We are stuck in a cycle of dissatisfaction.
We are dissatisfied with our jobs, careers, prospects, social media followers, and even the foods we eat.
Dissatisfaction is a symptom. The cycle of dissatisfaction is the disease.
We are dissatisfied with the attitude of our times, the state of our industry, the narrative of our culture.
The easiest way to deal with the issue is to focus on next year, last year, or the year before and sigh about how lousy it is.
But if you buy into the cycle, you'll only be back at it next time.
The alternative is to learn to be satisfied. Real satisfaction, permanent satisfaction. The satisfaction that lasts.
You've already done most of what you set out to do. Just be careful which boxes you tick as you're doing them.
Just because a restaurant doesn't deliver precisely what it promised doesn't mean that the satisfaction you hoped to find isn't there. It just means that you're aware of the reality of the situation.
Just because someone didn't win an Oscar doesn't mean that their film's box office performance was any less successful. It just means that they're aware of the reality of the situation.
We are constantly choosing to be satisfied or not, successful or not.
And if you're not happy with your career or your relationship or your weight, your first thought on Monday isn't going to make any difference at all.
Give it a week, and then decide whether you're going to struggle or learn to be happy with what's on offer.
The satisfaction we seek and deserve is within our grasp right now, but only if we're willing to look at it and learn to be happy with it.
That's something we can do on purpose.