No matter how well our lives are going we always want more. We might have the perfect relationship and our dream job but our house is too small or our car isn’t the latest model. Why are we never satisfied with what we have?

Don’t get me wrong there are people who genuinely seem satisfied with their lives whether that’s with their career or as a stay at home parent and that’s great. Unfortunately that isn’t me. There are so many aspects of my life that I’m dissatisfied with. Obviously there are things that I can change, but there are also things that are out of my control and I feel like it is these that get me down the most.

Are we taught to want more?

From a young age you are told if you get good grades you get a good job. Once you have a job it’s all about getting promoted with the aim of reaching the top of your field. Then you are supposed to have relationships which should lead to getting married and having children. This is the social norm, but for so many of us this isn’t our dream.

However, when it comes to material things our parents tell us we should be happy with what we have. Hands up if your parents pointed out that that there were children in the world who would be thankful for what you have.

Everyone has different ambitions in life but at what point do we decide we are happy? For me my main focus is a successful career and being able to buy a house. But what is the bench mark of a successful career? At what point will I be happy? Is being able to afford property the sign I’ve become successful? Is it earning a certain salary?

Realistically once I’ve achieved those goals I’m going to be wondering what’s next because that’s my nature. In which case, if I am never satisfied, will I ever be truly happy?

Should we be satisfied with what we have?

When it comes to material things many people think you’re greedy if you want more money in the bank or a nicer house. I don’t think that is the case. There’s nothing wrong with striving for a more comfortable life and wanting to provide for your family. However, money obviously doesn’t solve everything and I think it would be a mistake to pin your happiness solely on it.

I think we should aim to strike a happy medium between having the ambition and drive to want more and recognising what we already have. I’m going to aim to appreciate what I have achieved already and only set myself realistic goals for the future.