When can we appreciate reaching our goals and allow ourselves to feel happy right now without looking to the next thing and sacrificing presence?

“Tell me Gordon, when does it all end, huh? How many yachts can you water ski behind? How much is enough?” says Bud Fox.

After some banter, Gordon replies in relation to the appreciation in value of a painting he bought,

“The illusion has become real, and the more real it becomes, the more desperately they want it. Capitalism at its finest.” (Wall Street)

In the movie, Bud can’t believe Gordon would garage sale Blue Star Airlines even though he knows it would harm his dad and reputation. He can’t believe someone already so wealthy would possibly need more, even at a great personal expense.

How Much is Enough?

The underlying question we can all apply to ourselves (even if we’re not manipulating multi-million dollar deals from behind a desk) is how much is enough? When can we appreciate reaching our goals and allow ourselves to feel happy right now without looking to the next thing and sacrificing presence?

We’re going to bypass the overarching cliché saying that “it’s about the journey not the destination” and go into some specifics for you.

We all fall prey to playing by someone else’s rules — we covet possessions we don’t need, excess when we could do with less and we stress about things we don’t need to worry about.

Fundamentally, it’s a failure to define what makes us happy, both in the micro and in the macro.

What Do We Need to Be Happy?

What do we need to be happy today? Similarly, what do we need to be happy this week? What will make us feel happy this year? In 10 years? And, how are you going to measure and manage that?

It’s a complicated question, and it’s unique to the user. The problem comes when we only want more because we see that other people have something we don’t (even though we weren’t even really working towards getting that thing). This could be anything from a physical goal, a financial goal, a family goal, or professional accolade.

There is a way to appreciate what we have now AND still work towards things we want in the future. It’s called gratitude, and it’s a muscle that we must flex and practice flexing often. It’s not easy and you will fail. You will still complain about frivolous things and covet that which you do not have, however, you will get better as you practice more often.

Put the blinders on to what YOU want and go after it. Along the way, practice gratitude for what you have by being present with those things (or people), and check in on your journey to see how far you’ve come.

Today is the best day ever and so will tomorrow if we make it that way. It is a journey with MANY destinations to enjoy.

Go out and get it.