“I can’t get no satisfaction, I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no” – Mick Jagger
I’ve been feeling a bit like Mick Jagger lately and it’s my own fault. I’ve somehow slipped into a state of feeling unsatisfied with things in my life.
- My to do list never ends and I never get enough done
- My ideas became expectations with unrealistic deadlines
- Instead of focusing on what I’ve accomplished, my thoughts are on what is not done yet
This was triggered when I moved to a new home at the beginning of summer. I planned on painting and decorating the interior, power washing the exterior, painting the deck and porch, making changes in the yard, and much more. And, because we have real seasons here, I wanted to get it all done before winter.
My expectations didn’t take into consideration summer heat and humidity, a sore knee, surprise priorities, and maintaining balance between work and rest. Instead of flowing gracefully from one project to the next, I started to feel tight, tense and chronically dissatisfied with how things were going.
That is not how I want to live and it’s time to turn things around. I know that listening to my heart and creating clear intentions can lead me to a more peaceful way of being.
Fortunately, I’ve helped many clients travel this path and know the way there.
Here is my recipe for feeling more satisfied in life.
Let go of the deadlines – Take your wish list out of the to do list and let your projects flow more gracefully. The expectations and frustrations deadlines bring are all self-imposed and don’t exist in the real world outside of your mind.
Pause and celebrate completions – Instead of immediately thinking about what is next, take time to sit with the feeling of accomplishment and pride that comes with each thing completed.
Let your heart guide you – Take time to listen to your heart. It may lead you in different directions or to do things in a different order, but it always knows what is best for you.
Stay in the present moment – Move from moment to moment, enjoying the process instead of trying to race to an imaginary destination. There is no destination. There will always be more. And, each of these moments along the way are precious pieces of your life that are meant to be experienced fully.
Do your best and let that be enough – Work until body tells you to rest and be proud of what you have done. Focus on doing the best you can, and if the results aren’t perfect, accept and celebrate the imperfections along with the beauty.
Slow Down – There is no need to rush. Pushing to move faster only keeps you frustrated and unhappy. You may find, like I have, that you can accomplish much more by simply puttering, letting yourself flow from one thing to the next without pushing or making things feel hard.
Focus on satisfaction – Start your morning by take a few moments to reflect on what would bring a sense of satisfaction to your day and form an intention to make that happen.
Monitor your level of satisfaction – At the end of each day rate your level of satisfaction on a scale of 1-10. This will provide feedback and help you measure your progress.
When I share my life with you, it is not because I think it is especially interesting. It is because I know that we are human beings on a journey together. And, as we travel this road called life we have similar experiences and can learn from each other.
My hope is that what I have written here can help someone else feel more satisfaction in their life. Maybe, that person is you…
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Excellent post and list! Gave me pause for reflection and much to think about. Thank you!
Your welcome. Glad you liked it.
Wonderful post! I believe that all your points are valid, but “do your best and let that be enough” is sooooo important. So often we compare ourselves to others. We see what others have done and we can’t understand why our work is as good as theirs. We all have our own skills and talents – and different ways of doing things. We need to remember that we are unique in every way and that doing our best is all we can do.
Do your best, don’t compare yourself, and allow yourself to be enough.
Eydie: That one is one of my favorites, too. Too often, we compare our everyday self with other people’s top accomplishments. Or, work beyond healthy hours in order to feel we are keeping up. We need to remember that we are all beautifully unique and beyond comparison.
This is a lesson I have learnt and thank you for reminding me about it, which is enjoy the process. Like you say it’s very easy to fall back into old bad habits and put pressure on oneself. Thank you for your timely reminder.
Gillian: It’s amazing how the busy world full of expectations can pull us back in. We all need regular reminders to enjoy the process and not miss out on those special moments. Thanks for your comment.