I was originally going to write about boldness, but I felt the need to first talk about thriving in life. I always hear "you should thrive in life, not just survive" but I rarely see it in action. I see so many people around me accepting their circumstances in life and living with the "chugging along" mentality. It's as if we think this is the best life has to offer, or we have already accomplished enough.
Society is told that happiness comes from within and we should seek that above all else, yet nobody really explains how to achieve this. Not many people are encouraged to follow their wildest dreams and I believe that is where the problem lies. Oftentimes we put our own dreams on the back-burner because they seem illogical or unattainable - and we are then left dissatisfied with life. We make excuses for why we must live in the place of dissatisfaction - "it was too expensive" or "I didn't have enough time." There needs to be a shift in our culture where we prioritize our own dreams. Want to live in a different country? Do it. Travel all of Asia? Go. Get your Ph.D.? Check it off the list.
On the other hand, some choose complacency over growth. I've done a lot of digging into this concept because I used to confuse it with being content. To be content is to be satisfied, but to be complacent is to be smug or untroubled. I see no problem with being content in life; however, I do see a problem with being complacent. I see many complacent people living with a sense of pride, as if they have achieved all that life has to offer. Living a complacent lifestyle leaves no room for growth. Being content can mean you are happy with where you are in life currently, but actively seeking more - whether more comes in a week or a decade.
I genuinely believe that those living in complacency do not realize it. Oftentimes these same people are so focused on their works that they miss the whole point of life: to live. It was Ted Mosby who said, "even if you know how something is going to end, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the ride." We are called to live life fully - to enjoy the ride. We are meant to live with passion and purpose and joy - to engage with others and experience our wildest dreams. Growth is important and essential to a fulfilling life.
Ask yourself: would you want to be in the same place you were five years ago? This could go either way, really. My answer would have to be no. For one, I was 15... *cue bratty teenage years.* Also, I was nowhere near the person I am today - no confidence or passion or drive. I was figuring things out, as most 15-year-olds are. Besides the age, that was the place I was in - a place of lack. Maybe some of you were off chasing your dreams. Would you still want to be chasing those dreams, though? I would assume not - that you'd instead want to pursue your other dreams!
One of my dreams is to experience life in other places. I want to live in urban areas and see how I can impact them. However, I don't want to be on the move forever. I will eventually want to return to Cleveland and impact this area with all that I have learned. Does this mean I'm settling? It doesn't have to. I can chase new dreams; different dreams - like being a foster parent.
With complacency comes settling, and with settling comes unhappiness. Why settle for less when you can pursue more? I want to challenge every person reading this to think of a dream they have put on hold or locked away - and do it. Demand more out of life because life is not meant to control you - but quite the opposite! You are meant to live life, and live life to the fullest. Chase your wildest dreams and cultivate happiness out of that. Do what makes your heart beat a bit faster; what makes you feel truly alive. Choose to thrive.
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