Many of us get into personal growth because we want to become somebody different. We are not happy with our present self and desire a better future self, for example, to become a better parent, or a better husband, or to be more of a generous, loving, and caring person.

Inherently, there is nothing wrong with those ideals. I, too, strive to become a “better” person. The mistake happens, however, when our future self becomes more important than who we are, right now, as-is. Life then becomes a race to an imaginary finish line. The ideals and outcomes we aspire to become more important than what is right in front of us. Each step of the way is never good enough and our dissatisfaction grows. Our hearts become obscure from the veils of ego and we lose sight of our authenticity and integrity.

We think that life is better somewhere, out there, in a distant future. If that was true, why do we soon become dissatisfied once we have “arrived?” Why are we striving and seeking for yet another better future? Maybe it’s because we don’t see our life, in this moment, as a treasure.

When I’m dissatisfied with my current circumstances, I lean on these words from Taiazan Maezumi Roshi: “Appreciate the world of just this! There is nothing extra. Genuinely appreciate your life as the most precious treasure and take good care of it.”