more attractive partners they're with ... there's no end to the cravings. What we overlook is that somewhere we're dimming our own lights, which in turn is causing us dissatisfaction with our own lives. With rising dissatisfaction comes a fall in enthusiasm which in turn makes us worry about things that perhaps aren't a cause of concern at that moment and all it does is lead us to the viscous cycle of ever rising stress levels which make us chase what we think we need to achieve.
Hold on before you start running again. Take a few minutes to introspect. Maybe you already have what should make you happy. Prepare for your next goal by all means but not at the expense of today. Appreciate what you have and how much more you add to your happiness and suddenly life isn't so stressful anymore.
