Long Term Goals (and finding happiness in the present?)

[Corazon]

A lot of us(most?) have long term goals. Some of us have problems where in order to make life improvements we have to work intelligently and persistently over a matter of months or longer.

My question is how do you stay positive and find enjoyment in life after you've put in your work for your goal, and done your due-diligence?

My situation is fairly bad, but I know from reading here that many are much worse, and many that are somewhat similar.

Basically my life lacks the pieces to have decent quality of life. And I know some can come up with amazingly positive ways to see reality in different ways, but that just isn't me. I'm not interested in completely changing my value system at this point.

So I'm pretty busy(and when I'm busy I'm satisfied, if not happy) in general working hard toward my goals, and I have a big "drive" to succeed, but then when the day/evening settles down I find myself to be miserable. Sometimes I will try to do something extra, even read or something if I'm exhausted, but sometimes I've done all I can do, and sleep isn't realistic for several more hours.

I'm working as hard and smart as possible so that in a few months to a year, I will have some of those pieces in my life so that my quality of life will be decent, and I will be able to participate, but how do I let that hard work "satisfy" me?

How do you find some enjoyment in the present?

 

[tocooperate]

yes I've wondered this myself on long sleepless nights. there isn't a great answer to that, bbut what some people including myself need is to see the impact of those daily efforts upon long term objectives. for example, if you were to quantity it, you could visualize your progress. it's a tried and true method people use for weight loss as well

 

[Corazon]

yes I've wondered this myself on long sleepless nights. there isn't a great answer to that, bbut what some people including myself need is to see the impact of those daily efforts upon long term objectives. for example, if you were to quantity it, you could visualize your progress. it's a tried and true method people use for weight loss as well

weight loss is a great comparison.

 

[neversickanymore]

To accomplish the impossible all we need to do is split it into parts that are possible. Then we split those into things we have a chance of doing. Then we split those into things we can definitely do. Then we split those into easily accomplished tasks and write them down. Then we knock of the list of easy tasks and give ourselves the huge credit we deserve for getting each one done and when we are done we have accomplished the impossible. Just chillin and enjoying the day getting easy stuff done and doing the impossible.

If we split the long term goal into easily accomplished little goals then its not nearly as scary. If we knock out the little goals at a decent pace we know we are working to where we wan't to get so we do not have to freak out about getting there. If we give ourselves credit for accomplishing each little goal we feal good. when we recognize the accomplishment, we recieve a dopamine rush and our perception of life is better. I give myself credit for giving myself credit for tying my shoes... yeah, sounds crazy right, but ill take crazy over struggling all day long.

I do this on this thread.. people give me shit even for listing the simplest dumb things.. but when I cross them off I indicate a success and success equals dopamine. Consider joining the thread or thinking up something along these lines thats right for you.
Creating Positive Change vs. If Nothing Changes Then Nothing Changes..

So when we have the long term goal divided into easy small tasks we no longer need to obsess over it. Its gonna get done. But we humans a always dwelling on the past or worried about the future.. We are prepared and working towards the direction we want, but what ifffff.. yeah, worrying about anything thats out of our control is madness as it does no good and sucks... Have to learn how to live in the now.. right here right now. Sure we have that long term goal, but if we never learn to appreciate and enjoy the now.. we will just be preoccupied by something else when we get their.

There is no goal, place, destination we ever reach where we will all the sudden have arrived, where we are not anything but what we are. Lifes a journey and not a destination... aim at where you want to go, but id be surprised if you end up there and if you do I bet its not what you pictured. Learn to enjoy the ride because it never ends as there is no magical place we reach.

Hope any of this helps..

 

[Corazon]

Hope any of this helps..

It looks interesting ,
especially:

To accomplish the impossible all we need to do is split it into parts that are possible. Then we split those into things we have a chance of doing. Then we split those into things we can definitely do. Then we split those into easily accomplished tasks and write them down. Then we knock of the list of easy tasks and give ourselves the huge credit we deserve for getting each one done and when we are done we have accomplished the impossible. Just chillin and enjoying the day getting easy stuff done and doing the impossible.

If we split the long term goal into easily accomplished little goals then its not nearly as scary. If we knock out the little goals at a decent pace we know we are working to where we wan't to get so we do not have to freak out about getting there. If we give ourselves credit for accomplishing each little goal we feal good. when we recognize the accomplishment, we recieve a dopamine rush and our perception of life is better. I give myself credit for giving myself credit for tying my shoes... yeah, sounds crazy right, but ill take crazy over struggling all day long.

It sounds oversimplified but it also sounds like something that I could usefully apply.
I tend to stop short of breaking down my daily tasks into really simple tasks. I usually dive into them in stress-mode and work them out as I go, but the stress and the planning before entering could probably both be improved on with simplifying.

As far reaching a magical destination - I do feel that life will have a 'magical' improvement when I am able to meet certain basic needs. It will not be some heavenly final point, obviously, but it will be a lot more livable and healthy.