Summary

The article discusses personal fulfillment and happiness, emphasizing self-reflection, goal setting, and the importance of the journey over the destination.

Abstract

The author of the article encourages readers to assess their current happiness and identify areas for improvement in their lives. Drawing from personal experience, the author suggests that external help can provide clarity and perspective when one is too involved in their own situation. The article advocates for setting achievable goals to build confidence and highlights the joy found in the process of working towards these objectives. It also touches on the impact of the pandemic on personal goals and urges readers to focus on what they can control, rather than external factors like politics or the opinions of social media gurus. The author's ultimate message is to embrace the journey of personal growth and to remain steadfast in pursuing one's goals despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Opinions

The author believes that self-reflection is crucial to understanding one's own happiness and identifying areas for change.
They value the role of mentors and external perspectives in recognizing personal issues and finding the right track.
The article expresses that setting and achieving small, attainable goals can lead to increased self-efficacy and the pursuit of larger ambitions.
The process of working towards a goal is seen as more fulfilling than the achievement of the goal itself.
The author criticizes the fixation on pandemic-related news and the tendency to complain about factors outside of one's control, advocating for a focus on personal agency and resilience.
The author admires the focus and determination of successful individuals like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos, who prioritize their goals over external criticism or circumstances.
The article concludes with a well-wish for readers to find happiness and progress in their personal goals, despite the ongoing pandemic.

Is your life actually fulfilling? What is missing? How can you finally be happy in 2022?

First, ask yourself: Am I happy about how things are in my life today?

You need to first answer that ‘why’ question and then point out the real problem, where it comes from, and solve it.

For many years I found myself stuck in a kind of vicious circle in which I was going nowhere, just turning around until someone finally opened my eyes. It took many «someones» to react finally and move; oven a few years, unfortunately.

Along the way, I had a few people who helped me see what was obvious. I just didn’t see because I didn’t take the time to look from outside the box.

You know that you cannot see from the outside when you are too involved in the process. You need to listen to others around you to find if you are still on the right track.

After you do it and have accepted to change what has to be changed, then and only then will you continue to grow.

When you are ready to change and have accepted that you were probably going nowhere, the most important thing is to reach the point in which you will know precisely what you truly want.

Nowadays, we are submerged with things like becoming self-entrepreneurs, travelling the world, working only a few hours a day, and, bla, bla, bla…

These are great dreams but, unfortunately, not accessible to everyone.

I love the concept, and I am close to that point in today’s life but still truly far from working only a few hours a day.

However, I know what I want to reach, and I know that there will be no way to get there without working hard. Maybe after a few years, perhaps I will, who knows?

Is the real goal not to try? The best thing is the process of reaching our goals. Everything is in the process of getting there, and if you are like me, it will probably never ends.

So, at that point, are you happy in your process? Is it fulfilling you? If not, you must find why and make the adjustments required.

The first thing is to fix small but reachable objectives. You know, the ones you know you can make with just a minimum of effort.

Soon you will become more confident in your capabilities. You will be able to shoot for bigger goals.

When you work on your goals, try to think about the process. How do you feel? Is it thrilling? Can you wait for the next day to get on it again, or even cannot stop until you are completely flat?

Everything is in the process of reaching your goals. Expectations are always more powerful and exciting than reaching the goal itself.

Last summer, I completely revamped my backyard. It was such a vast project that anyone would be discouraged by seeing the work’s scope.

My wife and I had a plan, so I just got into it.

After two months of work, one full container of rotten wood, 14 tons of sand, rock dust and pebbles moved from my driveway to my backyard by hand, and about two dozen new flowers were planted. It was a tremendous job, but how much fulfilling.

When we had finished it all, the sentiment of accomplishment was incredible. I enjoyed every minute of the process because I knew what it would be like at the end, even if we changed many things along the way.

You see, when you have a goal that you genuinely want to accomplish, the process to get through it is never too hard. However, when you look back on it at the end, you always see how, sometimes enormous, the amount of work was, and it makes you proud!

As the year closed by, we hear a lot about inflation; everything will cost more in the next few months. All generated by this pandemic which we are still stuck with for the last two years, and, believe me, we are not close to reaching the end of it.

So why don’t you move into a new way of thinking and doing things instead of just staying there and waiting for a miracle to happen?

As I have already said in my last article, why focus on something we have no power over?

First, stop complaining about politicians and medical specialists who, for most of them, are trying hard to keep our way of living alive.

Secondly, stop watching the news all the time and the social media’s improvised gurus and focus on yourself.

And finally, just repeat both advice, day after day.

You want to be happier in 2022; you need to focus on what you impact and move forward towards your goals.

Are Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and most of the most accomplished people in our world complain about politicians and specialists all the time? Indeed, they have their ideas on the matter too, but their focus is upon what can help them reach their goal, not the stuff they have no control over.

I do not wish to give you advice about making goals and reaching them. There are so many out there and probably better than mine. I only want you to stop and think about your behaviour towards this pandemic and how it affects you.

So for 2022, my biggest wish is for you to find yourself again in happiness. Get back on your feet and move on to your goals like nothing ever happened, as you do not have any control over it.

Till next year, stay safe!