Quarter life criss, mid-life crisis, 30-something angst. A whole lot of people I know are going through something ‘crisis-like’, me included. We have this idea in our minds that there has to be more to life–we could accomplish more, do more, be more. We believe we can have it all. Too bad none of us knows how to get it all.

I couldn’t possibly cover this issue in one post (nor do I have the wisdom to do so). But here’s one thought I have about what the problem is. Many of us were raised to believe that one day we will hit the magic point in life. At this magic point, we will have everything we want–then we will stop wanting, stop craving more. We will simply be happy, sit back to view all we have accomplished and enjoy all that our hard work has delivered.

We get a respectable job, a new car, perhaps a new house, we have a loving partner and a maybe even a couple of kids. Life is good. We have all the things that are supposed to bring us to this magic point. But–WAIT–something’s not right! We’re not completely content. We still want more. We still want to accomplish more and do more and be more. We’re not sure we like our job, and half the time our kids drive us insane. Our partner wants to have sex too often–or not enough. Our house is too small, and that supposedly great car is in constant need of maintenance. WHAT? But we did everything right! Thus, we decide something is wrong and enter crisis mode. We start thinking we made a wrong turn somewhere and this must be corrected.

And therein lays the problem. We assume we did something wrong. The fact is, we did nothing wrong. We made decisions that were right for us at the time. Life is like water that ebbs and flows. Quite simply, life changes–and so do we. The idea that at some point in life we will simply stop and be content–well, it’s insane.

There is no magic point. We should all do ourselves a favor and stop trying to reach it. This does not at all mean we shouldn’t strive to reach our goals and dreams. We absolutely should! However, we should stop thinking that once we reach them, we’ll finally be happy. The reality is, when we reach one goal, we’ll just find something else to replace it. Or perhaps we won’t reach that first goal at all. At which point, we’ll decide to strive for something totally different. This is exactly how it should be. This is the beauty in life. It is a never ending ocean of possibilities.

So here’s what I suggest: when you start to feel that life isn’t going as you would like, don’t think of this as a crisis. Rather, consider it a good time to stop and take a look at what you’re doing. Evaluate, communicate and be brutally honest–with yourself and with others. Consider where you’re at and what you really want–at this moment. Seek to be happy in the here and now. Perhaps what makes you happy today won’t be the same thing that makes you happy a year from now–that’s fabulous news! Celebrate the fact that life will bring you so many diverse experiences. Find what makes you happy in this moment. Do that. Be happy with that.

Make yourself happy. Make others happy. Do good things. Do crazy things. Do ridiculous things. Simply live.

photo credit: santacrewsgirl{theoriginal}