Do YOU feel guilty for wanting more out of life?

    I remember in my early 20’s, sitting at a diner with an old friend catching up and discussing life. I recall being dissatisfied with where I was and pondering what was next. My friend said to me: “I feel as if you will never be happy. You are always wanting for the next. It’s as if you are never satisfied.” 
    He was right. I recall sitting there thinking,  “Geez, what is my problem?” and, “If this is my life, I am so screwed.”

Fast forward 10 years later…
    I finally have a new understanding of the conversation that night. It’s interesting when you realize that seemingly insignificant pieces of your past really do have significance. That night, I thought I had a problem. I feared going through life–never being crazy-excited about waking up each day–always wanting for more, never getting it, and being strangely disappointed. I thought I would be subjected to the same long career, typical marriage in my mid-twenties, and juggling some kids until they were old enough for college.  Definitely Ok for some people, but for me… Little did I realize that the exact opposite would soon happen and I would owe it to the conversation that night as my inspiration. 
    What I realized: I felt bad that night, but not because my friend was right. I felt bad, because that conversation revealed that I was focused in direct opposition to everything I ever wanted: a better job, more money, an awesome relationship, etc.   
I was allowing someone else’s perspective of me, based on their own limited thinking (unknowingly of course), to influence how I felt about myself and my desire to consistently grow. 

As a result, I came to a very clear understanding, one in which I appreciate my friend for bringing to attention…
    90% of the population is content with the status quo.  They begin a career, work hard all their lives, wake up on Monday looking forward to Friday, and count down the years to retirement. If that’s you and that makes you super happy, then great. But, if you are anything like me and find the status quo terribly boring and suffocating, then you are in luck.

What I finally realized is that there are 10% just like me, who believe life is about the evolution of YOU.  
    This means you are always going to be wanting for more. Long gone are the days when you pick one career and stick with it your entire life. Instead, you will create a goal, accomplish that goal and then move on to the next. There is nothing wrong with this at all! In fact, the most growth–fun and satisfying–you will experience in life is  when you continuously expand your boundaries. This is where increased confidence will develop. The more you try new things and accomplish what you set out to do, the more confident you will become. It is pretty amazing and awarding once you start on this journey of self-growth.
    The second realization is something equally important and one that I was guilty 
of for years. Appreciate YOURSELF. For years, I neglected to pay attention and appreciate everything that I had accomplished so far. Everything you do must be appreciated–whether big or small–because everything you do helps you clarify your likes and dislikes. Some things you will want more of and some, you will realize that once tried, there is no reason to repeat again. Every experience allows you to make better decisions that will align with the NEW YOU and what you are moving towards.

Start Loving Life now…
    Life is about progress. Life does not stand still.  Life only seems to stand still when you keep doing the same things over and over again. Don’t feel bad for consistently wanting to grow and evolve.  That is what a fun, amazing life is about. Expand your boundaries and life will expand with you, allowing new and great experiences to come your way. Appreciate everything you have experienced in life so far. Give credit where credit is due. Every experience has created the person you are today. Don’t allow a bad experience to consume you; instead, appreciate the bad experience as a clarifying moment. Once you discover the value in appreciating yourself, you will see how life changes in the craziest ways and crazy GOOD things will start to happen for you.
    What steps can you take today to move your life forward?  
    What things from your past and present can you appreciate for allowing you to be the person you are today?