Always Almost : Why We Always Want What's Just Out of Reach

Not sure about all, but I know I’m definitely speaking for the ambitious ones — the people who always want more and somehow end up wanting the thing that feels just a little out of reach at that moment in life. It’s not greed, it’s not dissatisfaction… It’s just that strange mix of curiosity and drive that makes you look at the next step even while you’re standing on this one.

But here’s the part I keep wondering about:
Is wanting what’s out of reach pushing us forward… or quietly wearing us down?

We all grew up hearing the usual motivational stuff — “dream big,” “never settle,” “aim higher.” Great lines for posters and graduation speeches, and honestly, sometimes they do hit. Wanting something slightly out of reach can give you that little push you didn’t know you needed. It keeps you moving, learning, trying, and believing there’s a better version of you somewhere up ahead.

But if we’re keeping it real… it doesn’t always feel inspiring, does it?

There are days when this whole “wanting more” thing starts to feel like running on a treadmill — you’re moving, you’re sweating, you’re putting in effort… but somehow the finish line keeps sliding further away. You hit one goal, you celebrate for maybe an hour, and then your brain goes, “Okay, cool… what’s next?”

You finally get something you once prayed for — a job, a person, a chance, a lifestyle — and for some reason, it doesn’t feel as magical as it did in your head. That high you expected? It lasts shorter than a TikTok video. And you’re left wondering why something that once felt impossible now feels… normal.

It’s wild how fast the mind resets itself.
It’s funny how fast the goalpost moves the second you reach it.

Like your brain goes, “Congrats! Anyway, here’s the next thing you don’t have yet.”

And that’s when the frustration creeps in —
Why can’t I just be satisfied for two minutes? What’s wrong with me?

The weird part is — nothing is actually wrong. Your life probably isn’t falling apart. Most days are okay — some are even good. But “okay” starts feeling like a trap when you’ve spent your whole life thinking you’re meant for “more.” So you live in this weird in-between zone where you’re grateful but still restless. Content but curious. Happy but hungry.

But that gap gets heavy to carry around. How exhausting it is to live like everything right now is temporary — just a stepping stone to the “real” thing. It makes you feel behind even when you’re progressing. It makes everyday moments feel like warm-ups instead of the main event.

But the part we forget is :
It’s perfectly normal to want more AND still appreciate your life right now.
Both things can exist without cancelling each other out.

The real issue isn’t ambition — it’s the way we tie our happiness only to the future. We convince ourselves that peace will arrive after the next achievement. Joy will make sense after the next upgrade. It makes every phase of life feel like preparation, instead of something you’re actually allowed to enjoy.

That’s when life starts to slip through our fingers — not because we are doing something wrong, but because we are never truly here. We are always a few steps ahead in our minds.

So maybe the point isn’t to stop wanting more.
Maybe it’s about wanting better.

Wanting things that lift you — not drain you.
Wanting things that genuinely excite you — not because they impress someone else.
Wanting growth — not pressure. not things that make you constantly compare where you are to where others are.

And lately, I’ve been thinking about something that genuinely changed how I see things:

What if the life we keep calling “out of reach” isn’t actually that far away as it looks?
What if small pieces of it are already showing up — quietly, slowly, without the dramatic movie scene we expect?

Maybe you’re closer to that version of your life than you realize.
Maybe your past self would be shocked that you’re even here — thinking about these things, making these choices, living this life that once felt impossible.
Maybe the things you’re chasing aren’t ahead of you… Perhaps they’re already forming around you in ways you haven’t noticed yet.

And maybe the biggest shift happens the moment you stop rushing… and finally notice it.