Happy Sunday Scaries, everybody!
Have you ever worked incredibly hard toward something, spent weeks, months, or even years trying to accomplish it, and then when you finally get there, you're happy for about 37 seconds before your brain goes, "Cool, what's next?" Maybe it's getting a good grade, making a sports team, learning a new skill, or getting that promotion at work. We put so much energy into reaching our goals, but sometimes barely give ourselves a moment to enjoy them before moving the goalposts again.
There's actually a psychological concept called hedonic adaptation, which describes how we gradually get used to changes in our lives, even positive ones. That accomplishment we worked so hard for eventually becomes our new normal, and suddenly we're looking for the next thing.
Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with having goals. They help us grow, challenge ourselves, and work toward things that matter to us. But sometimes we get so focused on the end result that we forget to enjoy the process. Think about learning to ride a bike, practicing an instrument, or getting better at a sport. There are so many little moments of progress, frustration, laughter, and learning along the way that deserve some appreciation, too.
And here's something worth thinking about. Some of the things that feel pretty ordinary to us today were once things we really hoped for. That friendship you've developed, something you've learned to do, or a challenge you've overcome. Sometimes we're so busy looking ahead that we forget to recognize how far we've already come.
So here's your Sunday Scaries homework for the week. Think about something you can do today that you couldn't do a year ago. Take a moment to appreciate the work it took to get there. And as you're working toward your next goal, try to notice one thing each day that you're enjoying along the way. Maybe it's time with a friend, learning something new, or simply having fun while you practice.
Because there's always going to be another goal to chase. Just make sure you're enjoying some of the pretty great stuff happening along the way.
Have a great week, everybody!