Question: I want to achieve big things, but I also want to enjoy the present moment. How do you balance striving for more with appreciating what you have?
Response:
This is a question I’ve wrestled with for years. I’ve always been ambitious, always reaching for the next goal. But there were moments when I achieved something big and felt… nothing. It was like I was so focused on the next summit, I forgot to enjoy the climb.
What I’ve come to realize is that ambition and contentment aren’t opposites. They can coexist, but only if you let them. Contentment doesn’t mean settling; it means appreciating where you are while still dreaming of where you want to go.
One practice that’s helped me is gratitude. Not the Instagram-worthy kind, but the quiet, personal kind—writing down three things I’m grateful for every day, no matter how small. Gratitude grounds you in the present while still allowing you to dream.
I also remind myself of something I once heard: “You can be happy with a full cup and still have room for more.” The key is not letting your ambition rob you of the joy of what you already have.
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