I suppose sometimes we all want the wrong thing, honestly. Everyone wants to feel joyful now, now, at this precise moment, but I've begun to ask if optimizing for feeling fulfilled tomorrow is the better approach.
The truth may not be focusing on being happy today. The truth may be in making decisions that your future self can truly be proud of. Like, is today how I want to live my life? When I think about it? With what I chose to focus on this past year? With the impact I'm actually making, not the one I imagine I'm making?
Momentary happiness is honestly unpredictable, it comes and goes depending on mood, sleep, whatever random thing happened that day. You can't fully control it no matter how hard you try. But satisfaction feels different to me, it feels earned. It's on the other side of good choices repeated over time, decent habits you stuck with even when you didn't feel like it, and actually doing something that meant something.
So now when I catch myself chasing a quick hit of happiness, I try to ask a different question instead, will this matter to me later, will future me look back and feel good about this choice. That inquiry is different than asking me if I am pleased right now.
I’d rather develop a life I feel content with, than pursue a feeling that will be gone tomorrow. That’s the trade I’m willing to take.
