The constant pursuit of “more” is a path many of us follow without even questioning it.
In a capitalistic society like the US, we’re conditioned to believe that the key to happiness is found in acquiring more—more money, more power, more influence.
We’re taught to consume, accumulate, and keep striving in our careers. Social media only intensifies this chase, glorifying success and material wealth.
We’re all looking for that elusive sense of fulfillment, meaning, and contentment, often driven by external variables.
But what if, after all the climbing, you reach the top only to realize you’ve placed your ladder against the wrong wall?
Lately, I’ve had to confront this uncomfortable question. I’m still in a phase of life where ambition drives me—I want to move up the corporate ladder, attain a higher salary, a house, vacations. The list goes on.
But then, I reflect on my daily life, and it hits me: happiness is already here. I already feel full.
I find peace in the small moments: walking to my local cafe for a matcha latte, reading my favorite books at home, playing video games on occasion, doing chores, or hanging out with the people I love most.
There’s comfort and gratitude in waking up to the morning light spilling into my room, and the quiet beauty of simply being alive.
What do I have right now? It’s enough.
Simple Living
The most joy and fulfillment I feel is always in the little moments.
It can be a few minutes to myself enjoying oatmeal in the morning.
It can be taking a walk around my neighborhood and appreciating the current season and natural beauty of the city.
There’s so many moments by myself that I find enjoyable.
The best part is it doesn’t cost me anything to enjoy these things.
For a good majority of my life, I always felt like I had to spend money to have a fun time.
If I wasn’t on vacations, buying the latest technology, or wearing the latest clothes I wouldn’t be able to have fun.
It took me so long to realize this was a problem and undo my attachment to materialistic items or experiences.
True happiness comes from within.
You make yourself happy.
Nobody else can make you happy, but yourself.
This was a golden lesson in life that helped me fill my own cup more.
I think about everything I do, even if it’s mundane, and I try to express my gratitude throughout the day.
I’m thankful for so many things in life:
- Taking care of myself in the morning by going to the gym.
- Enjoying a hot shower and feeling fresh and clean.
- Drinking a warm cup of green tea and feeling the right amount of caffeine to help me wake up.
- Getting to see the sun hang out with us longer because of daylight savings.
- Coming home to a quiet, peaceful, and clean apartment.
I could go on, but I’m sure there’s many things you can be grateful for too if you give it more thought!
Keeping The End in Mind
I’ve been reading this book lately called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:
Chapter 2 took me by surprise because it recommended I think about my funeral.
I’m sure you weren’t prepared for that either. I know I wasn’t.
But when it’s all said and done and the dust settles, I agree it’s important to think about the end.
At the end of my life, what will people remember about me?
I know that sounds dark, but hear me out.
Imagine what your eulogy would sound like.
Will people say:
“Kevin was a caring and loving person. He always put his family and friends first and always lended a hand when people were in need. He was there to support me, listen to me, and comfort me during tough times and always had a stable presence in my life that lifted me higher.”
Or will they say:
“Kevin loved his career and was very skilled at handling data. He grew his own wealth and had a lovely house. He was very accomplished and was a self-starter who was skilled in teaching himself programming and other technical skills.”
Notice how different the two sound. The first one describes me as someone more humble, considerate, and focused on giving back to the community.
The other one is more self-centered. Focused on money, career growth, and acquiring material.
This is a hypothetical perception I’m making up of myself from someone else’s point of view.
But nonetheless, it’s good to think about.
Because the way you behave and live your life has a profound impact on the people closest to you.
People are smart. They will be able to read you and know what kind of person you are.
Do you want to be known as the person who devoted their whole life to their career?
Or the person who loved deeply and helped others grow in amazing ways?
Or are you like me, who is looking for a balance in all the above?
It’s scary and depressing to think about this stuff, but I think it’s so important to reflect on because people live mostly in the present.
Which isn’t a bad thing, but we never prepare ourselves for end of life.
We rarely think about retirement, getting old, and ultimately when we leave this earth.
If I want my life to have meaning and have a peace of mind at the end of my life, I think it’s good to start pondering about how I want people to remember me by.
And by knowing how I want my eulogy or mission statement to sound like at the end, that can help provide a framework of how to live my life to the fullest right now.
I’d much rather have the reputation as the person who was there for you and supported you in all your endeavors, rather than be known as the person who mostly cared about themself.
Finding Balance Between Ambition and Contentment
Right now, I’m deeply intrigued by my career. And that’s okay!
I love the drive I have to get better at what I do, because learning is a priority for me. I know that as I continue to grow in my role, material rewards like promotions, higher salaries, and wealth will follow.
But chasing career goals can be a slippery slope.
When I first started as a Data Engineer, I was already thinking about what came next—what promotion I could chase, what my next move would be. I had to pull myself back into the present and remind myself to enjoy this chapter of my life.
Money is always a tempting motivator and I do think about what my salary could look like in a few years with a higher title.
But when I reflect on my current situation, I realize I’m already comfortable. I can feel the positive impact my role has on my life. More money won’t add any extra value to the things I enjoy outside of work.
I’ve reached a point where “good enough” is… well, good enough. I’m genuinely happy with where I am right now. Of course, it’d be nice to make more money and move up, but I’m already grateful for the position I’m in.
At some point, I’ve decided I want to cap my career aspirations. The law of diminishing returns applies here. The sweet spot is working enough to be comfortable, but never so much that work consumes the majority of my life.
I think I’ll find that balance as a Senior Data Engineer and see how I feel at that stage. For now, I’m not in a rush to climb the career ladder. I’ve got plenty of time ahead to master my craft, so I might as well enjoy the ride.
Conclusion
While it’s important to stay ambitious and work towards your goals, remember to enjoy what you have right now.
Regardless of which stage of life you’re at, you already have enough.
Even if it feels like a struggle and life is throwing so many curve balls your way, finding gratitude for everything around you is key to being stable and always happy.
As long as your basic needs are covered:
- Food
- Hygiene
- Mental health
- Physical health
- A place to live
- Loving friends and family
You are lucky.
Not everyone is fortunate to have it all in life. But the beauty of one’s journey is finding enjoyment and bliss in the everyday moments that surrounds us the minute we wake up.
There’s a lot to appreciate and it’s all right in front of you!
It’s good to have a mission statement to drive daily decisions that help you live your best life. And create the legacy you want to leave on this planet.
What would your personal mission statement sound like? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the below comments.
Keep in mind, that your mission statement can change throughout your life and that’s a great thing. That means you’re learning, evolving, and growing.
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