The Unhealthy Side Effect Of Being Ambitious

I was in my early 30s by the time I realized that I had become addicted to my own ambition. Prior to that, I would have just said that I was goal-oriented, a go-getter, a self-starter, a hard worker. I can go on and on with synonyms; on my résumé, I describe myself as a "motivated high achiever that delivers results." And sure, I was definitely a track star in this rat race of life. The problem was, I kept moving the finish line.

Every run took me further into different landscapes that introduced me to new possibilities that turned into new hopes, and it wasn't long before I had set my heart on new ambitions. This happened so frequently that running became a lifestyle, and goals started to feel more like small rest stops on some perpetual race against time that I'd lose if I slowed down.

If this sounds like you, then you might be suffering from an ambition addiction just like I did. "Driven" can quickly turn to "obsessed," and before you know it, you've spent most of your days and nights in pursuit of the life you want rather than in awe of the life you have.

It's time to take a breath.

It sounds like an oxymoron, but it is possible to be both ambitious (wanting to be better) and satisfied (completely content with where you are). You can love your life and still be in the midst of constantly recreating it. How, you ask?

You probably hear this word so much it starts to lose meaning—but the truth is, being mindful of yourself, your inner dialogue, and your present circumstance is almost always the key to finding contentment and catching behaviors before they turn from nourishing to draining. At the end of the day, the only person who can change your attitude, reframe your point of view, or open your mind to a more positive way of living is you.

Notice I said, "Be fun." That means you shouldn't just have fun—you should embody it. Remember the things that once brought you joy, or go out and try things that you've never dared to do before. Start a new adventure that isn't tied to your personal or career ambitions—one without an end in mind but instead with the journey itself as the prize. Learn a weird new creative talent. Do things that make you laugh. Take goofy pictures.

For the ambitious, all this might sound frivolous or like a "waste of time"—but that's nonsense. That's your addiction talking. Experiencing joy and thrill is the entire purpose of life. In your lowest moments or in your final ones as you look back on your years in old age, you're not going to think about how many presentations you aced, books you published, or dollars you have stashed away. You're going to think about moments, memories, and people that made you smile.