A sincere need for more may be the most genuine aspect of your character.

Rather than a sign of being ungrateful, it's a sign that one hopes to strive for better in many aspects of life and living.

I am quite fortunate. I am fortunate to have a profession that I truly love, which enables me to live alone in the Brooklyn neighborhood of my dreams (which, for anybody familiar with New York, is no easy achievement), a wonderful circle of friends, and a social calendar that keeps me from being bored with what to do on weekends. I have a dog that I am almost completely devoted to, my family is quite close, and we are all in good health. My life seems wonderful on paper. I still desire more.

Additional opportunities for professional development. Intimate connection that seems genuine. This is just one more fitness objective to strive toward. Another adventure waiting to be had, another goal to reach, another ladder to climb. I can't help but keep my gaze fixed on whatever it is that appears to be edging closer to me. I worried for a time that it meant I could never be happy. I don't understand how I could be so fortunate and yet feel incomplete.

I came to realize that my question was misguided after some time. Perhaps desiring more does not imply failing to value what I now possess. Maybe I'm simply overly hopeful; after all, being unhappy with your life and being pleased about its potential outcomes are two very different things. Then, out of nowhere, the two things that seemed to be at odds with one another could coexist.

Rest assured, you are not the only one if this describes you. Keep reading to find out how to chase your dreams without making your present life a prison, why women often feel guilty about wanting more, and the reasons why gratitude and desire may coexist.

I hadn't paused to think about how thankfulness and ambition really serve distinct functions because I had spent so much time viewing them as opposed. The difference between ambition and gratitude, according to clinical psychologist Rachel Rengifo, is that the former is an appreciation of the now and the latter is future-focused hope. One lets you enjoy what you've created, while the other lets you dream about what you could make next. "They can, and often should, coexist," she admits. Love your life even if you wish some things were different. You can have both career gratitude and a desire to rise. The desire for a relationship alongside an adoration of one's freedom is perfectly normal and acceptable. Thankfulness remains unaffected by any of those wants.

The deceptively basic inquiry, "Why am I pursuing this?" might be a helpful starting point when trying to identify your emotions. According to Camila Greenberg, creator of SOULSPACE and Sovereignty Coach, your ambition could be stemming from "fear or insecurity" if you're seeking acceptance from others or if you think that once you accomplish your goal, you'll finally feel worthy. If the motivation behind the desire is "genuine curiosity, joy, purpose, or a desire to express more of who you are," then it might truly bring you fulfillment. That difference opened my eyes to the fact that wanting more isn't always a bad thing. My biggest issue is my fixation on the idea that I will finally feel adequate after I accomplish something new.

In addition, Greenberg explains that wanting more isn't a sign of being ungrateful, but rather of being human. For my personal feelings, there was a crucial distinction, and it stayed with me. To demonstrate my gratitude for life, I didn't have to reduce my aspirations. It turns out that all I have to do is check that the objectives I'm striving for are mine.