We've all got that vision of a picture-perfect life we're chasing—be it a loving relationship, a successful career, or a moment of fame. But, as the great psychiatrist Phil Stutz reminds us, in this race to our idealized future, we often forget to consider life's three inevitable conditions: Uncertainty, Pain, and Hard Work.

The Illusion of the Perfect Snapshot 📸

The issue with chasing a snapshot is that it's an incomplete image. It's a freeze-frame moment, void of life's natural flow and fluctuations. In that snapshot, we often picture a world where either one, two, or all three of life's conditions have magically disappeared. We may think, "If only I achieve X, I won't have to endure hardship anymore," or "If I can get to Y, all the uncertainty will vanish."

Life's Unwavering Conditions: Uncertainty, Pain, and Hard Work 🌧️

Think about someone who's all about making big money, thinking that's the ticket to an easy life. Even when they get rich, life's three conditions don't just vanish. They could still lose their money if the stock market crashes—that's uncertainty for you. Personal troubles like getting sick or losing someone they care about can still happen—that's pain. And don't forget, keeping all that money safe is a job in itself. They've got to watch their accountants, keep their health up, and if they own 10 fancy cars, you can bet one's always in the shop for repairs. So yeah, there's still plenty of hard work to do.

A Note From "The Art of Being Authentic" 📖

My book discusses the idea of authenticity, and chasing a snapshot that omits life's fundamental conditions is a departure from authentic living. We're setting ourselves up for disappointment when we aim for a life that's void of these unavoidable aspects.

Today's Take-Away: The Reality Check for Your Goals ⚖️

Before you set or chase any goal, stop and ask yourself: "Would I still want this if I knew achieving it won't lessen life's inherent conditions of Uncertainty, Pain, and Hard Work?" If your answer is yes, then you've got a goal worth pursuing. If not, it might be time to recalibrate.

Remember, authenticity means embracing life as it is—conditions and all.