If I Just Had That

Jill’s at the top of her game, pulling in $700k a year at a job she loves. She’s got the big title, the corner office, the corporate credit card. But when she looks at her life, she wishes she had more time with her kids.

Jack works from home. Every morning, he’s there for school drop-offs, and every night, he’s there for bedtime stories. But in the back of his mind, there’s a constant thought: I need to earn more money.

Then there’s John. Laid off six months ago, he’s got all the time he could want for family dinners and soccer games. But he spends his days worrying if he’ll ever find a job he loves.

Three people. Each wanting what the others have, each convinced it’s the missing piece to their happiness.

We all do it. We scroll, we compare, we imagine. We see someone else’s life and think, If I just had that, I’ll be happy. 

A better job, a simpler schedule, a bigger house.

We focus on what we lack, imagining that something on the outside will fill the gap on the inside.

Yet every external change has pros and cons. A higher salary attracts more stress, more time at work can mean less time at home, and greater freedom can lead to heightened uncertainty.

When we shift our focus from what’s lacking to what’s present, we create space for gratitude and appreciation.

Whether it’s a fulfilling career, stable income or precious family time, happiness comes from valuing what you already have.