What Do You Want?

Today I was noticing how very few people truly know what they want.  Some (many?) people know they want more money, some want a better relationship or a family, some want a fulfilling career and some want to travel. Many people might say they want all of these things and many other things too.

What most do not want to acknowledge is that no matter what, in pursuing what we want, good and not-so-good things happen simultaneously. With money, people may earn more, invest more and even spend or lose more. More money may earn many false friends and a background resentment about being the person expected to step up to pay for outings with friends or to help friends/family in financial distress.

With relationships, there will be positive communication and experiences as well as not-so-positive experiences. Even if the relationships stay positive, health changes in any family member will bring about concern for all involved.

A fulfilling career may be exciting and motivating but also time-consuming and energy-draining.

Travel may be relaxing, uplifting and exciting and may also be worrisome or less-pleasant due to experiences like the current Covid pandemic, other local health or safety concerns (like civil unrest or war) or local health risks due to water contamination or disease-carrying parasitic/viral threats.

So then, what do you want?  I believe that most people look away from their current life experience to see what would be an “ideal” dream without considering the natural good and not-good in each experience.

As I work with clients with Grief Recovery and Brain Re-Training, I do help people refocus on the fact that good and not-good experiences are always happening. Where we choose to focus our attention will be the area that grows. With mindfulness, do remember that you (we) all have the power and choice to focus on the good happening in our lives right now.  Do you have the money to pay for your current meal for the day? Do you have loving friendships or family relationships? Do you have beauty around you in the form of something natural – as simple as grass or flowers or perhaps you live near water or mountains?  Do you take time to appreciate what you have right now? Do you remember a time when you didn’t have the positive things you are aware of having right now?  Do you know that at any moment any of these “basic” pleasures may disappear?  If such a time occurred, you may wistfully remember what you once had – many people do this.

Why not appreciate now? Why not truly enjoy the blessings right in your hands or close to you?  I encourage you to take a few minutes to do this every day.  May your heartfelt appreciation deliver more of the things you want and that you love into your life. And may you never take for granted what is with you today.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~John F. Kennedy

Wishing you all a beautiful week ahead and sending you my appreciation for your Presence here, today!

Kindly,

Hanifa