Something I’m experiencing in my life right now is a tension, or gap, between my life as it currently is, and my life as I would wish it to be. My life is fine, but there are a few things I’d like to change work-wise which I believe will give me more freedom. What I’m learning is that having ‘goals’ can be a bit of a minefield if you’re also trying to live a mindful, present life.
Goals, which are inherently future-centered, can make you painfully aware of the gap in reality between your current state and where you want to be. That can lead to feeling even more discontented with the current moment, which is no way to go about life! The trap is that you can end up feeling that you’ll only be happy when you’ve achieved x, y and z, and therefore, you stop being happy now.
For some people, discontent may be a motivator, but it doesn’t have to be. You can still achieve things and work toward different outcomes while remaining present, mindful, and at the very least, content. Continue reading “Do Goals Create A Painful Reality Gap?” →