Over time, society has placed increasing importance on career success, often leading to a intertwining of self-worth with professional achievements. This “hustle culture”, especially prevalent in North America places emphasis on career advancement and constantly striving to improve. While having ambitions and setting goals are crucial for personal growth, it can also lead to getting caught up in a constant cycle of “looking for the next big thing”, ultimately taking away from living in the present moment.
There often seems to be an expectation that we should always be doing something interesting or eventful, but the reality is that much of our time is spent doing ordinary mundane tasks. How much time do we spend commuting, making dinner, doing laundry? Given the prevalence of these “uneventful” moments in our lives, having the ability of finding joy in the little things can result in a greater overall life satisfaction. Mindfulness practices can be helpful in grounding us to focus on the present, so that we can focus on the moment and not be distracted by external thoughts or memories.
Of course, breaking free of this mindset is much easier said than done, as many of us have internalized a sense of the “correct” way to live our lives. Parental expectations, observing our peers’ achievements, or comparison to portrayals on social media can often influence our life choices, leading us to prioritize societal approval over our own personal desires. Detaching from these ideas allows for the freedom to do what we want by focusing on our own personal values of what it is to live a meaningful life for us.
Determine our values isn’t always easy, but taking time to consider the things that we find important or find meaning in is worthwhile. Making small changes in our routines towards or values can be beneficial in breaking patterns of behaviors we may be stuck in. Ultimately, through conscious efforts and behavioral changes, we can create shifts towards a life more aligned with where we want to be. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can often be a helpful therapeutic strategy to help you identify your values and move towards living a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
___________________________________________________________________
The content of this blog is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health provider or physician with any questions that you have regarding mental health concerns. If you think you have an emergency, please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.