Living A Dream While Waiting for the Next Thing
3 min read
In the midst of our daily grind, we often overlook the fact that we're actually living out some of the dreams we once longed for. This hit home during a recent phone call with a close friend. As I vented about life's frustrations and shared my aspirations, she gently reminded me that while we wait for certain dreams to come true, we're already living one.
My present living situation serves as a vivid reminder of living a dream. As a kid, I had a vision of achieving financial success and owning a place near Central Park West. While reality hasn't perfectly aligned with that initial dream, there's a version of it that I'm experiencing now. I've attained a certain level of success on my own terms, and I now reside in a beautiful apartment offering all the comforts of a modern lifestyle. More importantly, it is near a verdant haven where I can partake in outdoor yoga classes, and immerse myself in world-class art exhibitions. Yet, despite these blessings, I find myself becoming frustrated over other dreams that have yet to materialize.
As the years have passed, both I and my dreams have evolved together. It's not that I'm dissatisfied with my current position, but I recognize that I could be better about savoring the present moment. When life throws its curveballs, it's easy to get caught up in negativity. My friend's reminder hit the nail on the head: we need to be thankful for the life we're currently living because, at one point, it was merely a dream. I've often professed gratitude, but I've realized that true gratitude goes beyond words—it's a sense of appreciation deep within me. It's about staying attuned to how fortunate I am to witness numerous dreams unfold into reality.
I know I am not only one who feels like this—living out dreams we've already achieved while fixating on what's still missing. It's a common pattern: once one dream comes true, a bigger one quickly takes its place, and the moments in between get overshadowed. It’s similar to the law of diminishing returns, where once we get used to blessings and manifestations, we often take them for granted, and it requires more and more to move the needle of happiness. This is why I believe practicing gratitude and even having physical reminders of how far we’ve come are the best antidote to dissatisfaction and lack of contentment.
A study from the University of California, Riverside, found that practicing gratitude leads to more positive emotions like optimism and joy. Grateful people also tend to appreciate simple pleasures in life more deeply and report better satisfaction in relationships when they express gratitude to others.
Here are five simple ways to practice gratitude:
Gratitude Walks: Take a walk and focus on things you're grateful for. It's not about the destination but about solving problems creatively. You can even say out loud the things you're grateful for.
Reminders: Leave notes for yourself on mirrors, fridges, or your daily spots to remind you to practice gratitude and acknowledge the positives during the day.
Bedtime Thankfulness: Before sleeping, take a moment to appreciate what you've learned or experienced during the day. It's a way to end the day on a positive note.
Challenging Times: Reflect on past difficult situations and note what helped you get through them and what you were grateful for. Use this to find positives in current challenges.
Learn from Others: Observe how friends, family, and others practice gratitude. Also, consume positive content like good news stories, inspirational books, and podcasts, engage in meaningful conversations, and seek therapy.
There are better things ahead, but it’s important to value where we are now. Making gratitude a habit can be part of our routine. When we genuinely appreciate what we have, it opens the door for more good things to come. So let’s be thankful for the dreams that have already materialized as we chase the ones still in the pipeline. Life is a mix of realized and unfolding dreams, and by showing appreciation for both, we're living a richer, more fulfilling story.
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