Hint: There is a moral to this story.
Photo by Laura Lefurgey-Smith on Unsplash
Have you ever made a wish and got what you wanted, only to find the reality did not match your expectation? Or that it somehow didn?t fulfill you in the way you thought it would?
Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true!
The origin of this saying is Aesop?s Fables, the world?s best known collection of morality tales (circa 260 BC).
Kudos if you recognized the source!
There?s a reason so many lottery winners end up as cautionary tales ? as depressed, broke, or worse. It?s because they have a clear idea of what they want, but they don?t consider how their lives will change when they get it.
When we get what we want, we wind up less happy than when we started.
It?s ironic isn?t it?
We often fail to consider the implications of our wishes coming true.
I can attest to this. As a teenager I dreamed of backpacking around Europe. I saved up for months to buy my plane ticket. The reality turned out to be very different from my fantasy. It was freezing cold. I was homesick. I didn?t get along with my travel companions. At one point I ran out of cash (it was a bank holiday) and slept in train depot!
Don?t get me wrong ? I enjoyed many aspects of my European adventure. Yet I felt relieved when I returned home to Australia. I missed my friends, family, creature comforts, and a sense of safety in my surroundings. In short, the reality of the experience cured my wanderlust.
Goals and dreams are important. Yet at the end of the day you?re never going to achieve complete satisfaction. Life is more complex than that. Sometimes not getting what you wish for can be a good thing!
I?ve pulled together this collection of quotes to help you find happiness and joy exactly where you are.
Without further ado:
You have to focus on the here and now. The future will work out itself. ? Soulla Christodoulou
Working hard today is the best way to realize your dreams tomorrow. Each person is different but the same principle applies ? to live in the present and focus on the positive.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. ? Helen Keller
A desire to be happy is not wrong. But happiness is more about the journey than the destination. Chasing goals and learning new things is what makes most people happy.
Even though you?re growing up, you should never stop having fun.? Nina Dobrev
Successful people in all walks of life maintain a youthful sense of play in their work as adults. So remember to be silly and have fun.
Q) Why are frogs so happy? A) They eat whatever bugs them!
Do anything, but let it produce joy. ? Walt Whitman
If you have a focus in your life that lifts you up ? writing, reading, music, sports or whatever ? consider yourself blessed. Not everyone has a passion that enhances the quality of their life.
The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. ? Thich Nhat Hanh
Happy people get immersed in whatever they?re doing at the moment. Stop and smell the roses to feel happy.
Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you?re climbing it. ? Andy Rooney
Stay positive and happy. Work hard. Be open to criticism and keep learning.
Sometimes having fun with your best friend is all the therapy you need. ? Author Unknown
Optimism like pessimism can be infectious. Surround yourself with happy, warm and genuine people.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ? Abraham Lincoln
If you know what makes you happy and what makes you sad, you can use this insight to design a happier life. Good habits will enhance your life if you let them.
The secret of being happy is accepting where you are in life and making the most out of every day. ? Anonymous
All people have similar life experiences. The difference is happy people seek out experiences that can brighten their mood.
The moral of this story is simple: A wise person appreciates the value of everything they have in life!
That?s the thought I would like to leave you with today.
