Have you ever felt like you should be completely happy with where you are in life, but there’s still a part of you that wants something different?
Maybe you want more flexibility in your schedule. Maybe you’re dreaming about starting a business, creating another income stream, traveling more, or having more time to pursue the things you love.
And then comes the guilt.
You start thinking about everything you’re already grateful for. You have a job, a family, a home, or a life that you’ve worked hard to build. Shouldn’t that be enough?
Here’s something I want you to remember: You can be grateful for the life you have and still want something more.
Those two things aren’t opposites.
In fact, recognizing what you want next can be an important part of creating a life that feels more aligned with who you are and what matters to you.
Let’s talk about why wanting more isn’t something you need to apologize for and how you can start exploring what’s next without dismissing everything you already have.
Gratitude and Ambition Can Exist Together
One of the biggest misconceptions about wanting more is that it somehow means you’re ungrateful.
We sometimes convince ourselves that if we’re happy with our current circumstances, we shouldn’t want anything to change.
But gratitude doesn’t mean you have to stop growing.
You can appreciate your current job while wanting more flexibility. You can love your family and still want time to pursue your own interests. You can be proud of the business you’ve built while recognizing that your goals have changed.
Being grateful for what you have doesn’t mean you have to stop dreaming about what else is possible.
Think about these three statements:
- I’m grateful for…
- And I would love more…
- One thing I can do this week to explore that is…
This simple exercise helps you acknowledge where you are while also giving yourself permission to think about where you want to go.
You don’t have to make a huge change immediately. Sometimes, simply admitting what you want is the first step.
Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time to Start
Have you ever found yourself saying you’ll start something once things slow down?
Maybe you’ll start the business when work isn’t so busy. Maybe you’ll pursue a new opportunity when you have more confidence. Maybe you’ll finally make time for yourself when everything else is taken care of.
The problem is that the perfect time doesn’t always arrive.
Life has a way of keeping us busy, and if we continually wait for everything to fall into place, we can spend years putting our own goals on hold.
Instead of waiting for the perfect circumstances, start looking at what is realistically possible right now.
You might not have ten hours a week to dedicate to a new business, but could you find two?
You might not be ready to make a major career change, but could you spend some time researching your options?
You might not know exactly what your next chapter looks like, but could you take one small step toward exploring it?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin exploring what’s possible.
You Don’t Have to Quit Your Job to Explore Something New
One of the things that often holds people back from pursuing a business idea is the belief that they need to make a dramatic change.
They assume starting a business means leaving their full-time job, immediately investing a significant amount of money, or completely changing their lifestyle.
But exploring a new opportunity doesn’t have to look like that.
You can start by learning about an industry, understanding the costs, asking questions, and determining whether an opportunity fits your current circumstances.
For example, if you’re interested in becoming a travel advisor, you don’t need to immediately make it your full-time career.
You can learn about what travel advisors do, understand the training and support available, research the financial requirements, and evaluate how much time the business would realistically require.
You can explore before you commit.
The important thing is to make informed decisions based on your goals, responsibilities, and available resources.
Wanting more flexibility doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice the stability you currently have without a plan.
You get to explore possibilities while being intentional about the life you’re already living.
Give Yourself Permission to Want More Income, Flexibility, and Adventure
Sometimes, what we want isn’t necessarily a completely different life.
It’s a different experience of the life we already have.
Maybe you want:
- More flexibility to spend time with your family.
- Additional income to support your financial goals.
- More opportunities to travel.
- A creative outlet outside your regular job.
- A business that allows you to use your skills in a different way.
- More control over how you spend your time.
These desires don’t make you selfish or ungrateful.
They’re information about what matters to you.
Instead of immediately dismissing those desires, get curious about them.
What would having more flexibility actually allow you to do?
What would an additional income stream help you accomplish?
What kind of business would make you excited to work on something outside your regular responsibilities?
The more specific you become, the easier it is to explore practical ways to move toward those goals.
Your Next Chapter Doesn’t Have to Look Like Anyone Else’s
It’s easy to look at other entrepreneurs and business owners and assume your journey should look like theirs.
You see someone who left their corporate job, built a successful business, or created a schedule that seems incredibly flexible.
And suddenly, you start questioning your own progress.
But your goals, responsibilities, financial situation, and capacity are different.
You don’t have to follow someone else’s timeline.
You also don’t have to define success by the same milestones.
For one person, success might mean replacing their full-time income with their business.
For someone else, it might mean earning extra money while keeping their current job.
Another person might simply want a creative project that gives them something exciting to work on.
There isn’t one correct version of wanting more.
The important thing is figuring out what more means to you.
When you understand that, you can make decisions that support your own goals instead of chasing someone else’s definition of success.
Take One Small Step Toward What You Want
Once you’ve identified something you want more of, the next question is: What can you do about it?
You don’t need to create an elaborate five-year plan or make a major commitment today.
Start with one small action.
If you want more flexibility, explore what kinds of work or business models might offer it.
If you want additional income, research opportunities that align with your skills and available time.
If you want more adventure, look at how you can incorporate travel or new experiences into your current schedule.
If you’re interested in starting a business, have a conversation with someone who is already doing the type of work you’re considering.
The goal isn’t to change everything overnight.
It’s to give yourself an opportunity to learn more about what you want and what it might take to get there.
Remember the third sentence from our earlier exercise:
One thing I can do this week to explore that is…
Make that action specific and manageable.
Then follow through.
You might discover that an opportunity is a great fit. You might realize you need more information. Or you might decide that this isn’t the right season for that particular goal.
All of those outcomes give you useful information.
Final Thoughts: You Can Appreciate Today While Creating What’s Next
I want you to take away one important message from this conversation:
You do not have to be unhappy with your current life to want something different.
You can appreciate everything you’ve worked for and still be excited about the possibilities ahead.
You can be proud of your accomplishments and still have bigger dreams.
And you can be grateful for where you are while giving yourself permission to explore where you want to go.
So, instead of feeling guilty about wanting more, get curious about what that means for you.
What would more flexibility look like? What would more creativity allow you to do? What kind of opportunities are you interested in exploring?
You don’t need all the answers today.
Start by acknowledging what you want, then choose one small step you can take this week.
Your next chapter doesn’t have to happen all at once.
You just have to give yourself permission to explore it.
-Lindsay
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Our first book is The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn, and we’d love to have you reading along with us!
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Coming Next
Next week, we’re continuing our November series, Permission to Want More, with Part 3: “You’re Allowed to Change the Dream.”
We’ll talk about what happens when something you’ve worked hard for starts to feel different, and how to decide whether you need an adjustment, a break, or an entirely new direction.
Let’s Stay Connected!
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who’s been waiting for the perfect moment to pursue something she wants.
And I’d love to hear from you: What’s one step you’re going to take this week toward something you’ve been wanting to explore?
Connect with Lindsay:
Website: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com
Instagram: @lindsaydollinger
Learn more about At Last I See the World Travel: https://www.atlastiseetheworldtravel.com
