There’s a difference between short-term pleasure and long-term satisfaction
By: Vanessa Naumann
Tags: Courage, Self Growth, Self Care, Mindset, Values

For most of my adult life, I was seeking the quick fix — instant travel, moving on from one place to another in a heartbeat, parties, adventures, no commitments. Although, all I was really looking for was connection and stability. I didn’t realize then that I was on the wrong path to get it. For example, I was disappointed by others if they didn’t keep in touch when I was the one constantly hopping in and out of their lives.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not regretting anything; I love every bit of how my life has unfolded and stand behind every decision and lesson learned.

What I only understand now, though, is that building a home and stability is just as risky as packing your bag, selling your stuff, and traveling the world. Not just in the physical sense, that’s the easier part, but in your mindset.

Now, this is where it gets tricky because your mind creates a virtual security barrier to protect you from anything unknown that could potentially be dangerous to you. But you know what’s more dangerous? Your habit of staying in your comfort zone.

So if you’ve gotten used to being on the road, constantly traveling, choosing a place to settle suddenly seems like the hardest decision in the world because you’ve found your comfort in being able to move on whenever you feel like it, no commitments.

I was always looking for the perfect reason and conditions to “stay”, but to be honest, these conditions don’t exist. You need to create them willingly. It takes effort and dedication. You may find a place you like enough, with good people, and things that matter to you — and that’s about all you can wish for.

From there on, it lies in your hands to build the life you’re longing to live.

You can travel the globe and still not be satisfied with the options you’re presented with. I’ve been there. So believe me when I say, absolutely nothing is ever perfect.

But here’s the good news: you can make it pretty damn awesome if you put in a little effort. The place, your work, your friendship circle, your partnership.

You just need to stop overthinking and start moving. What are you waiting for? Nobody is gonna come and pick you up or show you the way. Not even the dreamy paradise beach will bring satisfaction if you don’t make decisions that will aid you in the long run.

What has made a big difference for me was making sure to have my values in place and choosing to surround myself with people that I truly like rather than people I’m hoping to be liked by. There’s nothing to win from that and it will never make you happy in the long run.

Find a partner that’s willing to discuss with you, support you, respect you and lets you be who you are and vice-versa. And those are also the kind of friends you should look for. Seeking approval from someone you admire for the wrong reasons doesn’t contribute to your happiness in any way. It only takes your peace away.

And above all, get to know and take care of yourself. You think you already know everything about yourself? Dig deeper and you’ll be surprised what you uncover.

Find a self-care routine you like and stick to it. It may be hard to push through in the short run, but I promise you, the long-term results will be undeniable.

I tell myself every day: stop making excuses Vanessa, let’s just go. Some days work better than others, but hey, a little progress every day goes a long way.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment; the time to get started is always now. And if you don’t know how to get started, get in touch and we’ll figure it out together.

It’s easier than you think; you only need the courage to get started.

Vanessa

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