The War Between Ambition and Contentment

Jake Luehrs
February 15, 2025

ONE QUESTION (2 this time)

Are you unconsciously using worry as a means to get things done?

Do you use worry to prove to others that you are responsible?

ONE THING TO PONDER

It’s important to create a love towards effort, not just outcomes or results.

ONE PERSPECTIVE

Society tells us to choose - Be hungry or be happy. Chase dreams or find peace.

It's the ultimate false choice that's tearing us apart from the inside out.

My entire life I’ve been challenged to feel content AND ambitious in the same breath, and I know I'm not the only one. It's been a life long journey and I believe I'm turning a corner.

Here's a truth that changes everything:

Contentment and ambition aren't enemies – they're dance partners.

We've been sold a dangerous lie: that peace lives in our next achievement. But what if the real power comes from holding two truths at once?

You can be Content AND Ambitious.

We tend to put contentment or being 'satisfied' into the future:

- I'll be happy or content when I make a certain dollar amount. Money doesn't change how you feel typically, it simply exposes more of who you are.

- I'll be content when I hit a certain weight.

- I'll be happy when I get this house, car, etc. (name any other material thing that you're attempting to get to fill a void in your soul).

We tend to steal any gratitude from the present moment looking forward to the day some external circumstance or event will make us happy.

That doesn’t work.

You know this already too, because you’ve hit goals you’ve already said would make you happy.

So how do we weave these together?

Everything we experience and feel in life is about perspective. So if that is true, then it's holding a proper perspective that allows both to be true:

The very challenges that you’re fighting right now may actually be bringing you your greatest joys in the future. You just don’t realize it yet.

The Story of the Chinese Farmer is one of my very favorites to gain perspective:

The Story of the Chinese Farmer:

Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”

The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.” The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”

The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.

Today, right now, you have permission to be ambitious AND at peace. To dream bigger AND appreciate what is. To climb those mountains AND enjoy the view from where you stand.

You're exactly where you need to be, even as you're becoming who you're meant to be.

Accept what is while striving to be better.

Onward and upward!

PODCAST

What If Your Biggest Setback is Your Greatest Opportunity?

THE ED MYLETT SHOW

Most of us aren't failing enough in life. It’s important to get something from every challenge and failure in your life. Failure done right is actually science. It’s giving you information, but it's too common that we replace the potential for learning with shame. If you’re not gaining wisdom in facing your challenges, listen to this. The best part of the podcast IMO is the first half hour or so with Brenden Buchard.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Greenlights
by Matthew McConaughey

We all know Matthew Mcconaughey’s ability to tell stories. This book supports that narrative. I happened to listen to it, and it was a great listen. A great story filled with a lot of great insights and lessons. If you’re looking for something that offers perspective and is also entertaining, this one will fit the bill.