Contentment- the key to finding happiness?

For so long, I have tied happiness to achievement. Finishing medical school, getting through internship, getting a permanent job, going into specialty training. This year, I am reframing the way I look at life, and I am deciding to be happy in the present moment whether or not it is where I envisioned myself being.

The other day, I was on the phone with my friend and we were reflecting on the different things we had hoped for ourselves at this stage in our lives (we are the same age), and how much change we have had to adapt to over the past few years. Some of the things we wanted we have, and some things we are still working towards. But even the things we have we are struggling to enjoy because we are so focused on achieving specific goals by a specific age. This idea that until we achieved these somewhat arbitrarily set goals, we would not be fully happy. Instead of being ambitious working in our favor, it ended up chipping away at our joy, leaving us feeling unsatisfied, restless, and honestly- like we were failing at this life thing.

There is nothing wrong with setting goals and working towards them, but there is something wrong with looking to our achievements to prove our worth. By virtue of being Human, we are of immeasurable worth outside and above our goals- they do not have to have the power to define us (or other people). Wherever we are, we can still experience meaningful relationships, growth, and joy in the here and now. And so, my hope for myself in this new chapter is that I would believe and fully embrace the Truth that I am more than what I do and I am more than what I do or do not achieve.