When You Crave More

Hello everyone, this is the 174th Heuton Letter and the first one of 2025. (Happy New Year! 🥳)

I honestly think that December 31st and January 1st are just one of those ordinary days that pass by, but it's the year-end vibe that makes me overthink.

In today's letter, I want to briefly share some of my recent thoughts (a bit of self-reflection).

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1. Most professional work are evaluated by its outcomes. No matter which field you're in, it is the final results that actually speak in the end, which makes you constantly obsess over the performance.

However, in reality, being overly fixated on results makes you cynical about the struggles and trial-and-errors along the way. Evaluating everything with a question as simple as,

"So, did you succeed?" 

reduces the countless stories in the process into something trivial.

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2. I do believe the desire for achievements and success is a powerful and essential motivation. 

But if you can only find meaning in life through growth and accomplishment, you'll live your entire life in huger and dissatisfaction. Not only the thrill that comes from achievement doesn't last as long as you might think, but the threshold for that thrill gradually rises.

When I first started Heuton, I thought I'd be so happy if even one person subscribed. I still remember the thrill when the first payment came in.

But the thrill didn't last for days, and soon I thought "Why aren't more people purchasing?". The hunger continued, so did the dissatisfaction.

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3. When you solve one problem, another one awaits. After an overnight party, you have to return to the daily grind, bury your head in work.

So if you can only be happy when goals are achieved and problems are completely resolved, you'll inevitably be unhappy before and after those brief moments.

Just as looking to the future and working hard to achieve goals is important, so is being present in the current moment. 

If you can't appreciate what you have now, can't find happiness in small achievements, and remain cynical that nothing has meaning except reaching your goals, life seems to become increasingly unhappy.

… is what I always tell myself, but I have to admit that reality is damn cold. Dream itself doesn't pay the bills. If you fail to make results, you starve.

So the conclusion is, I know it's a cliché, but the key lies in the balance. This is my reflection as I look back on the past year.

How about you? Aren’t you living each day engulfed in dissatisfaction because you're overly obsessed with future goals?

See you next week.