An Intriguing Conversation of Introspection

Years ago on a dating site someone messaged me, and it led to a thoughtful conversation.  I saved that conversation, and I have to say, that the answers still ring true today.  I have cleaned up the conversation a bit to make it more concise.  How would you answer these questions?

Where does your motivation come from? do you have a vision or goal of what you want?

I do have a vision of what I want.  Sometimes the path to get there seems harder or easier depending on the day.  The one thing I see in my vision of an ideal future is to be happy.  I know it is vague, but my gut response.  It's just the feeling.

Do you need to work hard to be happy?

I thought so, but i've worked hard and not found real happiness there

so i think happiness comes in feeling valued by others and when that reflects back on yourself, and an overall feeling of building towards something.

Is happiness a choice?

I believe it is.  But you have to continually choose it, even on your worst days.  Sometimes you need to find your reset button.  I think it is the biggest challenge to find contentment in what you have, but also strive to continually improve and challenge yourself.

I never really understood improving myself - whats wrong with being happy with yourself the way you are?

You have a good point.  I strive to continuously improve myself, but it's probably the thing that stresses me out the most.  I think i just put the pressure on myself, but also I surround myself with people who want me to be better as well.  If didn't try to be better I wouldn't be happy either.  I guess it's a personality trait.

Periodically i like to reconfigure and set my goals.

Have you ever had a brilliant idea right as you're about to fall asleep, and no place to write it down?

And you swear to yourself you'll remember it when you wake up in the morning and you never do.

Yeah, of course.  Or when you do remember it, and then realize that the idea isn't so brilliant.  Ideas are nothing except a pleasurable thought at the time, unless you act on them.  I find that out over and over again.  It's frustrating.

Do you keep a journal?

I try to, but not reliably.  But when I need to think, it helps to write because it helps me process.

Recently i wrote:

"If you focus too much on simply being happy now, you may lose the motivation to discover what may be greater happiness within your grasp. Find balance."

That's true.  It is important to find the balance between being happy now and setting yourself up to be happy in the future.  But I do think it is important to remember a few things.  You only have one body, so you need to take care of it.  And, you never know what tomorrow will bring.  Our time on Earth is short, and you should live each day to its fullest.  And be true to yourself.  You need to be able to look yourself in the mirror each day and stand by the decisions you make.