Destination Addiction

“Beware of destination addiction. The idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job, or even the next partner. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.”

-Shelley Gilgio

I was rereading my last journal the other day, just looking for some little pieces of wisdom from my past self that have since been forgotten. I came across this quote and it really hit home for me. Right now, I’m spending every ounce of my energy trying to figure out how to get to a place where I will finally be satisfied with my life. I’m just grasping at anything and everything that isn’t where I am right now. Because right now, I feel like I’m not living my life to the fullest. I have this long, mental list of all the things I need in order to be really truly happy. A job that fulfills me, my own apartment, adventures to warmer places, someone to go on them with, flawless skin, pain free motion in my back…the list is never ending.

I get so caught up in the idea of something bigger and better that it’s easy for me to forget just how much I have to be grateful for.

Right now, I’m just struggling with finding a balance between being content with what I have and where I am in life and striving for a more fulfilled life. I guess the idea might be to practice gratitude first and then act from there. To recognize the beauty in the town that I currently live in before I go off adventuring to other places or the opportunity for growth at my current job before I start grasping at other job options (something I’m REALLY struggling with right now).

I believe that until I find happiness and contentment for where I am in life now, I will continue on an endless search for that feeling of being whole, secure, and satisfied.

One of my New Year’s intentions was to practice more gratitude and I’ve done well with the little things and the things that are easy to be grateful for. But I think it’s about time I start recognizing the good that comes from the more difficult things in life.

I have everything and more that I could possibly need in my life.

I am on the right path.

Everything is going to work out exactly as it’s supposed to.

I don’t need to have all the answers right now.

One day I’ll look back and it will all make sense.

I am happy. I am content.

These are the little mantras I will repeat to myself to replace the endless chatter and uncertainty.