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Why can't I just be happy with what I have?

7 Answers
Last Updated: 09/07/2020 at 1:11pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United Kingdom
Moderated by

Tanyia Hughes, Adv Dip Psy

Psychotherapist

I have been through a lot in life too, which helps me to be able to empathize with situations, thoughts and feelings that we have. Sometimes, it's not easy just being human.

Top Rated Answers
ArtChoosestheArtist
March 4th, 2015 7:52pm
The grass will always be greener somewhere else, and often times we get too caught up in what other people have to notice and appreciate what we have. Gratitude lists help bring us back to what we have, and to be grateful for it.
brilliantSoul17
March 7th, 2015 11:53pm
It's a natural human trait to always want more than is immediately available. A technique to help alleviate this problem could be something as easy as a gratitude journal. Simply write down one thing your thankful for on a daily basis and soon it'll become habitual to recognize the things you have in life.
Anonymous
April 14th, 2015 11:59am
It might be haed for some people to be happy with what they have because they may see people with better things or people in their life. It is important to be grateful for the things we have because they may not be there tomorrow or when you need them.
Anonymous
May 20th, 2015 11:23am
Because you are not accepting yourself, maybe you should find ways to endure with what you dont have and try to take little steps to get what you want to have, if impossible, there will be grief, but please never give up.... i know acceptance is such a hard thing to do.... because we can't fight our true feelings what we truly desire and want! BIG HUG hope you will be happy with what you have or get want you want to have to be happy!
LatteJoy
June 4th, 2015 12:05pm
There may be many, many reasons to it. It might be so that you want more than what you have or maybe that you're finding faults in what you have. We should look below, not above. Look at what you have that a few unfortunate people might be praying for. We can be so caught up in all that we don't have that we overlook what we do have. It's only to human to think this way though. Gratitude comes gradually. :)
Waterbear
July 27th, 2015 6:05pm
That depends. Is what you have comparable to what people around you have? Is it enough to meet your physical needs? Do you have meaningful work, emotional connection, the respect of people around you, and a connection to your community? Are you doing as much art/hobby/sporty stuff as you would like to? Are you depressed or just restless? If you answer those questions, you'll probably have an answer to your question.
CalmCourage
September 7th, 2020 1:11pm
If you strive for more and more and more in some sense that's a good thing but it can be unrewarding. Because you set your hopes on this "thing" that you think will make you happy but when you get it it's like ahh right - what's the next thing I need now. So you are in a way delaying your happyiness - "I'll be happy when...". I know because I am like this haha! What's helped for me is having a morning routine where I just say the things I am thankful for. If you've got somewhere to live and enough to eat then that's pretty amazing. Sure go for more but just remember to be grateful for what you have now. Hope this helps in some way!