It is one of the more popular question asked during a job interview and also one of the most daunting to answer. Where do you see yourself in five years?
It is one of my most hated questions of all time. Where do you see yourself in five years? I'd loved to answer that because I live my life on the edge, therefore I don't think about so many years down the line, I can't seem to look past 12 months at most, what more 60 long months ahead. So this is my stumbling block whenever someone presents me with this question.
I haven't been able to go beyond my current moment because truth be told, I hate looking so far ahead into the future. What I have is today and what I want is to focus on the here and now. Of course, like any normal human being, I do worry about the future but as they say who knows what tomorrow holds, so why the anxious wait for 5 years? Time can be so fleeting sometimes.
For this precise reason, I have learned that our present moment counts the most. We need to make the best of what we have now and not let our worries get the better of us. We need to see that tomorrow will take care of itself somehow; it may not be what we're hoping for but therein lies the key – hope.
We still feel hopeful that life will eventually get better and we can wake up to a better future. We can make it through another day. Funny but life will take care of itself somehow. Hold onto that hope. It is where you can keep your dreams alive and help strive through every day. I know that's how I've managed so far.
Many may take that this is not the ideal way to live life. Some may even say you're not planning enough for a secure future. But isn't one of the greatest joys in life is to tread into the unknown?
Sure, we need that progression to move into something bigger – greater job role, higher income and own a house or two? It is a natural progression that you yearn for more of this and that. But the question that needs to be asked is when is it enough? As your life expands, you are hunger for more but what if you get all that you set out for within the five years but lose your soul? Or health?
Contentment is a word that many have not been privileged to get to know. Happiness is elusive.
So, why wait for five years to feel happy when you can enjoy it now? You say it's hard when life is so cruel but it is just a matter of perspective. Don't let the circumstances make who you are but rather separate yourself from the immaterial things and count your blessings.
Don't put your life on hold for five years. Look for the little miracles every day that you often take for granted. Trust me, you will feel blessed enough and not sweat the small stuff. The joy is living in your present moment.
