It is within all of us that we look beyond what we have to assess where we are, how successful we are, what we need or want, and where we’ll get to. While it is perfectly acceptable and reasonable to aspire and be ambitious, we know that it can become the proverbial stepping on the hamster wheel when we are constantly looking at what we do not have. The wheel never stops turning.
The ideal is appreciating what we have and focusing on that. However, even if we focus on our riches, we will inevitably look beyond them. If we look beyond what we have, we can choose to look up or down. Looking up, we are constantly aware of what we do not have. On the other hand, what others have more of – material means and supposed emotional wealth – inevitably builds a sense of failure and disappointment. Yes, it may provide some inspiration, but it can be disheartening.
Let’s look down. If we look at what we have and others don’t, we quickly realize our wealth and have a greater appreciation. We may feel a sense of gratitude and achievement for what we have done and what we take for granted. Plus, we know that looking up too long is a pain in the neck.
