The Daily Balance of Achievement & Acknowledgement
Channel: George Kao
Date: 2017-01-13

To those of us who care about personal development, expressing our highest soul, creating the ideal business/career...

We tend to be future-focused. We often err on the side of focusing too much on goals / dreams / ideal visions. And not enough time on appreciating the progress we’ve already made.

Why is this important?

When we neglect to acknowledge and celebrate, we allow the muscle of #gratitude to wither.

We then keep ourselves from *experiencing the joy* that is always available to us, right here and now.

Have you made a subconscious contract with yourself — to *not be truly happy* until you "get there”, until you reach your dream, until you play a big enough game?

Here’s the secret I’ve learned: there actually is no “best” that we can achieve in this imperfect life, considering all of our human frailties, and unforeseen circumstances. There is no ideal life that we can “get to” and stabilize, even though we dream that to be the case. 

There is only ever-continuous progress, and learning.

Don’t wait until you “arrive.”
The truth is that no matter how far you go, you will always feel like you are still “here”.
“There” is an illusion, a mirage that is always outside of your grasp. 

If you neglect to appreciate *the now*, to marvel at the already-accomplished, you will allow negativity to slowly crawl into your life — 
anxiety
grasping
greed
aggression
disappointment
desperation
and depression. 

Those negative feelings then become the bedrock of one's consciousness, such that even if we accomplish our goals, we are unknowingly spreading a negative pattern in the world — *success through anxiety*, and at worse: success "by any means necessary."

It is time to come back to balance.

In fact, this balance is important to return to daily.

Yes, there's more to do. Always, there will be improvements that can be made, further achievements to accomplish. 

And, the paradox is: You’ve already done enough. You deserve to celebrate. Now, and everyday. 

Just like when you walk, you use both feet — left, right, left right — similarly in walking the journey of life, you need both modes — achievement, appreciation, achievement, appreciation.

Find the joy in what you’ve already done — think about:
* the hardships you’ve already overcome
* the learning you’ve already experienced
* the many people you’ve already helped
* the projects you’ve already accomplished in life. 

Experience the gratefulness for all the goodness that has been allowed to happen in your life. 

If you believe in a higher power, as do I, then recognize how deeply wonderful it is that you’ve been loved and carried through so much -- all those challenges, difficult moments, and arduous projects, and how you have been given the strength to have done *so much* good!

You’ve been brought all the way here. 

And, You will be brought all the way Home.

**

Remember to walk the road of life with this balance: achievement yes, but just as importantly, appreciation.

**

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