To simplify, we could say that there are three phases in which one’s life can be. Sometimes everything is going wrong, or at least everything is statically in a bad place, and the goal is to find one area to fix to create a foundation on which to build.
Maybe most common is a scenario where one’s life is going well but there are one or two big things on which to work. Life is good but you need to make more money, or just find a boyfriend or girlfriend. That’s a pretty obvious one to work on.
But what do you do when everything is going right? A few things.
Appreciate and Accept it. Sounds trite, but so many people don’t do it. Whether through skill, luck, persistence, or all three, you’ve reached a high point. Enjoy it and be grateful for it. If you aren’t able to fully appreciate the things you achieve, there’s not all that much point in striving for them.
We always react to our training. If we’ve been forever striving, trying to fill in holes in our lives, we may find it hard to accept that everything is going well. That can cause us to self-sabotage or to begin fixing problems that don’t actually exist.
Cement the success. What can you do to make this success permanent rather than fleeting? How can you make your relationships stronger? How can you invest your money so that it works for you and isn’t spent? What can you do to make your business or career more resilient?
Focus on little things for a while. Sometimes when making big changes in life we ignore small things in favor of making big gains, and that’s often the right thing to do. When the big things are going right, it’s a good time to take a break and shore up all of the little things to give yourself a fresh slate again.
Have a broad view when considering your next big focus. Options that weren’t available to you probably are now, and your priorities may (and probably should) have shifted. Maybe the best return on your time is now to help other people. Maybe it’s to look inwards and develop yourself rather than focus on external things. The least satisfied people seem to be those who keep trying to do the same thing long after the marginal returns have diminished.
I think people have a tougher time than one would expect when things are going well. They can become complacent, paranoid, self-destructive, or inefficient. Look at people who rise to fame or fortune quickly. It can be a time of change, and that’s not always something people deal with well. When you’ve checked major boxes in your life, be aware of it and make sure you continue with the same level of conscientiousness that got you there, even if it’s aimed in a different direction.
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Photo is the concrete supports in a subway station in Budapest.
My family is coming to visit in Budapest tomorrow. So excited! First time they’ve traveled with me.
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