Maureen and I have been friends for twenty years. I have lost track of how many times we confided in each other before making a big move or trying something new. I completely lost count of how many times we shared with much excitement our latest ‘big idea’, encouraged a new venture or gave suggestions on what to do next. Forget about counting how many times either one of us called to say, “Help, I’m just never satisfied.”
We have talked so much about this feeling of never being satisfied that we almost started to believe feeling this way was a wrong. I remember some conversations where we decided that this time finally we would be satisfied and happy. Then, a few months later one of us would break and we were back at it again. Looking, searching, and dreaming of what we could do next. Then, the guilty feelings followed bringing us back to reality and ask, “Why I’m I never satisfied?”
I bet you have been in the same boat at least once in your life. I will even venture to say that in your youth someone in an authoritative voice said to you over a hundred times (or more), “Child you are never satisfied” or “Child you must be grateful for what you have.” For some of us these comments left lasting negative connotations on what being satisfied or not means. Maybe someone drilled in our little minds that if we were not satisfied it meant we were ungrateful. Not being satisfied to me is not the same as being ungrateful. It simply means we are driven. We have an innate desire given to us by our Creator to do more, be more, achieve great things and to be extraordinary. So, could never being satisfied actually be a good thing? I say it is a GREAT thing!
Think of all of the doers, dreamers, and achievers who reach great heights every day because being average to them is not an option. Do we even think of them as not being satisfied or not grateful for what they have achieved? No, we do the opposite. We applaud their persistence, perseverance, and tenacity and being to expect more of them. (Side note: I think of Maureen in this way. I expect great things from her because she does not settle for less and she is never satisfied. I am sure [I hope] that she would say the same about me.)
What can you do to turn around those unnerving feelings of never being satisfied? First, you have to change your mindset. Start to think of yourself as a doer and a person with the ability to achieve great things. Whenever you get the urge to do something new, go with it and use it as fuel to energize your dreams, to stay alert and focused, and let your creative juices flow. Most importantly, be proud of the life you have created now and enjoy every moment. If the urge to do something different arises, do not think about it twice and just go onward. At the very least, you will have tried something new, had new experiences, met new people, gained new insight, and grown a little. Remember never being satisfied could very well mean that you are destined to be extraordinary.
The women who encourage me to follow my hearts desires (each time I get the urge) inspired this piece. Thanks to Maureen Carnakie-Baker, Sonia Pinzon, Michele Muniz, Kim Kaplan, Jodee Maldonado, and Lareina Jordan.
