The Greatest Gift

Where do your goals come from? It may seem like a silly question but I think it is one worth pondering. I'm sure that there are many ways that we are influenced. Some are certainly more beneficial than others.
I have spent many hours and dollars trying to get things that other people had. I thought they had "something" I didn't. If I got the thing they had, the something that I was missing would be there. Usually it wasn't.
As a child my mother talked about never being content. It was a good thing, constantly striving for more. The owner of the company I worked for many years later talked about the same thing. Remember Carnation? Milk from contented cows. We don't want that here.
Too bad.
I want to be content, and I am. I can be happy every day, and I am.
I don't think there is anything wrong with being content. Actually I think it's a good thing. Contentment is liberating. I can still work to improve my life, however will I be discontent if something I try fails? I don't think so. Failure is an option. Some of our best lessons come from failing. As long as we learn I guess it really isn't a failure.
Keeping up with the people around me isn't neccessary for my happiness. If the people around me buy new cars, houses, toys, vacations, etc. I don't have to.
The man who competes against no one has no competition
A mail order catalog sold tee shirts that said, "He who dies with the most toys wins". Now that is one twisted philosophy. No matter what tread mill you are on, you will always find someone with something you don't have. I prefer to be grateful for what I have, instead of dwelling on what I don't.
So go ahead and ask yourself where your goals come from. Do they come from inside you? Or are you keeping up with/competing with someone? Are they in line with your values? If you died tomorrow would you be glad you spent your life energy working for this?