What You Have vs. What You Want

What You Have vs. What You Want: Gratitude & Making the Most of Life

We live in a world that constantly tells us to want more. More success, more money, more

stability, more everything. There’s nothing wrong with wanting more desire is human.

But somewhere in the middle of all that wanting, we lose sight of the life that already exists

right in front of us.

The gap between what you have and what you want is where most stress and

dissatisfaction live. The problem isn’t the wanting it’s when wanting becomes the only

place we live. You can get so focused on the missing pieces that you forget to appreciate the

picture already coming together.

Gratitude isn’t about pretending things are perfect. It’s not delusion — it’s perspective. It

grounds your nervous system, reminds you that you are safe, and highlights the support you

may have stopped noticing.

Many people put their happiness on hold. “I’ll feel better when life slows down… when I

move… when things change…” But happiness isn’t a finish line — it’s a daily practice of

noticing what already is.

The life you want is built from the life you have. Want deeper connections? Start nurturing

the relationships in front of you. Want calm? Create small pockets of stillness now. Want a

new chapter? Take small steps from this chapter. Gratitude opens the door; action walks

you through it.

REFLECTION:

1. What do I have right now that the old me used to pray for?

2. What have I been overlooking or rushing past?

3. What is one small way I can make the most of where I am today?

You don’t need a perfect life to feel grateful. You just need a moment to notice that you’re

already standing in the middle of a life worth living.