Ungrateful SOB?

We are curious creatures. Here I sit in first class on an airplane (bumped up no less) and I’m having to redirect my mind to be grateful for all the wonderful parts of flying first class rather than focus on the negatives that are also present - those that I struggle to NOT list here in order to justify or explain. Why the comparison? Why the focus on the unwanted? What benefit is there, perceived or imagined, hoped or intended? Why are we so often discontented? Just like in the parable about the field hand hired early in the day receiving the same payment from the farmer as the last hired hand who worked less. Why are we so easily unsatisfied by what we didn’t get or didn’t happen, when just earlier we were perfectly happy with the same. The first field hand hired was happy with the wage offered UNTIL he knew that someone else that worked less got the same. Nothing about his effort expended changed, only the awareness that someone else got a “better deal”. 
Comparison. It’s a dualistic world we live in. So comparison seems almost inevitable. We know what we have by what we don’t have. Or might it serve as a mechanism for striving or longing, that keeps us moving forward - not fully content equals not stationary. If we were too content, might we sit in boredom or worse, fall into a depression due to lack of motivation. Because that state doesn’t sound like contentment, I doubt it would be a long term tool for our evolution. We are constantly in an expansion contraction cycle, with many different experiences a necessary part of our growth experience. The sooner we recognize an unhelpful focus (comparison, on what is unwanted etc.) the sooner we can get to a more peaceful state - still holding the growth opportunity as presented, leaving more room/time for expansion in this life time. 
So no need to berate myself as it’s part of the journey. I noticed when it was happening and shifted my focus. Awareness sooner shortens the time spent unhappy. Allowing this to be the learning opportunity it is, and getting back to happy with what is as soon as I could - it’s the game of life. Moving through experiences and enjoying the journey, including the sticky and challenging parts, is ultimately what is going on here. This is where growth occurs! I have to remind myself of this rather than feel discouraged or worse, hopeless in a tough situation. But I have been practicing and it is getting much easier and I spend much less time ruminating about unwanted things. I am beginning to love this journey more and more!

#universeexperiencingitself #comparison #ungrateful #grateful #personalgrowth