Many times in life we accomplish the seemingly impossible and we never take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and appreciate what we’ve done. But why is this important?
Perhaps you’ve heard of the hedonic treadmill and often times we are on it and we don’t even realize. Someone close to us buys a new phone and we start feeling like it’s time for an upgrade. They renovate their kitchen and we start seeing flaws in ours. It’s just how we’re wired I suppose but it isn’t healthy to live in this state. In this state, we can easily lack gratitude for all the fortunes we do have. So how can we rectify this?
Symbols.
Yes, that’s right. Symbols. We are surrounded by symbols and they often carry with them deeper meaning. That meaning can be religious or spiritual, negative or positive, but we recognize the symbol instantaneously and we connect with it on some deeper level.
Take for instance the Nike symbol, with its clever slogan, which has become synonymous with getting it done. The “Just Do It” slogan is a positive affirmation that can provide a boost of encouragement for those moments we all experience.
The buddha head, stupa or hand symbols have become synonymous with buddhism and evoke deep emotional feelings of peace, love and harmony.
Taking a moment to congratulate yourself begins with taking a moment out of our hyper connected lives to be thankful. In doing so, we can recognize those that helped us along the way and reflect on what it took to get there in the first place. Taking a moment is also about being at peace with yourself, being in tune with your emotions and not allowing the pursuit of the goal to erode the joy of being on the journey. No matter where you are on the journey, there’s something positive that you can take a moment to be thankful for. Watches can be a powerful symbol and serve as a timepiece. Being Uptothetime is about celebrating your life accomplishments by being the best you can be, which is a never ending journey.
What are you thankful for?