It often seems like there must be a conflict between ambition and happiness.
For many people there often is.
But it doesn’t have to be. It is possible to learn how to be ambitious and happy.
The key is understanding that there will never be a point where you are perfectly content. Achieving all your ambitions won’t suddenly bring you a state of blissful zen.
But neither will having no ambitions. Anybody who thinks that detachment from desire makes them happy is lying to themselves.
When you recognise that you will never be perfectly content, you have to face the fact that you need to learn to be happy in the here and now, while your ambitions remain unfulfilled.
How To Balance Ambition and Happiness
1. Imagine What You Would Do With You Time If You Achieved All Of Your Ambitions
Are you ambitious because you feel you need to achieve a certain amount of success before you kick back and enjoy life?
Well figure out what you would do with your time when you get to that point.
Then start doing those things here and now. Don’t wait until you have more time and money. Just do those things that make you happy right now, even if your life isn’t perfect.
2. Have Gratitude For How Far You Have Come
As an ambitious person you have likely achieved many things. And since there are many mountains left to scale you choose to focus your attention there, rather than stop and smell the roses.
You can do both. You can simultaneously be happy and grateful for all you have achieved thus far, while still pushing yourself to achieve more.
You don’t have to wait until you have achieved all your ambitions before you are happy.
3. Recognise the Dangers of Having No Ambition
Vain and prideful ambition is dangerous. But so is having no drive or energy or motivation at all.
Beware of those who tell you that happiness comes from giving up your desire to strive for more.
It does not.
Even if you have all the time, wealth and status you desire, stagnation is dangerous. It is important to have goals and things you are striving for, for its own sake. Humans thrive when we are pursuit of something.
When you understand that you can be ambitious and happy at the same time, you won’t be as tempted to abandon your ambitions for the allure of false happiness.
4. Put Limits On Your Work
Ambition does not mean overwork.
It might mean you have to hustle harder and work more the average person. But even so there must be limits.
Set them and stick carefully to them.
Even ambitious people need downtime.
5. Find Work in the Field Where You Are Meant To Be
When you do uninspiring work but feel that you need to advance to achieve a certain level of wealth or status then ambition may come into conflict with happiness.
But when you work in a field that inspires you then you will naturally want to become the best you could be.
That doesn’t mean that work can’t be dreary and uncomfortable at times. It certainly can.
But you will find it very satisfying to develop your skills and talents and contribute more to your workplace and industry when you are doing that job that just feels right.
Conclusion
There does not need to be a conflict between ambition and happiness.
You can learn how to have both.
Happiness is not a pot of gold at the end of the ambition rainbow. So you might as well learn to be happy now and be happy on the journey, because ambition is going to be with you for the rest of your life.
