Happiness is not a destination

Happiness is not a destination

August 9, 2022

Day 1410 - Aug.9.22 - Happiness is not a destination

Happiness is not a destination. It’s a journey. Many people think once they accomplish their goals, earn all that money and buy those nice things that they’ll be happy. All of that is wrong. That is temporary satisfaction. If you’re not happy along the way, you won’t be happy when you get there. It’s not even being happy all the time because no one is but it’s being content with your life, the work that you do, the relationships that you keep and the progress towards some defined purpose that should make you content. My parents always told me this lie that once you get into medical school you’ll be happy. Then it’s once you finish residency you’ll be happy. None of these were true because the goalposts just got moved onto the next thing. Happiness for me only came through self-discovery. Through leaving medicine and spending some of my free time investing in myself and my own education. Sure there are many days when I feel down and don’t want to work but those are few and far between compared to before I left medicine. I realized my purpose in life was not to treat people in a hospital but teach people around the world what I’ve been fortunate enough to learn. Hopefully people along the way get value from what I’ve done. Regardless though, I’m happy with the decisions I’m making, the people around me and the progress toward what I want. Be happy today, don’t save it for tomorrow, a day that will never come.

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Anish Kaushal

Hey there. I'm an Indo-British Canadian doctor turned healthcare venture capitalist. I read, write and obsess over sports in my spare time. Lover of Reggaeton music, podcasts and Oreo Mcflurries.
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Happiness is not a destination

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Aug 9, 2022
Day 1410 - Aug.9.22 - Happiness is not a destination

Day 1410 - Aug.9.22 - Happiness is not a destination

Happiness is not a destination. It’s a journey. Many people think once they accomplish their goals, earn all that money and buy those nice things that they’ll be happy. All of that is wrong. That is temporary satisfaction. If you’re not happy along the way, you won’t be happy when you get there. It’s not even being happy all the time because no one is but it’s being content with your life, the work that you do, the relationships that you keep and the progress towards some defined purpose that should make you content. My parents always told me this lie that once you get into medical school you’ll be happy. Then it’s once you finish residency you’ll be happy. None of these were true because the goalposts just got moved onto the next thing. Happiness for me only came through self-discovery. Through leaving medicine and spending some of my free time investing in myself and my own education. Sure there are many days when I feel down and don’t want to work but those are few and far between compared to before I left medicine. I realized my purpose in life was not to treat people in a hospital but teach people around the world what I’ve been fortunate enough to learn. Hopefully people along the way get value from what I’ve done. Regardless though, I’m happy with the decisions I’m making, the people around me and the progress toward what I want. Be happy today, don’t save it for tomorrow, a day that will never come.